The Chestnut Hill College Women's Basketball team won a Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) playoff game for the first time on Tuesday and now advance to the Tournament semi-finals where they will play Jefferson University on Saturday. The Tournament is hosted by Caldwell University
The Series
The CACC semi-final game between Jefferson and Chestnut Hill will be the 29
th meeting between the two teams and the third time this season they have played against each other. The Griffins swept the season series winning 70-61 at home and 65-60 at Jefferson this season. This is the first time Chestnut Hill and Jefferson have met in the CACC Tournament. Jefferson leads the all-time series 23-5 but Chestnut Hill has won three of the last four meetings.
Griffins Remain at #2 in Final Week of NCAA East Region Rankings
Philadelphia, Pa - The final NCAA Division II East Region rankings released yesterday has the Chestnut Hill College Women's Basketball remaining at the no. 2 spot. This is the final ranking before the NCAA Tournament selections this coming Sunday. Chestnut Hill holds a 24-5 overall and in-region record following their CACC quarterfinal win over Caldwell on Tuesday, which was not included in determining the rankings.
The Griffins won the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) South Division with a 16-2 conference record last Saturday, defeating University of the Sciences. (15-3, #3 in ranking). Jefferson is the third CACC team listed in the rankings at #6. The team defeated Caldwell 82-66 Tuesday night at Sorgenti Arena and will face Jefferson on Saturday at Caldwell University at 5:00 p.m.
Eight teams will make the NCAA East Region Tournament held March 11-14. Three automatic bids will be awarded to the three conference tournament champions (Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference, Northeast-10 Conference and East Coast Conference) and five teams will receive at-large berths based on the rankings.
| EAST REGION |
|
|
|
|
| Rank |
School |
Overall
DII Record |
In-Region
Record |
| 1 |
Southern New Hampshire |
21-5 |
20-4 |
| 2 |
Chestnut Hill |
23-5 |
23-5 |
| 3 |
University of the Sciences |
20-4 |
18-3 |
| 4 |
Pace |
21-6 |
21-6 |
| 5 |
Le Moyne |
16-6 |
16-5 |
| 6 |
Jefferson |
21-7 |
21-7 |
| 7 |
Bentley |
14-8 |
14-6 |
| 8 |
Stonehill |
14-8 |
14-8 |
| 9 |
Daemen |
18-4 |
17-3 |
About the Griffins
The Griffins enter Saturday's game with an 24-5 overall record following their 82-66 CACC Quarterfinal win over Caldwell on Tuesday. Their 24 wins is a school record for wins in a season.
Freshman
Emily Chmiel leads the team with a school record 12 double-doubles (2
nd in CACC) and is averaging 11.6 points per game. Chmiel is 2
nd in the CACC in total blocks (47) and total rebounds (236) while ranking among the conference top eight in seven additional statistical categories, including blocks/game (3
rd, 1.6), and free throws made (8
th, 75). Chmiel is third on the team with 22 steals. She was recently named to the CACC all-Conference team as a second team selection and the CACC Rookie of the Year
Senior guard
Cassie Sebold is second on the team in scoring, 11.1 points per game. She also leads the team with a school-record 151 assists (2
nd in CACC, 10
th in NCAA) and 33 steals. Sebold is second on the team with 36 three-point field goals made on the season, while appearing in all but two games this season. Cassie is shooting 85.3% from the free throw line (2
nd best mark in the CACC) and has two double doubles on the season. She was also named to the CACC all-conference team as a second team member
Bri Hewlett earned third team All-CACC honors this year with a solid season, moving into a starting role on 12/8 and has scored in double figures in 13 of the Griffins last 15 games. Hewlett is averaging 9.4 points per game and 6.0 rebounds per game. She notched her third consecutive double-double on February 15 against Jefferson, scoring a career-high 24 points (9-15 FG, 5-7 3FG) while grabbing 11 rebounds, giving her five double-doubles on the season. Twice the senior forward has grabbed 16 rebounds in a game, the last in a loss at Dominican on 2/9. Hewlett's five double-doubles are second only to Chmiel who leads the team with 12. She has earned CACC Weekly honor roll accolades four times this season.
