Devils Survive Late Run by Griffins

Caitlin Shaw scored 28 points as the University of the Sciences women's basketball team survived a second half run by Chestnut Hill College to defeat the Griffins 67-61 at the Sorgenti Arena Tuesday night. 

The win, the Devils eighth straight, ups their record to 14-4 overall and 10-2 in CACC games.   Chestnut Hill falls to 6-13 overall and 4-8 in league play. 

Shaw (Monmouth Regional High School/Eatontown, Pa.) connected on six of ten shots from the field and set a school record with 16 free throws (20 attempts) to account for her game high 28 points.  She also grabbed 12 rebounds to complete her seventh double-double of the season.  Carolyn Edwards (St. Basils Academy/Huntington Valley, Pa.) was the only other player in double figures for the Devils, scoring a career-high 13 points (5-8 FG, 2-2 3FG).  Edwards also added three assists.  Colleen Christian (Central Bucks South HS/Warrington, Pa.) added a game-high five assists. 

Latoya Laing came off the bench to lead the Griffins with 17 points. Cecelia Herald had 13 and Kamia Smith added 12 points and three assists.  Ebony Washington had 12 rebounds. 

A 13-3 run in the first half gave the Devils a ten point lead 24-14 with seven minutes left and the lead oscillated between five and ten points the rest of the period.  Shaw scored the Devils last six points to give the Devils a ten point lead at the break 34-24. 

The Devils opened the second half with a 16-8 run to boost their lead to 18, 50-32 with 8:49 left.  The margin was still 17, courtesy of a Becca Ruggear (Oxford area HS/Oxford, Pa.) layup-and one at the 6:46 mark when the Griffins suddenly sprung to life, outscoring the Devils 11-2 over the next three minutes to pull within eight, 57-49 with 3:33 left, prompting a return of the Devils starters to the floor.  Shaw's two free throws boosted the lead back to double digits, 59-49  but three-pointers from Jessica Pruiti and Laing whittled the lead to five, 60-55 with just 2:37 left.  The Griffins pulled within three in the final seconds, 64-61 before Melissa Rotz (Central Dauphin HS/Harrisburg, Pa.) nailed two key free throws to boost the lead to five 66-61 with 16 seconds left.  Sciences added one more free throw in the final seconds to make the final margin six, 67-61. 

Sciences held the edge from the field (44.2%-36.5%) and at the free throw line, making 26 of 41 to CHC's 15 of 23.  The Griffins had five more three-point field goals (8-3) and outrebounded the Devils 38-31.  The Devils did a better job of protecting the rock, committing 13 turnovers (12 assists) to the Griffins 19 (11 assists). 

The women's basketball team will be back in action on Thursday, February 3, 2011 when they host Goldey Beacom College in a CACC southern division clash.  Goldey-Beacom defeated the Devils earlier this season, 62-52 in Wilmington, Delaware.  Tipoff is set for 6:00 p.m.