Box Score Philadelphia, Pa. - (12/11/2015) – Tonight's Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) engagement at the University of the Sciences (USciences) became a battle of attrition as the cross-city rivals a combined to shoot 35.0% (41-of-117) from the floor and turn the ball over 34 times in a 61-47 final that fell in the home team's favor. Three Devils finished in double figures while junior guard Brittany McDonough (Brooklyn, N.Y.) headlined the Griffin effort with 12 points, three rebounds, two assists, and four steals.
 
Amidst the chaos, the University of the Sciences (3-7, 3-3) secured an 11-4 first quarter advantage on a layup from freshman guard Alex Thomas (Hockessin, Del.) at 3:15, but it was senior guard Amber Reiley (Branchville, N.J.) who pioneered the Devils' progress. By the end of the period, the Devil lead reached a dozen (12) points, 21-9, and it grew to as many as 14 points, 26-12, on an early second-quarter (8:54) jumper from freshman forward Hadiya Tucker (Newark, Del.). Freshman point guard Mary Trossi (Somerset, N.J.) spirited the Chestnut Hill College (3-5, 1-2) response that cut the deficit in half, 28-21, at 6:15 and down to a few as five points, 28-23, after a five-point McDonough flourish that brought the Griffins back into the contest. Unfortunately, easy come, easy go as back-to-back three point baskets from Thomas and freshman guard Marissa Sylvester (Trevose, Pa.) returned the Devil edge to 11 points, 34-23, less than two minutes later (4:30) and there it remained for the halftime break, 38-27.
 
At the start of the second half it was junior forward Lauren Milligan (South Hampton, England) who rallied the Griffins. While she made a couple key blocks and headlined the Chestnut Hill College rebounding effort, McDonough and freshman forward Jaeda Wildgoose (Somerset, N.J.) made a made a couple baskets apiece before a three point splash from junior forward Caity Kuhnen (Binghamton, N.Y.) put the Griffins within two points, 40-38 (6:18). But the Devils never surrendered the lead, restoring their advantage to double-digits, 50-39, just before the end of the third quarter (0:54). In their last bid to take the contest, the Griffins scored the first five points of the final frame and once again gashed the gap to just four points, 51-47, on a pair of McDonough free throws at 5:32. But the rally fizzled on a turnover and a couple of ill-timed fouls that inspired the Devils to a 14-point, 61-47, league win.
 
Sylvester, Thomas, and Reiley each finished in double figures for the Devils. The deep threats, Sylvester and Thomas, combined to hit 7-of-16 (.438) from three point range, the former scoring 16 points off the bench and the latter recording 15 points. Reiley added 14 points, eight rebounds, two assists, and a block while sophomore forward Laura Trisch (Doylestown, Pa.) headlined the Devils' 46-35 rebounding advantage.
 
McDonough's 12-point effort was supported by eight points, five rebounds, and a steal from Kuhnen and a versatile performance from Milligan; six points, seven rebounds, three assists, three blocks, and a steal.
 
Chestnut Hill College plays their next CACC contest at Wilmington University on Wednesday, December 16, when they challenge the Wildcats in a 6:00 p.m. tip-off.