The Chestnut Hill College women's Basketball team advanced to the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference Tournament semi-finals Tuesday night, rallying for man eight point second half deficit to defeat defending CACC champion Dominican University 51-49 at Sorgenti Arena in Philadelphia.

The Griffins advanced to the conference semi-finals for just the second time in program history (2021-22 season was their first).  Chestnut Hill will face Goldey-Beacom College, the #4 seed in the south who was an upset winner on the road at Post University on Tuesday. The semi-finals will be played at Caldwell University on Saturday, March 9.  The Griffins will play in the second semi-final game, slated to tipoff at 7:00 p.m.

The Griffins improve to 19-8 overall while the Chargers finish their season at 12-16.

Kaitlyn Carter led the Griffins with 14 points (6-8 FG) while recording a double-double, grabbing a game high 14 rebounds. Bridie McCann and Carline Herb added 13 points apiece.  Sara Tamoun came off the bench to grab six rebounds while Avery White led the team with five assists.

The Chargers held a four point lead at the half, 31-27 and doubled it as the third quarter progressed, taking an eight point lead 40-32 with 1:32 remaining in the third quarter.  Dominican's lead was still at six points, 44-38 with 7:18 remaining in the game when the Griffins began their comeback, producing a 13-1 run over the next three minutes, to take a six point lead.

McCann opened the run with a three-point basket and Tamoun followed with a driving layup on the baseline to pull CHC within one 44-43.  After their third straight defensive stop, Chestnut Hill regained the lead 46-44 on a Carter three-point basket midway through the period.  The senior forward added a layup and McCann drained another three-ball to put the Griffins up six 51-45 with 4:12 remaining.

DU's Chidinma Ndukauba cut the lead to four 51-47 with 3:47 remaining but that would be the last field goal scored by either team the rest of the way.  Chestnut Hill's defense took over, forcing two turnovers and two missed shots as the game entered its final minute. Two free throws by Alexis Suarez pulled the Chargers within two with 52 seconds remaining.  McCann grabbed a key offensive rebound off a three-point miss from Herb with 21 seconds left but could not maintain possession, giving the Chargers one last shot with just under nine seconds left.

A three-point attempt by the Chargers fell short and Tamoun grabbed the rebound with 1.5 seconds left, enabling the Griffins to run out the clock.

Cayla Howard led the Chargers with 19 points and ten rebounds.  Ndukauba had 15 points while Suarez chipped in ten.  The trio accounted for 44 of the Chargers 49 points.

Chestnut Hill had their best shooting effort in the fourth quarter, making seven of 14 shots (50%) while their defense held the Chargers to just two field goals (2-11, 18.2%).  Both teams finished the game shooting under 33% for the night with the Griffins shooting 32.7% (18-55) and the Chargers 32.2%.  Chestnut Hill made nine three-point baskets while the chargers connected on only one, in the first quarter. The Griffins bench scored 21 of the team's 51 points and outscored the DU bench 21-0.