MADISON, N.J. (December 8, 2015) – An explosive second half pioneered by junior guard Hannah Miller and senior forward Courtney Stephens drove the Drew University women's basketball team to a 61-55 victory over No. 21 FDU-Florham on Tuesday evening to take the Battle of Madison Avenue title at Baldwin Gymnasium.
 
Miller led the charge with 19 points on 6-of-11 shooting, 12 of which came in the second half. Stephens meanwhile, held down the boards with nine rebounds, she currently sits fifth in the Landmark Conference in rebounds per game with 9.1. Sophomore forward Ally Raulf tore down a career-high seven rebounds in the victory.
 
The final period proved to be the seesaw battle the previous three hinted towards. After a 3-pointer, FDU found itself up four, but Stephens stormed up court and drained a contested layup, and the and-one free throw. Junior guard Sam Lane, on the ensuing Drew possession, drained a 3-pointer and Drew led by four with seven minutes to play. Drew continued to distance itself from FDU with Lane and Miller leading the charge with 3-pointers and free throws.
 
Drew's dominant second half was spurred by an explosive and efficient third period. Miller and Jackson stormed out of the break with two quick baskets to get Drew started. The baskets kick-started a 11-0 run to start the second half. The Ranger defense, meanwhile, held FDU without a basket for the first five minutes of the third period. Drew, with two minutes to go. The major momentum shift and Drew's lead ignited the crowd. On the strength of what would end at a 14-2 run, the Rangers grabbed a 33-29 lead with three minutes to go in the period.
 
In the early going, careful play calling and executing set the tone. FDU's attempts to work the ball inside to their forwards were initially thwarted by Drew's as the Rangers stuck tight against attempted back downs. Drew's defense held FDU to just 36-percent shooting from the field.
 
As the Devils sought to transition their offensive attack to 3-point range, they managed to find some openings, but struggled to knock down the shots, resulting in just a 23-percent mark from outside.
 
The Rangers used their defensive stops as offensive jump-starts and ran the floor on multiple occasions in transition. With a minute to go in the half, junior forward Ryan Jackson found herself with space as the opposing forward backed off, testing her shot. Jackson drilled the deep two and trimmed the deficit to five.
 
A Devil nailed a three in the closing seconds to take the teams to halftime with a 27-19 score in FDU's favor.
 
Drew's persistent play in the paint drew fouls and baskets. The most glaring statistical difference in an otherwise even contest was the foul shooting. The Rangers got to the line frequently, sinking 16 baskets from the line to FDU's two. Drew also shot from the field more efficiently, posting a 42-percent clip to the Devils' 36.

Drew will look to use this victory over a nationally ranked team as fuel going forward. The Rangers travel to Centenary (N.J.) College on Thursday, Dec. 10 at 7:00 p.m.