Box Score Philadelphia, Pa. – (1/9/2012) – In a physical affair fueled by turnovers, 44 personal fouls and 52 turnovers, Georgian Court University came out two points ahead of Chestnut Hill College in a 68-66 Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) final. Despite fouling out with 6:19 to play, Lions senior guard Shauneia McPhearson (Chicago, Ill.) led all scorers with 18 points, four Griffins finished in double figures.
 
Georgian Court University (4-10, 4-5) got the upper hand off the tip and with 5:58 remaining in the first half their lead peaked at nine points, 21-12, on a fastbreak layup from sophomore forward Tahira Matthews (Bloomfield, N.J.). Sophomore guard Olivia Gorczynski (Parlin N.J.) led a spirited Chestnut Hill College (2-11, 0-6) rebuttal that brought the Griffins down two at halftime, 32-30. The second half echoed the first with the Lions running out to 15-point lead, 48-33, by in the opening five minutes (15:13) only for the Griffins to battle back to make it a one-point game, 62-61, with 2:22 to go. With ten seconds to play (0:10), the Lions confidently held a four-point edge, 67-63, but that is when sophomore guard Tenisha Townsend-Mobley (Pleasantville, N.J.) found sophomore guard Lila Jones (Lansdale, Pa.) open for a three-point basket that narrowed the margin back to one point, 67-66, with five seconds to play (0:05). A pair of turnovers left the Griffins to foul freshman guard Tara Steakin (East Stroudsburg, Pa.) with three seconds remaining on the game clock (0:03). She hit the first of two free throws to give the Lions a 68-66 advantage and leave the Griffins to last-second fumble.
 
McPhearson was the motor for the Lion attack. She hit two big three-point baskets (2-of-4, 50.0%) and three free throws (3-of-4, 75.0%) for nine first half points, then doubled her point total, 18 points, before leaving the contest early. She also recorded four steals. Matthews finished with a 15-point, 12-rebound double-double and junior guard Brittany Baker helped the Lions rebounding advantage, 43-32, with 13 rebounds.
 
Gorczynski and Townsend-Mobley each provided 12 points atop the Griffin effort. Each grabbed four rebounds, but Gorczynski also provided two assists and contributed an impressive defense effort with a block and six steals. Off the bench, junior forward Annie Farrow (Ocean Township, N.J.) offered 11 points and three rebounds while Jones scored ten points in addition to two assists and two steals.
 
The women's basketball team continues their CACC schedule on Saturday, January 12, when they host Philadelphia University in a 1:00 p.m. contest.