Philadelphia, Pa. - (11/11/2017) – Chestnut Hill College began their 2017-2018 season journey on the road today as they faced-off against Molloy College at the Jefferson Challenge. The exciting contest went down to the wire during the latter of the fourth quarter where a crucial steal by junior guard Mary Trossi (Somerset, N.J.) cemented the Griffins 55-46 win. Senior guard Vicky Tumasz (North Wales, Pa.) captained the Scarlet and Gold's offensive strategy recording a team-high 21 points (4-of-7 fgm).

Junior forward Jaeda Wildgoose (Somerset, N.J.), opened up with Chestnut Hill College's (1-0) first basket, solidifying an early 2-0 advantage over Molloy College (0-1) at 9:09. For the remainder of the quarter, the two teams battled themselves into a 6-6 tie with 1:10 on clock as both teams were hungry for the early edge. A three-pointer from senior guard Caroline Gehring (Suffolk, N.Y.)  gave the Griffins the push they needed to end the quarter on top, 9-8.

Chestnut Hill College started the second quarter with a fire behind them, opening up with a Tumasz three-pointer which put the Griffins up by three, 12-8 (9:22). Despite the early jump, the Lions put up a relentless fight never allowing more than a three-point margin between them and the Scarlet and Gold, ending the half 20-19.

The third quarter Molloy College strengthened their defense holding the Griffins to only ten points staying within one by then end, 32-31. By the fourth quarter both teams can smell a victory and it was a fight from the beginning where the Lions captured an early lead off of two consecutive points from sophomore guard Kathryn Gibson (Neponsit, N.Y.) at 9:16 and 8:30, 32-35. The teams found themselves in a late 38-38 (4:58) tie when Tumasz netted a three-pointer (4:46), 41-38, seconds later followed by a response three-pointer from Gibson (4:36), 41-41, and was broken by yet another Griffin three-pointer from sophomore guard Cailey Gibson (Marlton, N.J.) (4:29), 44-41, but the Lions came back with a second Gibson three-pointer, tying the affair 44-44 with 3:30 left.

With 2:57 remaining in the game and the score still tied 44-44, Trossi positioned herself to create a crucial steal that resulted in two made free-throws for the Griffins. After this play, Chestnut Hill College slowly started to pull away from Molloy College extending the lead by nine with 14-seconds left, concluding the match 55-46.

Gibson led the Lions with 22 points, going 6-of-13 (.462) from the three and two steals while junior guard Ihnacinse Grady (Amityville, N.Y.) followed with 13 points (.333), four assists and two steals. In frontcourt play sophomore forward Maya Joner (North Babylon, N.Y.) added six points and five rebounds in the Lion's 55-46 loss.

Tumasz's added four steals, four rebounds, and went 4-of-7 from the three in addition to her 21 point game and Trossi contributed two steals, eight assists, and six points for Chestnut Hill College. Wildgoose dominated the frontcourt recording 14 points, 12 rebounds, and went 4-of-5 from the free-throw in the season opener 55-46 win.

Chestnut Hill College will continue their Jefferson Challenge tournament play Jefferson University on Sunday, November 12, 2017 against Queens College. Tip-off is scheduled for 12:00 p.m.