Lauren Crim is one of six players to appear in every game this season and has started 28 of the 29 games played. Crim has been on a three-point shooting tear of late, making 14 of 17 three-point baskets in the Griffins' last two games She leads the team with 59 three-point field goals (4
th in the CACC) and has made a three-pointer in each of the Griffins last 11 games. After a slow start to the season she now has the second best three-point shooting percentage in the CACC at 37.3%. She is averaging 9.0 points per game Crim also ranks among the top five in the CACC in assist/turnover ratio with a mark of 1.7
Lindsey Lane has started all 29 games and is shooting 42.7% from the field while averaging 6.1 points per game and 4.2 rebounds per game. Lane has made a season-high six field goals against Felician and repeated the mark in CHC's next game at Georgian Court. Lindsey had a career-high 15 points vs. Felician.
Abbey Spratt is the second Griffin to have started all 29 games and has been the backcourt defensive stalwart usually guarding one of the opponent's better players. Spratt is third on the team with 46 assists.
Kaitlyn Carter has appeared in all 29 games, starting four. She is second on the team with 27 steals and 54 assists while averaging 3.5 points/game. She had a career-high five assists at Jefferson on February 15 and had a career-high 16 points in the Griffins' win over Jefferson on Jan. 13. The sophomore guard has also been a stalwart on defense effectively shutting down a top offensive player on the opposing team in each of the last 12 games. Her efforts earned her CACC Defensive Player of the Week for the week ending January 16 when she held the league's leading scorer without a basket in CHC's win at Georgian Court.
Connolly Named CACC Coach of the Year
New Haven, Conn. - Chestnut Hill College Head Women's Basketball Coach
Jim Connolly has been named the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) 2021-22 Women's Basketball Coach of the Year. Voting for the CACC Coach of the Year was done by the conference sports information directors.
In his third season, Connolly guided the Griffins to their first conference division championship in the program's Division II history, guiding the team to a school record 23 wins against just five losses. Chestnut Hill's 16-2 record in CACC games is also the best in program history. Connolly's CACC Coach of the Year honor is a first for a women's program at Chestnut Hill.
After starting the season with a modest 6-3 record, Connolly's Griffins went on a program record 13-game winning streak including ten straight conference games. The Griffins became the first team to start the season with 12 straight conference wins since the 2015-16 Philadelphia University (now Jefferson) Rams started CACC play that year with a 12-0 record.
The Griffins win at Jefferson on February 15 was the program's 20
th win of the season, breaking the record for most wins in a season set back in 2017-18 and also marked another first, the first time the Griffins ever swept the season series against the Rams. The Griffins also swept the season series against another CACC perennial power University of the Sciences, winning last Saturday to clinch the division title.
Connolly earned Whoopdirt.com Coach of the Week honors for the week ending February 20, 2022 after a perfect 2-0 week and earning the program's 20
th win at Jefferson.
Griffins Place Three on All-CACC Team; Emily Chmiel Named rookie of the Year
New Haven, Conn. - The Chestnut Hill College Women's Basketball program placed three members of the team on the Central Atlantic Collegiate conference All-Conference Teams in an announcement made by the conference office today. Voting for the CACC Women's Basketball All-conference team sis conducted by the league's 13 head women's basketball coaches.
One of the three, freshman
Emily Chmiel (Doylestown, Pa.) was also voted as the CACC Women's Basketball Rookie of the Year. Chmiel was also named to the Second Team All-CACC as was senior
Cassie Sebold (Willow Grove, Pa.). Senior
Bri Hewlett (North Wales, Pa.) was chosen as a third team honoree.
Chmiel has played in all 28 games for the Griffins, is averaging 11.4 points per game and leads the team with 11 double-doubles (tied for most ever in a single season by a Griffins player). The freshman forward has earned CACC rookie of the Week honors six times during the season. In addition, she was named CACC Defensive Player of the Week three times and CACC Player of the Week once. Chmiel had the rare distinction of earning all three weekly awards in the same week (January 23, 2022) albeit sharing Player and Rookie of the Week honors.
Statistically, Chmiel ranks second in the conference in total blocks (46) and rebounds (225); fourth in blocks/game (1.6), fifth in field goal percentage (51.9%) and tenth in free throw percentage (70.3%). She is one of just two players in the CACC ranked in the top ten in both field goal and free throw percentage.
Chmiel becomes the fourth Chestnut Hill player to earn CACC rookie of the Year honors, joining Jaeda Wildgoose (2015-16), Shannon Glenn (2016-17) and Sebold (2017-18)
Sebold earns All-CACC Second Teams honors for the second time, having been selected during the 2019-20 season. She was also the CACC rookie of the year for the 2017-18 season. Cassie leads the Griffins in scoring (11.5 ppg.), assists (140) and steals (32) while playing in 26 of Chestnut Hill's 28 games. She ranks second in the CACC in assists and assists/game (5.4) and ranks among the top 15 nationally in both categories. Sebold is also third in the league with an 85.3% shooting average from the free throw line and fourth in the conference in assist/turnover ratio (1.7).
