Drexel

The postseason roll of the Drexel women's basketball team has taken the Dragons all the way to the championship game of the Women's National Invitation Tournament. Coach Denise Dillon's squad took the lead early Wednesday night and never relinquished it on the way to a 67-57 victory over Florida in front of a lively crowd of 1,412 at the Daskalakis Athletic Center. "The Auburn game was our biggest win, and now the Florida game is our biggest win, and if we win the next one and the championship, that will be our biggest," Dillon said.

LOST IN the madness of the NCAA Tournaments is a terrific run being made by the Drexel women's basketball team to the WNIT semifinals. While the WNIT doesn't hold the prestige of the NCAAs, it should not diminish what Drexel is doing. Heck, the Dragons even beat an SEC team on their way to this Final Four. "It's a privilege to be in any tournament," said Hollie Mershon, the team's leading scorer (19.4) and a product of Archbishop Carroll. "None of us seniors want our season to end. " Drexel registered the first postseason victory in school history in last season's WNIT.

President Obama's Homeland Security chief toured Drexel University on Tuesday and announced the Philadelphia school is one of seven U.S. colleges that will participate in a federal pilot program to improve emergency preparedness on campus. "A crisis can happen on campus without notice," said Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano. "Drexel has been a true leader when it comes to campus safety. " Napolitano noted that Drexel was ranked third among higher-education institutions that promote campus security according to the 2012 Security 500 report prepared by SecurityMagazine.com that surveyed more than 20 campuses.

Drexel has made it to the semifinals of the WNIT on the strength of its defense. The Dragons have compiled a 19-1 record in games in which they have limited their opponents to 50 points or fewer. Florida has done the opposite thanks to a potent offense. The Gators have averaged 70.9 points overall and 78.0 points in four WNIT victories. The two styles will clash Wednesday night at the Daskalakis Athletic Center when the Dragons (26-10) and the Gators (22-14) meet with a trip to the WNIT championship game on the line.

Law students at Drexel University will soon have the option of fast-tracking their degrees with a program that allows them to enter the workforce after two years of study instead of three. The "Fast Forward" program, to be announced by Drexel today, was created in an effort to address rising concerns over student debt, school officials said. The program costs the same as the traditional three-year degree program at Drexel's Earle Mack School of Law, but condenses three years of coursework into two. "You get into the workforce a year quicker, and it adds greater value," Drexel Law School Dean Roger Dennis said.

Federal investigators have questioned Drexel University about work done by the Philadelphia Housing Authority's former executive director, Carl R. Greene, and his private consulting business to develop a new degree program. The inquiry is part of an ongoing criminal probe of the housing agency during Greene's tenure. Drexel spokeswoman Lori Doyle said in a statement last week that the U.S. Attorney's Office in Philadelphia had requested from Drexel "certain information relating to Carl Greene and CRG. " "Drexel is cooperating fully with the government's investigation and has been informed that neither Drexel nor any of its employees is being investigated," Doyle said in response to questions from The Inquirer.

Kentucky's primary goal against Delaware will be like all Blue Hens' opponents: try to keep all-American Elena Delle Donne from taking control of the game. It's not the first time this season the Wildcats have faced one of the sport's best players. Kentucky (29-5) coach Matthew Mitchell believes his team learned from its experience against the game's most imposing player - 6-foot-8 Brittney Griner - in an 85-51 loss to Baylor. The 6-5 Delle Donne presents a different challenge; she rebounds, is a willing passer, and averages 25.8 points - but she can dominate from the perimeter.

A memorial service will be Friday, April 5, for Jacqueline C. Mancall, 80, of Lafayette Hill, a professor emeritus at Drexel University who died Wednesday, Feb. 27, at home of complications from leukemia. The 11 a.m. gathering will be at Drexel's Paul Peck Alumni Center, 32d and Market Streets. Dr. Mancall began her career at Drexel's College of Information Science and Technology in 1976 as a teaching assistant. She joined the faculty in 1979 as assistant professor and rose to professor in 1989 before retiring in 2007.

Take five or 10 minutes, the professor said, and write down things that you love, like, need, or enjoy. Now pair up with someone you don't know and spend 20 minutes introducing yourself. Talk about whatever you want. But don't mention anything that you wrote down. Try going on for a half-hour without a word about the most important things in life. Imagine a full day. "It might be difficult," said instructor Robin Brennan. "That's what this course is about. That is just a glimpse of what it is like for somebody who is LGBT" - lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender.

    Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis led six Connecticut players in double figures as the top-seeded Huskies routed Idaho, 105-37, in Storrs Conn. in a Bridgeport Regional game. In other Bridgeport Regional games in College Park, Md., Alyssa Thomas had 29 points, and Maryland spoiled Quinnipiac's debut in the NCAA women's tournament by pulling away to a 72-52 victory. . . . Kiana Johnson scored 16 points as Michigan State halted Marist's string of first-round NCAA upsets with a 55-47 win in College Park.