Comeback Effort Falls Short as Devils Drop CACC Opener

A pair of free throws proved to be the difference as the University of the Sciences women's basketball team rallied from a ten-point deficit late in the second half only to lose 65-63 to host Goldey–Beacom College Tuesday night in Wilmington, Delaware 

The loss drops the Devils record to 2-4 overall and 0-1 in Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference games.  Goldey-Beacom improves to 5-3 overall and 1-1 in league play. 

The Devils placed four players in double figures, led by Brianne Traub's (Eastern Christian HS/Wayne, N.J.) 18 points (3-13 FG, 11-13 FT).  Jessica Sylvester (Nazareth Academy/Trevose, Pa.) came off the bench to score 14 points (4-7 3FG). Carolyn Edwards (St. Basil's Academy/Huntington Valley, Pa.) and Becca Ruggear (Oxford Area HS/Oxford, Pa.) added 10 points apiece.  Traub also led the Devils with six assists.  Isabella Ross (Central HS/Philadelphia, Pa.) added a team-high seven rebounds. 

Devonne Richardson paced the Lightning with 21 points and 13  rebounds while Irene Hudson added 15.

Goldey-Beacom again built a double-digit lead as the Devils were struggling to make shots.  Sciences trailed by ten 48-38 at the 12:49 mark when six straight points, all by Traub pulled the Devils within four 48-44 at the 10:41 mark.  The Lightning pushed the lead back up to ten on three occasions, the last being 58-48 with 5:45 left before the Devils made their final push. 

The Devils produced an 8-0 run starting with a pair of free throws by Elsebeth Birman (St. John's College HS/Silver Spring, Md.).  Three layups followed, two by Ruggear and one from Edwards, making the score 58-56 with 3:37 left.  Taylor Leonard's '3-ball' at the 2:02 mark broke the run and put the Lightning back up by five 61-58.   Traub followed with a layup and-1 to pull the Devils back within two 61-59.  Richardson connected on two free throws and Sylvester then nailed a 'trey' from the left baseline to make the score 63-62 with 1:02 left.   Sciences' defense held and Traub was fouled grabbing the rebound.  She made one of two, tying the game with 34 seconds left.  A missed shot and an offensive rebound on GBC's next possession led to a questionable Devils foul with 4.3 seconds left put Ashley Rosario to the line.   Rosario made both giving the Lighting a two-point lead 65-63.  Birman's three-point attempt at the buzzer fell short and the Lightning came away with the victory.

Free throw shooting  (20-22, 90.9%) and a solid effort from beyond the arc (7-17, 41.2%) kept the Devils in the game as Sciences made just 31% of their overall shots from the field (18-58), including a frigid 7-33 (21.2%) effort in the opening period.  The Lightning held the advantage on the boards, 43-34 and shot 40.4% (23-57) for the game.  GBC was 17-23 from the free throw line (73.9%) and made just two of seven three point shots.    The Devils also produced a nice assist turnover ratio 14/13 to GBC's 7/17. 

The Devils return home to face Post University on Saturday, December 10, 2011.  Tip off is set for 1:00 p.m.