Earlier this season, Sebold scored her 1,000
th career point, reaching the mark against West Chester in November and recently became just the third player in program history to eclipse the 1,200 point mark with 1,250 for her career. She has two double-doubles on the season and was named to the CACC weekly honor roll twice.
Hewlett is having the best season of her career in 2021-22, recording five double doubles and earning CACC Weekly honor roll status four times. Bri is averaging 9.0 points per game and 5.9 rebounds per game. She scored a career high 24 points in the Griffins' win at Jefferson and has had a career high 16 rebounds in two games. Hewlett has scored in double figures in 14 of the Griffins last 18 games.
Records Fall as Griffins Win First Ever CACC Tournament Game
Philadelphia, Pa. - Records were set Tuesday night as the Chestnut Hill College Women's Basketball team won their first ever Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) playoff game in their NCAA Division II history, defeating Caldwell University 82-66 in front of a packed house at Sorgenti Arena.
With the win the Griffins improve to a program best 24-5 overall and advance to the CACC Semi-final game where they will play Jefferson University at Caldwell University on Saturday, March 5. Caldwell finishes their season at 13-15.
Lauren Crim (Warrington,Pa.) tied her own school record with eight three point field goals in the game, making eight of ten over the course of the game. Crim finished the game with 26 points (8-12 FG, 8-10 3FG).
Cassie Sebold (Willow Grove, Pa.) broke the single season record for assists dishing out 11 on the evening to bring her total to 151, breaking the old record of 149 set by Mary Trossi in 2016-17.
Emily Chmiel (Doylestown, Pa.) also set a school record with her 12
th double-double of the season, scoring 16 points and grabbing 11 rebounds.
Bri Hewlett (North Wales, Pa.) narrowly missed another double-double with 22 points (9-15 FG) and nine rebounds.
The Griffins led the entire way except for a 2-2 tie early in the game. Chestnut Hill opened the game on a 19-4 run (7-9 FG) with 11 points coming from Hewlett, six from Crim and a single basket from
Lindsey Lane (Havertown, Pa.). Sebold notched the assist of five of the Griffins seven field goals during the run. Crim later added her third three-point basket of the quarter to make the score 26-11 leading to a 28-17 lead at the end of the period.
Caldwell shaved just three points off the lead in the second quarter, outscoring the Griffins 17-14 to cut Chestnut Hill's lead to eight 42-34 at the half. The Cougars opened the third quarter with a 10-3 run to close within one 45-44 but another three point shot by Crim capped an 11-4 spurt and put the Griffins back uyp by eight again 56-48 with 3:45 left in the period. Hewlett's jumper with 2:24 left made the score 60-50 heading into the fourth quarter.
Two three point baskets from Crim and layups from Chmiel and
Morgan Sterner (Northampton, Pa.) (7 points) bumped the lead back to 14 70-56 with Crim's final three-ball of the game with 1:44 left giving the Griffins their largest lead of the game 80-64 The team teams exchanged points in the final 68 seconds to keep the margin at 16 as time expired.
The Griffins shot 68.8% in the first quarter and 72.7% in the fourth while dropping off in the middle two periods (35.2%) to finish the game shooting 50.8% (31-61) from the field including a 54.2% from three-point range. On the defensive side, the Griffins held Caldwell to just 39.4% (26-66) shooting and 21.4% (3-14) from three-point range. Chestnut Hill also outrebounded Caldwell 41-30.
Chmiel and Crim Earn CACC Women's Basketball Weekly Honors
Emily Chmiel earned CACC Rookie of the week for the sixth time this season and
Lauren Crim as recognized by the conference for the second time in the final week that the conference will be choosing weekly awards.
Chmiel notched her 11
th double-double of the season, tying a school record for most double-doubles in a single season on Saturday with 21 points and 10 rebounds in the Griffins win over USciences.
Crim made the game winning three point basket against USciences, scoring a total of 20 points. The junior guard made six three-point baskets to go over the 50 three-point field goals made mark for the third time in her career.
