Drake scores a career-high 18 points in Marietta's 78-55 loss to Muskingum
Pioneers visit John Carroll on Saturday at 3 p.m.

Jan. 8, 2009
MARIETTA, Ohio — The Marietta College women’s basketball team fell to the visiting Muskingum College Fighting Muskies, 78-55, on Thursday (Jan. 8) night at Ban Johnson Arena. The game was moved to Thursday due to a power outage on the Marietta College campus Wednesday (Jan. 7). The loss dropped Marietta’s record to 2-11 overall and 0-6 in the Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC). Muskingum improved its record to 9-3 overall and 4-1 in the OAC.

Muskingum jumped out to an early 12-6 lead with 8:25 into the first half. Marietta captured the lead, 17-15, after senior Nikki Driscoll (Bellaire) hit a pair of free throws with 6:42 to play before halftime. Driscoll’s free throws were part of a 13-0 run by the Pioneers, giving them a 23-15 lead with four minutes left on the first half clock. Muskingum, however, answered with an 18-4 run to close out the half and take a 33-27 lead into the locker room.

Muskingum used the momentum from its first half run to help put the game away early in the second half. The Muskies started the half on a 14-0 run to give them a 47-27 lead after the first four minutes of the half. Muskingum led by as many as 25 points before cruising to the 78-55 victory.

Freshman post Chelsea Drake (Georgetown) led the Pioneers with a career-high 18 points while grabbing seven rebounds. Senior guard Amanda Carraher (Hilliard/Hilliard Davidson) was the only other Pioneer to score in double digits; she finished with 14 points. Driscoll added seven points and five assists, and junior post Jamie Beckett (Wooster/Triway) contributed eight rebounds in the loss.

Tiffany Youel paced the Muskies in scoring with 18 points. Youel also dished out a game-high six assists and grabbed five rebounds. Jessica MacKenzie recorded a double-double with 14 points and a game-high 13 rebounds. Suzanne Nichols added 11 points in the victory.

Marietta finished the game by shooting 19-of-54 (.352) from the field, 5-of-16 (.313) from three-point range and 12-of-18 (.667) from the free throw line. Muskingum shot 34-of-73 (.466) from the field, 4-of-19 (.211) from behind the arc and 6-of-10 (.600) from the free throw line. The Muskies out-rebounded the Pioneers 45-32 and committed 16 turnovers to Marietta’s 23.

Marietta returns to action on Saturday (Jan. 10) afternoon when it visits University Heights for a 3 p.m. tip-off with host John Carroll University.

Freshman Chelsea Drake had a career-high 18 points against Muskingum.

Box Score