It happened late Tuesday night along the 2500 block of Ridge Avenue.
The 20-year-old victim got off a bus at Broad Street and Cecil B Moore Avenue.
A short time later, the man approached her on Ridge. He starting talking to her and said his name was "Semaj."
When they got to a vacant lot, the man grabbed the woman and tried to drag her, but she got free and ran for help.
If you have any information, you're asked to call police right away.