Devils Defeat Wolves in Season Opener

Caitlin Shaw had 23 points and Alyssa Hamm and Colleen Christian added 19 and 12 respectively as the University of the Sciences women's basketball team opened their season with a hard-fought 69-62 victory over host Cheyney University Saturday at Cope Hall in Cheyney, Pennsylvania.

The win was the Devils first season opening victory since they defeated Shippensburg to kick off the 2007-08 season.

Shaw connected on nine of 16 shots from the field to finish with a game high 23 points. Caitlin also grabbed a team-high eight rebounds. Hamm did much of her scoring in the second half with three second half 'treys' and 12 points in the period enroute to her highest point output since scoring 19 against Nyack in the 2008-09 season.  Alyssa finished the game with four three-pointers.  Both Hamm and Shaw connected on five of six free throws.  Christian had the best game from the charity stripe making all seven free throw shots.  Colleen's 12 points equals the best season opening scoring output of her career.  Christian also led all players with a career-best six assists. Sarah Hickman had four steals.

Cheyney placed three players in double figures, led by Lachelle Miller's 17 points.  Christalee Lynch added 12 points and 11 rebounds while Nadirah Brown also had 12 points while grabbing nine rebounds.  Lynch also had four blocks and three steals.   Brown and Miller each had three assists.

The Devils jumped out to an early nine point lead 22-13 before the Wolves clawed their way back within one 22-21 with 6L38 left in the opening period.   Sciences then outscored Cheyney 16-2 to close out the half and take a 38-23 lead into the lockerroom at the break.  Shaw was responsible for eight of those points, connecting on four of five shots from the field during the run.

Another Shaw layup early in the second half, gave the Devils their largest lead of the afternoon, a 17-point bulge, 42-25 with 18:13 left in the game.  Cheyney followed with a 12-5 run to cut the lead to ten 47-37 at the 11:15 mark before Becca Ruggear's layup boosted the Devils lead back up to 12, 49-37.  Tamara Russell and Brown added baskets for the hosts, bringing the Devils lead down to single digits (49-41)  A for the first time since the 3:19 mark of the first half.  A 3-ball from Hamm and later a free throw made the score 53-41 with seven minutes left in the game.

Sciences still had an 11-point lead, 58-47 with 4:13 left when Cheyney's Kyra McGriff and Miller nailed consecutive three-pointers to cut the elad to five, 58-53 with just 2:35 left.  Hamm followed with the last of her four three-pointers at the 1:59 mark and after the Wolves made one of two free throws, Marissa Chesnavich brought the lead back to nine 63-54 with just 90 ticks left on the clock.  A steal and a layup from Miller made the score 63-56 with 1:03 left, but the Devils were perfect from the free throw line over the last minute (6-6) as they hung on for the 69-62 win.

The six free throws in the final minute capped a very productive day for the Devils on the foul line as they made 18 of 21 shots (85.7%) compared to Cheyney's 7-for-12 (58.3%).   Sciences also made 23 of 57 field goals (40.4%) while the Wolves, made 25 of 67 (37.3%).   The Wolves also held a 48-33 advantage on the glass (including a 23-13 margin on the offensive boards). Neither team took good care of the ball with The Devils having slightly fewer turnovers (21) to Cheyney's 27.

The Devils return to action on Tuesday, November 16, 2010 when they host West Chester University at the Bobby Morgan Arena.   Tip off is set for 6:00 p.m.