Kuhnen, Wildgoose, Milligan Give Griffins Near Sweep on CACC Weekly Report
New Haven, Conn. - (2/1/2016) – Posting Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) wins of 72-69 and 77-55 over Goldey-Beacom College and Felician University, respectively, the Griffins were appropriately rewarded on this week’s league report with the Player, Co-Rookie, and Defensive Player of the Week awards. Averaging 25.5 points-per-game (PPG), junior forward Caity Kuhnen (Binghamton, N.Y.) claimed the CACC Player of the Week title while freshman forward Jaeda Wildgoose (Somerset, N.J.) garnered a share of the CACC Rookie of the Week award and Junior forward Lauren Milligan (South Hampton, England) warranted the CACC Defensive Player of the Week crown.
On Tuesday, January 26, Kuhnen may have been the leading scorer for Chestnut Hill College with 24 points, but it was the heart and hustle of Milligan that allowed the Griffins to endure Goldey-Beacom College for a 72-69 CACC victory and a season split. The Lightning owned a 39-34 halftime advantage and a 55-49 lead at the end of the third quarter only for Milligan to haul in five fourth-quarter rebounds and rally Chestnut Hill College back from a six-point deficit, 60-54 (8:01), over the final eight minutes of the contest.
Goldey-Beacom College (5-15, 5-6) were the proud owners of a 60-54 advantage with 8:01 left on the game clock. That is when the Lightning began to feel the effects of Milligan's hustle as a monster block on a drive to the basket left the visitor's reeling. A rushed three-point attempt was the result and from there Chestnut Hill College never looked back. They capitalized on the play with a layup from Kuhnen cutting the margin to four points, 60-56, at 6:28, a Lightning turnover and a layup by freshman guard Mary Trossi (Somerset, N.J.) reducing it to two points, 60-58, just before the six-minute mark (6:02), and a Milligan steal triggering Wildgoose for the game-tying bucket, 60-60, with four minutes to play (4:02). Unfortunately for the Lightning, the Scarlet and Gold kept coming, building a 64-60 edge with 2:51 to go, and holding their CACC South rivals off with a great defensive front that left the visitors to a last-second layup, 70-69 (0:05), when a three-pointer was needed. Kuhnen hit the residual free throws to leave the final at 72-69, Griffins.
Kuhnen was 7-of-13 (.538) from the floor, 4-of-4 (1.000) from three-point range, and 6-of-7 (.857) from the free throw line in her third 20-point game of the season. Milligan recorded her second career double-double with 10 points, 15 rebounds, three assists, three blocks, and three steals. Wildgoose totaled 12 points, five rebounds, an assist, and a steal.
Chestnut Hill College notched their third win by 20 or more points this season on Saturday, January 30, defeating Felician University 77-55. Kuhnen continued her recent stretch of offensive production with her fourth straight team-leading scoring performance matching a season-high, 27 points. Her perimeter efficiency (4-of-8, .500 3PT%) was aided by 15 points from Wildgoose and 13 points from sophomore forward Nicole Parriski (Burlington, N.J.).
Chestnut Hill College (8-11, 6-6) asserted themselves early as their advantage over Felician University (2-18, 2-11) reached 18 points, 23-5, for the first time after a Parriski three-point play with 1:45 remaining in the first quarter. It reached 18 points again, 26-8, at the period's end on a last possession layup from junior guard Ayanna Holloway (Philadelphia, Pa.). In the second quarter, the Griffin advantage reached as many as 25 points, 39-14, and did so as late as 2:19 before a Golden Falcon run, sparked by freshman guard Hannah Johnson (Jersey City, N.J.), narrowed the Chestnut Hill College halftime lead to 19 points, 41-22.
The Golden Falcons gradually narrowed the deficit to 15 points, 55-40, by the end of third quarter. But in the fourth quarter the Griffins advanced their position back beyond 20 points in the opening minute, 60-40 (9:02), and maximized it at 28 points, 77-49, heading to the final minutes of play. Despite the upper hand, a few ill-timed fouls allowed the home team to cut the final deficit to 22 points, 77-55.
Kuhnen was 11-of-20 (.550) from the floor and added five rebounds and five assists to her fourth game of 20 or more. Wildgoose contributed six rebounds and three assists in addition to her offensive production while Milligan offered her seventh double-digit rebounding effort with a team-high 13 in excess of six points and six assists.
Georgian Court University is scheduled as the Griffins’ next CACC opponent as the women’s basketball team visits the Lions for an 8:00 p.m. contest on Wednesday, February 3.
