Box Score Philadelphia, Pa. - (2/20/2016) – In what would turn out to be a highly-suspenseful afternoon in Sorgenti Arena, Chestnut Hill College first established a 37-24 halftime advantage before relinquishing the lead by end of regulation, 74-74, and holding the University of the Sciences (USciences) to a lone overtime field goal (1-of-10, .100) in a 91-80 Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) final. Freshman guard Mary Trossi (Somerset, N.J.) led all scorers with a career-high 28 points and she was joined in double figures by three teammates, including 24 points from junior guard Brittany McDonough (Brooklyn, N.Y.) and a 12-point, 10-rebound double-double from junior forward Lauren Milligan (South Hampton, England). Chestnut Hill College's postseason berth rests on the outcome of Tuesday night's CACC matchup between Holy Family University and Wilmington University.
 
Chestnut Hill College (12-13, 10-8) came out firing to lead by 14 points, 26-12, at the end of the first quarter and by as many as 19 points, 33-14, with 4:43 minutes remaining in the second quarter. The Griffin backcourt led the charge as McDonough offered 13 points and Tossi contributed 10 points in a 52.0% (13-of-25) first-half shooting performance. Trossi was the Scarlet and Gold's early answer to her USciences (11-17, 11-8) counterpart, freshman guard Marissa Sylvester (Trevose, Pa.), who initially led the Devils to a three-point, 9-6 (6:46), edge that quickly disappeared with a series of Trossi drives that ignited McDonough in a 20-3 run to the quarter break, 26-12. The Griffins kept the act on in the second quarter, extending the deficit to 19 points, 33-14, on a Trossi three-point play just after the five-minute mark (4:43). Unfortunately, the Devils did eventually hit some shots, creeping back into the contest by halftime, 37-24, behind the play of junior guard Natalie Stella (Landenberg, Pa.).
 
At the end of the third quarter the margin was reduced to eight points, 52-44, and it all came even, 63-63, with 4:26 remaining in regulation. It was a pair of free throws from freshman guard Alex Thomas (Hockessin, Del.) that tied the game and gave the Devils their first advantage, 64-63 (4:26), since the beginning of the affair. Sylvester and Thomas kept the visitors a step ahead of the Griffins until the finals seconds, when a McDonough put back knotted the contest, 74-74, and forced the extra frame.

There was no hope for the Devils there, as they could barely get off a shot against the Griffins' suffocating defense. On USciences opening possession, a Milligan block triggered Kuhnen for a three-pointer and there was no looking back, 77-74 (4:31). A free throw from sophomore forward Nicole Parriski (Burlington, N.J.) put the Griffins up 10 points, 84-74, with 2:44 left to play and a Trossi layup a minute later (1:45) began the parade to the free throw line in a 91-80 final.
 
Thomas led the Devils with 22 points, seven rebounds, six assists, and a steal. Sylvester finished with 15 points, six rebounds, three assists, and a steal. Additional double digit efforts came from sophomore forward Laura Trisch (Doylestown, Pa.) and senior guard Megan Wolf (Philadelphia, Pa.), who scored 14 points and 12 points, respectively.
 
Trossi and McDonough were both 10-of-15 (.667) from the field as the former hit 8-of-9 (.889) from the free throw line in addition to seven rebounds, six assists, and a steal while the latter hit 2-of-6 (.333) from long range and 2-of-2 (1.000) from the charity stripe in excess of her five rebounds, an assist, and three blocks. Milligan added four assists, a block, and a steal to her fifth double-double of the season. Junior guard Caity Kuhnen (Binghamton, N.Y.) contributed 14 points, three rebounds, an assist, and a steal.

The women's basketball team concludes the 2015-2016 regular season on Tuesday, February 23, with a 6:00 p.m. CACC contest at Philadelphia University.