Caleigh Edwards sank five free throws in the final 15 seconds as the Chestnut Hill College Women's Basketball team earned a 56-52 win over regionally ranked Holy Family University Tuesday night at HFU's Campus Center in Philadelphia.
The Griffins improve to 8-5 overall and 4-1 in Central Atlantic Collegiate conference games. The Tigers, ranked #6 in the most recent D2CSC Women's Basketball East Region Media poll, fall to 13-2 overall and 4-2 in league play.
Avery White led three Chestnut Hill players in double figures with 14 points (7-12 FG). Edwards scored nine of her 13 points in the fourth quarter to finish with 13 points.
Emily Sekerak added ten points ( 5-8 FG) and eight rebounds.
Kaitlyn Carter also had eight rebounds to go along with five assists, five steals and two blocks. White also had five assists.
Chestnut Hill rallied from a five-point halftime deficit to take a 43-41 lead heading into the final period. The Tigers used a 10-6 run to retake the lead 51-49 before White tied the game with a layup. An HFU free throw gave the Tigers a 52-51 lead with 2:14 left before the Griffins' defense locked things down. Forcing a pair of missed shots and two turnovers as the game headed into the final minute. With the Griffins trailing, Edwards sank the first of her five free throws with 15 seconds left to put CHC on top 53-52. Carter delivered a big block on the Tigers next possession and the Griffins regained possession with just under ten seconds remaining. Edwards added another free throw and the Griffins forced another turnover which eventually led to two more free throws by Edwards with 0.3 seconds left to seal the win.
The Griffins opened the third quarter with an 11-3 run to take 36-33 lead. Following a Tiger basket,
Sara Tamoun converted a traditional three-point play to put the Griffins up by four 39-35. Holy Family clawed back two points before the end of the period as the Griffins led 43-41.
In the opening half, the Tigers used an 11-0 run in the second quarter to take their biggest lead at 26-17 with 5:12 left. Sekerak and White brokethe run with back-to-back baskets to cut the lead to five before both teams exchanged scores the rest of the quarter as the Tigers held a 30-25 lead at halftime.
The first quarter featured five ties and four lead changes as the Tigers held a slim 13-12 lead with neither team leading by more than two points.
For the game, the Griffins shot 37.7% (23-61) from the field and made eight of ten free throws (80%). The Tigers shot just 32.8% (22-67) and were 4-for-5 from the charity stripe. Holy Family outrebounded Chestnut Hill 48-35 and had an 18-8 advantage on the offensive glass. CHC however scored nine second chance points to HFU's seven.
The Women's Basketball team returns to action on Thursday, January 11, 2024 when they host St. Thomas Aquinas College in a non-conference regional clash at Sorgenti Arena. Tipoff is set for 5:30 p.m.
