Five players reach double figure scoring as the Chestnut Hill College Women's Basketball team won their regular season finale, 64-56 over Georgian court University Saturday afternoon.
The Griffins improve to 16-2 overall and finish the regular season with a 12-4 conference record and a third place finish in the CACC south division. The lions conclude their season at 6-22 overall and 6-10 in league play.
Prior to the start of the game, the athletics department and the women's basketball team honored their five senior players who were playing in their final home game of their career. Honored were Bri Rider, Emily Sekerak, Caleigh Edwards, Siobhan Boylan and Angel Sanders. The five players have been an integral part of the program's success throughout their respective careers, as the team produced winning records and qualified for the CACC Championship Tournament in every season that they played.
Tiayo Adelekan led all scorers with 15 points and recorded her fifth double-double of the season with 12 rebounds. Sara Tamoun added 12 points99-10 FT) while Tikyra Miller chipped in 11. Bridie McCann and Avery White scored ten points apiece. White led the team with four assists while Tamoun had four steals.
Chestnut Hill connected on 38 of 54 shots from the free throw line. The 38 made free throws shattered the old school record of 31 set back in 2017 vs. Nyack. It is also the second highest total of made free throws in a single game this season among d-II schools (Clarion- 40 FTM) and only Clarion and North Carolina Central (D1- MEAC -44 FTM) have made more free throws in a game among all three divisions this season.
Action was slow to start as the two teams combined for just 36 points in the first two quarters as the lions held a 20-16 lead at halftime with the two squads shooting a combined 25%from the field (13-52).
The pace picked up in the third quarter with the lions opening a seven point lead 24-17 just two minutes into the period. Chestnut Hill followed with six straight points to close within one 24-23. The GCU lead oscillated between one and four points until Miller's fastbreak layup tied the score at 31-31 with two minutes left. Free throws from Miller, Tamoun and Edwards accounted for the Griffins final four points as Chestnut hill took their first lead of the game and held a 35-31 lead heading into the final period.
The Griffins opened with the fourth quarter with an 11-4 run to take their biggest lead 46-35 with 5:43 left. Chestnut Hill still led by 11, 48-37 when the Lions roared back with a 12-4 run to close within three 52-49 with 2:47 left. White then tallied six of the Griffins next eight points to go back up by eight 60-52 with 30 seconds left. Sanders increased the lead to ten with two free throws in the final seconds before a layup with a second left by GCU's Smanatha Jones provided the final points.
Next up for the women's basketball team in the CACC Quarterfinals. The team will travel to face Caldwell university, the #2 seed from the North on Tuesday, March 4, 2025. Tipoff is set for 6:00 p.m.