The complete list of weekly honors earned by the Chestnut Hill Women's Basketball players is as follows:
Moving up the Ranks
Lauren Crim moved into 11
th place on the Griffins all-time scoring list last Wednesday with 888 points, passing Tara Walsh (879, 2004-08) She now has 934 for her career…Crim also recently moved up to third place on the Griffins' all-time three point field goals made list and now has 203 for her career, passing Vicky Tumasz (180 , 2016-18)…
Cassie Sebold became just the third Griffins women's basketball player to score 1,200 or more points with her 18-point effort vs. Caldwell. She added 39 more points since then to give her 1,253 for her career, needing 25 more points to pass Ruairi Sullivan (1,277 pts.; 1996-00) to move into second place on the Griffins' all-time list. Sebold also broke the single season record for assists, dishing out 11 on Tuesday…She needs seven more assists to become the program's all-time leader, passing Mary Trossi who had 477 in her career.
Griffins and Rams Comparison
| Griffins |
|
|
|
Rams |
| 66.1 |
|
Pts/game |
|
67.8 |
| 55.8 |
|
Pts allowed/game |
|
58.8 |
| 39.5 |
|
FG% |
|
43.2 |
| 35.2 |
|
FG% Defense |
|
36.7 |
| 30.5 |
|
3PT FG % |
|
29.1 |
| 74.9 |
|
FT % |
|
69.4 |
| 43.3 |
|
Rebounds/game |
|
39.4 |
| 34.8 |
|
Rebounds allowed/gm. |
|
38.6 |
| 8.5 |
|
Rebound margin |
|
0.8 |
| 16.6 |
|
Assists/game |
|
16.5 |
| 6.4 |
|
Steals/game |
|
10.1 |
| 3.7 |
|
Blocks/game |
|
2.9 |
Scouting the Rams
Jefferson has a 22-7 overall record and finished as the #3 seed in the CACC south Division heading into the playoffs. This will be the Rams fourth consecutive appearance in the tournament semi-finals.
Cassie Murphy leads the team, starting all 29 games and averaging 14.4 points per game. The freshman power forward is shooting 53.8% from the field and is third on the team averaging 5.6 rebounds. Haley Meinel has also started all 24 games and is averaging 14.2 points per game and leads the team with 19 blocks and 78 steals.
Morgan Robinson leads the CACC in assists and ranks among the Division II national leaders, with 181 on the season. Robinson is averaging 8.8 points per game while shooting 48.5% from the field. She also leads the team averaging 6.7 rebounds per game.
Maeve McCann is second on the team with 28 three-point baskets and 78 assists. McCann is averaging 6.7 points per game. Sam Yencha is second on the teram in rebounding, pulling down an average of 6.6 per game. Yencha is averaging 6.7 points per game.
Emily Keehfuss leads the team in three-point field goals with 41 and shooting 41.4% from beyond the arc. She has been a key contributor off the bench for the Rams averaging 5.8 points per game.
Last Time Out for Jefferson
RUTHERFORD, N.J. – The Thomas Jefferson University women's basketball team (22-7) cruised past Felician in the CACC quarterfinals on Tuesday, winning by a 62-34 score.
The Rams move on to the conference semifinals where they will take on Chestnut Hill on Saturday, March 5 at 5 p.m. The remainder of the CACC Tournament will be played at Caldwell University.
Jefferson is the third seed in the South Division while Chestnut Hill is the top seed. Felician was the North Division's second seed.
Haley Meinel led the team with 14 points on 6-of-12 shooting while
Sam Yencha added 12 points on 6-of-6 shooting along with six rebounds.
Morgan Robinson had 11 points on 5-of-9 shooting and grabbed nine rebounds to go along with four assists, three steals and a block
The Rams trailed 2-1 early before taking over with an 11-1 run.
Yencha led the way with six points and
Emily Keehfuss added five. After a basket by the Golden Falcons, Jefferson had the last six points of the quarter to up the margin to 13 (18-5).
In the second, the Rams got the first bucket to lead by 15 (20-5). Felician then came back with a 9-0 surge to get within six (20-14) with 6:49 left. The two squads traded baskets for the remainder of the period and Jefferson held a 28-20 advantage at the intermission.
In the third quarter, Jefferson recorded the first six points to increase its lead to 14 (34-20). The difference was still 14 (40-26) when the Rams ended the frame with a 7-2 stretch to take a 19-point advantage (47-28) into the fourth. Jefferson continued to dominate in the final period, outscoring the Golden Falcons, 15-6, on the way to the win.
