Box Score Philadelphia, Pa. - (2/4/2015) – Chestnut Hill College held its own with intra-city rival University of the Sciences (USciences), knocking down three early 3-pointers to take a 9-6 lead about four minutes into tonight's Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) showdown. But the Devils returned the favor and then some, draining nine triples in the first half and 13 for the game to clinch a CACC playoff berth with their 14^th straight victory, a 69-54 decision inside Sorgenti Arena. Senior guard Shayla Felder (Cheltenham, Pa.) equaled a season high with 20 points, but the Griffins were no match for a USciences squad that burned the nets to the tune of 62.1% shooting (18-of-29) in the first half and finished with 22 assists on 25 made field goals.
 
Felder sandwiched a pair of 3-pointers around one by fellow senior guard Olivia Gorczynski (Parlin, N.J.) in the first four minutes, giving Chestnut Hill College (6-14, 4-9) an early 9-6 edge. USciences (16-4, 12-1), however, went on a long-range bonanza from there, with five players dialing up from distance over the next six minutes. Freshman guard Sarah Abbonizio (West Chester, Pa.) made a pair during the 18-4 spurt, which ended with senior guard Jessica Sylvester (Trevose, Pa.) canning one of her own to make it 24-13 Devils at the 9:47 mark.
 
The Griffins cut it to a 28-21 spread on a layup by freshman forward Nicole Parriski (Burlington, N.J.), 6:29, but USciences continued its onslaught with a 17-4 run featuring a pair of treys and capped by five straight points from senior forward Isabella Ross (Philadelphia, Pa.) that opened up a 20-point bulge, 45-25, with 2:11 remaining in the half. When the dust settled, the Devils had already surpassed their point total from the first meeting (a 45-39 win) by halftime, leading 47-29 on the strength of a 17-0 advantage in points off turnovers.
 
Chestnut Hill College locked down on defense after intermission, bedeviling the visitors into 18 second-half turnovers after forcing just three in the first period. Still, the Griffins could get no closer than 13, and the discrepancy fluctuated between 13 and 20 for the entirety of the second half.  
 
Senior forward Brianne Traub (Wayne, N.J.) commanded the Devils charge, coupling 16 points with six rebounds. Abbonizio finished with 12 on a 4-for-6 (66.7%) effort from deep, while Ross just missed a double-double with nine points and nine boards. Senior guard Kaitlyn Schmid (Howell, N.J.) was the perfect floor general, handing out seven assists without a turnover. With the win, USciences kept its stranglehold on first place in the CACC South Division.

Felder scored 10 points in each half, matching the season high she put forth against University of Bridgeport on December 30. Gorczynski and senior guard Tenisha Townsend-Mobley (Pleasantville, N.J.) chipped in nine points apiece. Senior forward Tiffany Turner (Marlton, N.J.) finished with eight points and three rebounds, snapping her Griffin Division II-record streak of double-doubles at six.
 
The Griffins next hit the road for a visit to Nyack College on Saturday, February 7, for a 1:00 p.m. CACC tilt.