Box Score New Castle, Del. - (2/15/2017) – The second-quarter squeeze of the Chestnut Hill College was the determining factor in this evening's Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) at Wilmington University as the Griffins limited the Wildcats to 10 point in the frame to secure a 39-35 halftime edge and an eventual 95-85 victory. The high-scoring affair left four Griffins in double figures; one scored a career-high, another recorded her second double-double of the season, and a third came just an assist shy of her third triple-double. The Scarlet and Gold used a 56-40 rebounding advantage and a 51.5% (35-of-68) shooting effort to overcome a 25-10 turnover discrepancy.
 
Wilmington University (12-14, 9-8) used the early Chestnut Hill College (16-8, 11-6) turnovers to establish an initial 10 point lead, 16-6, midway through the opening quarter (5:05). But the Griffins settled in late, cutting the deficit to six points, 19-13, on a layup from senior forward Caity Kuhnen (Binghamton, N.Y.) at 2:53 and steadying the Wildcat advantage at eight points, 25-17, for the first quarter break. The Scarlet and Gold kept the pressure on in the second quarter, tying the contest at 32-32 on a Kuhnen layup at 2:57, before establishing a four point, 39-35, halftime edge on a last-second three point connection between sophomore guard Mary Trossi (Somerset, N.J.) and junior guard Vicky Tumasz (North Wales, Pa.).
 
After intermission the Griffin lead soared to a nine point, 49-40, lead on a layup from junior forward Nicole Parriski (Burlington, N.J.) at 6:53 of the third quarter. Still, Wilmington University kept the contest competitive with a rally that returned them three points shy, 51-48, of Chestnut Hill College with four minutes (3:59) remaining in the frame. Fortunately, the Griffins managed to separate for a more comfortable seven point cushion, 67-60, by the time the quarter came to a close. There, they extended the lead to double digits, 71-61, early only to cling to a one point, 77-76, edge with 4:28 to go. A Trossi layup and a Kuhnen three pointer quickly reestablished the Scarlet and Gold advantage at six points, 82-76, for the final three minutes (3:15). The Wildcats reduced that spread to four points, 82-78 (2:40), with a put back on their ensuing possession, but that is as close as the game would get with the Griffins hitting the necessary free throws to capture a 95-85 triumph.
 
Wilmington University offered five players in double figures. Lead among them was junior guard LaShyra Williams (Seaford, Del.) who finished the evening with 25 points, 10 rebounds, two assists, a block, and two steals. Senior guard Jasmine Lee (Chestertown, Md.) was also a major factor with 17 points, five rebounds, and three steals. So was sophomore guard Macy Robinson (Wilmington, Del.) who offered nine rebounds, two assists, and two steals in excess of her 16 points. Junior guard Ebonee Dixon (Baltimore, Md.) (11 points) and senior guard Jocelyn Rodriguez (Wilmington, Del.) (10) also recorded double digit points.
 
Tumasz was the top scorer for Chestnut Hill College, leading four double-digit Griffins with her career-high 27 points. She hit half (4-of-11, .363) her shots (8-of-17, .471) from long range and made all seven (7-of-7) of her free throw attempts while also recording four rebounds, five assists, and a steal. Kuhnen was the double-double with 22 points and 10 rebounds. She also handed out five assists. Trossi was the near triple-double once again with an astounding 12 points, 10 rebounds, and nine assists. Sophomore forward Jaeda Wildgoose (Somerset, N.J.) was the fourth Griffin in double figures with 19 points in addition to her eight rebounds.
 
The Chestnut Hill College women's basketball team faces their next CACC on Saturday, February 18, when they visit the University of the Sciences (USciences) for a 1:00 p.m. contest.