Drexel Women Host Nationally Ranked Syracuse Tonight

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- A big game in women's basketball is on tap tonight at the DAC as Drexel hosts #11 Syracuse.

Syracuse advanced all the way to the NCAA National Championship game last season before losing to UConn and the Orange are 3-0 here this season.

Drexel is 2-1 and playing good basketball to start the campaign. They opened with an impressive 83-60 victory over Penn State (also at the DAC). The Dragons then followed that up with a home win over Delaware State and a tough road loss at Vanderbilt. Head coach Denise Dillon is excited to have a team like Syracuse coming to their home court.

"It's huge," Dillon tells KYW Newsradio. "Schools want to come to Philly. That's the advantage we have with where we're located. Again, (it's) us trying to challenge our girls with each and every game.

"These are the games that you remember, going up against a national runner-up," Dillon adds. "Who has that opportunity when they're not in your conference? So I'm really excited for our girls to face Syracuse and some of the teams that we've seen already this season."

Listen to the entire interview with Drexel's Denise Dillon:

These two teams actually met last season at the Carrier Dome. Drexel had an early 15-point lead before eventually losing to the Orange, 83-62. Dillon talks about what she sees in this Syracuse squad.

"They can score the basketball," she says. "Their defense creates their offense. They have in (senior Alexis) Petersen, an All-American point guard. (Redshirt senior guard Brittany) Sykes, she can score anywhere on the floor and she can create the shot herself. Then a strong post player in (senior center Bria) Day. They are led by three very talented players."

The Dragons are being led by senior guard Jessica Pellechio (19.3 ppg) and senior forward Sarah Curran (17.0 ppg).

Tonight's game at the DAC begins at 7:00pm.