Philadelphia, Pa. - (11/3/2014) – "This team is completely committed to each other. We are naturally unselfish, we hold each other accountable, but we help our teammates, and above all else, we don't care who gets credit for success, we're family!" Entering their fourth season under Head Coach Laura Pruitt, the Chestnut Hill College women's basketball team looks to build on the success of the 2013-2014 season with an arrival of skillful freshmen and the return of a close-knit, family feel.
 
Over the last three seasons, Coach Pruitt's pride of Griffins has learned the value of family. Steadily improving over a roller-coaster season, Chestnut Hill College finished the 2013-2014 campaign with an 8-18 overall mark and a 6-13 Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) standing. It was a breakout performance from Shayla Felder (Cheltenham, Pa.); 20 points (7-of-14 FG/1-of-3 3PT/5-of-6 FT), five rebounds, and three assists; and a last-second put back from Aimee Bouie '14 that earned the Griffins their first win of the season, 62-60 over Lock Haven University on December 2.
 
Unfortunately, the next Griffin win did not come until the new year with Olivia Gorczynski (Parlin, N.J.),  Annie Farrow '14, and Tenisha Townsend-Mobley (Pleasantville, N.J.) taking turns leading a mid-season run that included five wins in six contests, four coming against CACC rivals; Georgian Court University (66-63 on 1/11/14), Goldey-Beacom College (49-47 on 1/14/14), Concordia College (55-38 on 1/25/14), and Wilmington University (78-63 on 1/28/14).
 
While the winning streak brought multiple CACC weekly accolades and improved Chestnut Hill College to 6-7 in the CACC, it was the concluding 2-6 stretch that tested their mettle and brought them closer to their goal. "We are not afraid to take risks, and when we fail we use it as a platform to move forward and get better," stated Pruitt. She continued, "We are looking to build on the most successful season the team has had at the Division II level. While we always have a goal to make postseason play, we want to continue to place emphasis on playing as a team, sharing the basketball, and controlling the tempo with our defense. If we can do that, with our combination of talented freshmen and savvy veterans, we believing winning will be a by-product of our hard work." Carrying out Coach Pruitt's message on the court, the Griffins will confide in three proven seniors who will captain the team's budding success with insatiable defense and unwavering comradery. Finishing among the nation's top-10 in three-pointers made (71), Gorczynski is a consistent and reliable scorer who has committed herself to defense and her teammates. She led the 2013-2014 Griffins in scoring (13.8 points/game), field goals made (107-of-332, .322), three-pointers made (71-of-201), three-point percentage (.353), free-throw percentage (61-of-74, .824), and steals (41) en route to three CACC Weekly Honor Roll mentions (11/11/13, 12/2/13, 1/20/14) and a CACC Defensive Player of the Week (3/3/14) award. Felder emerged as the Griffins floor captain, orchestrating the offense and terrifying opponents with quick, explosive drives to the hoop. With increased playing time, Felder looks to improve upon her solid junior season; 8.2 PPG, 2.1 rebounds/game, 45 assists, 23 steals, and a block. But the straw that stirs the drink is Townsend-Mobley, whose heart and gritty style of play embodies the Griffins team personality. Coming off career-highs in field goal percentage (84-of-201, .418), free throw percentage (85-of-108, .787), points-per-game (9.7 PPG), and rebounds-per-game (5.5 RPG), her senior season will be the key to the Griffins success in 2014-2015.
 
Also returning to the roster is junior guard Brittany McDonough (Brooklyn, N.Y.), sophomore guards Erica McIntosh (Waldorf, Md.), Danielle Gehring (New Suffolk, N.Y.), and Michaiah Young (Philadelphia, Pa.), and sophomore forward Lauren Milligan (Gosport, England). McDonough started 17 contests (26gp-17gs) in 2013-2014, offering 5.5 PPG, 3.0 RPG, a team-high 46 assists, 23 steals, and two blocks, while Milligan made 13 starts (26gp-13gs) and averaged 2.7 PPG and 2.6 RPG before competing for a European Championship with Great Britain's Under-20 team last summer.
 
Earning their wings, six newcomers join the Griffins 2014-2015 roster; freshmen forwards Nicole Parriski (Burlington, N.J.), Brianne Morgera (Newport, R.I.), Nina Mazarelli (West Chester, Pa.), and guards Chelsea Houlihan (Wolcott, Conn.), Caroline Gehring (New Suffolk, N.Y.), and Bianca Adams (Elkins Park, Pa.). Parriski possesses a high basketball IQ and a great inside presence as a standout from Life Center Academy. Morgera is another talented post player whose physical presence helped lead Rogers High School to an undefeated season in her senior campaign, while Mazzarelli is a versatile wing whose hard work and three-point shooting prowess will elevate the Griffins arsenal of offensive weapons. Mature beyond her years, Houlihan's smart and competitive play will allow her to fill multiple roles. While getting to play with her sister, Gehring is a three-point specialist who can help spread the floor with her range. Scrappy, hard-nosed, and relentless, Adams' tenacity ensures the Griffins another four years of the play they have enjoyed from Townsend-Mobley.
 
As the Griffin pride continues to grow, Coach Pruitt hopes the team's family atmosphere facilitates the program's burgeoning success on the court. "Any time you get a special group like this, you have already won before you even play a game," Pruitt said. "However, they want to be as successful as possible in the win-loss column. We are going one day at a time and won't be backing down from anyone this season."
 
The Griffins tip off the season with a contest against College of Saint Rose on Friday, November 14, at 7:00 p.m. as part of a tournament at Philadelphia University.