Philadelphia, PA – (2/1/2011) – A mid-second half reprise brought Chestnut Hill College from 18 down, 50-32, to within four, 63-59, of the University of the Sciences, but on the efforts of senior guard Caitlin Shaw (Eatontown, NJ) the Devils sustained for a 67-61 Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) victory. Sophomore guard Latoya Laing (Snellville, GA) and junior guard Kamia Smith (Wyncote, PA) led the Griffin rally, igniting the offense with timely perimeter shooting.
Riding Shaw's coattails, the University of the Sciences (14-4, 10-2) turned a 34-24 halftime lead into an 18-point deficit (8:49). However, as the game approached the eight-minute mark Chestnut Hill College (6-13, 4-8) began to heat up. Laing dropped the first three-pointer, Smith the next, and the Griffin energy was renewed. The Devils lead soon dwindled to five, 60-55, as Laing sunk another long range basket with 2:37 remaining. The lead was cut to three, 64-61, in the final minute (0:21), but senior guard Melissa Rotz (Harrisburg, PA) denied the Griffins their glory by hitting the necessary free throws.
Shaw led all players with 28 points. In a workman's effort, she hit 16-of-20 (80.0%) from the free throw line and 6-of-10 (60.0%) from the field while hustling to 12 rebounds. Sophomore forward Carolyn Edwards (Huntington Valley, PA) chipped in with 13 points off the Devil bench and senior guard Colleen Christian (Warrington, PA) provided five assists.
Laing finished as the Griffins high-scorer with 17 points, a career-high. In a 6-of-9 (66.7%) shooting effort, she was 4-of-5 (80%) from three-point territory while also leading the Griffin defense with two blocks and two steals. Smith hit two long-range shots (2-of-6, 33.3%) and finished the evening with 12 points, six rebounds, three assists, and three steals. Senior center Cecelia Herald (Gaithersburg, MD) added 13 points and junior forward Ebony Washington (Philadelphia, PA) grabbed 12 rebounds.
The women's basketball team heads to Holy Family University for their next CACC contest, a 6:00 p.m. affair on Thursday, February 3.
