Bob Heller's Philly WBB Small College Report: Thomas Nets 1000th for Streaking USciences

by Bob Heller (@Bob_Heller1)

 

 

Happy New Year basketball fans!  Our first notebook of 2018 is ready and rolling out as yours truly brings you the highlights and achievements of all our area Division II and Division III women’s basketball programs during the final week of 2017.

So let’s get right to the action…

 

Our first stop will be Wilmington, Delaware; where University of the Sciences junior and Delaware native Alex Thomas became the 17th player in program history to reach the 1,000-point plateau as the Devils defeated Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) rival Wilmington, 76-50 for their fourth straight win.  

USciences improves to 11-2 on the season and 3-1 in conference games.

 

Thomas entered the game needing 11 points to reach the milestone and reached the mark with a basket in the waning seconds of the second quarter.  The junior forward finished with a game high 19 points.  The Devils as a team also broke their own CACC record by making 17 three-point field goals, eclipsing the 16 the team made on two different occasions.

 

Colleen Walsh made five ‘threes’ to lead all players while scoring 15 points.  Sarah Abbonizio had 14 points and four ‘threes’.  

Thomas had three long range buckets while shooting 7-13 from the field en route to becoming the Devils latest 1,000 point scorer and the first since former All-CACC performer Jess Sylvester tallied her 1,000th point on January 7, 2015 against Chestnut Hill College.

 

The Devils used a 28-10 second quarter effort to take control of the game after trailing by as many as six points in the first quarter.  USciences outscored Wilmington 20-15 in the third quarter to lead comfortably 62-38 heading into the final period.  

 

Two days earlier, the Devils were at home, taking on regionally ranked Stonehill College (#4 D2SIDA) in their final non-conference match of the regular season, defeating the Skyhawks 71-56.  Stonehill was also receiving votes in both national polls.

 

Senior Laura Trisch became the fifth player and first since 2010 to reach 100 career blocks while wearing a Devils uniform.  USciences all time leader is Alison Hargadon who played in the Andy McGovern-era from 1998-2002 and recorded 539 blocks.

 

The Devils used a 25-11 fourth quarter spurt to open the game up, turning a one point lead at the end of the third quarter into a double-digit advantage in closing minutes. 

 Abbonizio scored nine of her career-high 26 points in the period.  USciences’ defense smother the potent Stonehill offense in the quarter, holding the Skyhawks without a field goal for a 8:58 stretch and just two baskets the entire period. (one at 9:12, the other at 0:14). 

 Offensively the Devils used a 16-4 spurt to turn a one-point deficit into a double digit lead which they maintained for the final three minutes of the game.

 

USciences is ranked #6 is the most recent D2SIDA East regional poll (12/18) and is receiving votes in the WBCA Coaches poll (12/21). The next regional/national/polls will be out Jan. 2-4, 2018.

 

Rams finish 2017 with a Perfect 6-0 December Mark

 

The area’s other ranked Division II team, Jefferson University (#3/#22  D2SIDA)  finished December with a perfect 6-0 mark with a 39-point win over Goldey-Beacom College, 94-55, as the  Rams  remain perfect in CACC games with a 5-0 record and a 12-1 overall mark.

 

Five Rams finished in double figures led by Alynna Williams’ 20 points.  Rachel Day (19), Jessica Kaminski (18), Beverly Kum (13) and Erin Maher (10) also reached double figure scoring for Jefferson.

 

Jefferson held a 21-13 edge after the first quarter and a big second quarter helped the Rams take a 48-24 lead at halftime.

 

The Rams could not miss in the second half, shooting 52.9% in the third quarter and 75% in the fourth to finish 35-of-70 on the afternoon. It was the first time the Rams have shot 50% or better in game this season.

 

This Saturday (1/6) will be the big game of the week as Jefferson and USciences meet up for the first of two CACC games this season.  Saturday’s game will be at the Bobby Morgan Arena and will tipoff at 1:00 p.m., the same time the Division I Ivy showdown opener between Penn and Princeton will tip at The Palestra.

 

Area CACC teams also in action…

 

In other Division II action on last Saturday, Chestnut Hill College placed five players in double figures as they rallied to defeat host Georgian Court University 93-90.

 

Jaeda Wildgoose led the Griffins with 24 points.  Shannon Glenn added 21 while Cassie Sebold poured in a career-high 19 points, including two key baskets in the fourth quarter.  Mary Trossi and Vicky Tumasz added 15 and 11 points respectively.

 

Chestnut Hill trailed by ten, 74-64 as the fourth quarter opened but quickly erased the lead, scoring the first 11 points of the period to take a 75-74 advantage. 

 GCU countered with six straight to go back up by five before a three-ball from Sebold and five straight points from Wildgoose, reversed thelead and gave CHC an 83-80 advantage.  

The Lions roared back to take an 88-87 lead with just 26 seconds left before Sebold but the Griffins back on top with a layup.  The freshman guard added two more free throws to boost the lead to three.  Following a GCU bucket with one second left, Trossi iced the game with two free throws.

 

LeMoyne University handed Holy Family University a 74-59 loss to drop the Tigers to 1-11 overall.  Elizabeth Radley led HFU with 22 points while Alexis Hofstaedter added 10.

 

The Dolphins led by ten at the half, 28-18 and increased their lead to as many as 27 points with a solid third quarter.  The Tigers got as close as 13 points 68-55 in the fourth quarter before the Dolphins scored six of the final ten points to secure the win.

 

...As did the two area PSAC squads

 

The two area Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) schools resumed conference play on Saturday with host West Chester University earning a 76-58 win over Kutztown University and the visiting Wolves from Cheyney University falling at Millersville University 87-55.

 

Porscha Speller dropped in a game-high 25 points and pulled down a career high 15 rebounds, recording her third double-double of the season to pace the Golden Rams (6-4).

 

Speller’s 25 points led four WCU players in double figures.   Lexi Bruno added 12 points, seven boards, and four assists off the bench, while Camden Boehner chipped in 11 points Justyn Roberts added 10 points.

 

The Golden Rams closed out the first quarter on a 10-2 run to take a double-digit lead at 16-6 and extended it to as many as 18 points in the third quarter before the Bears cut the lead to 12 in the fourth quarter.  WCU closed out the game with a 6-0 run to seal the76-58 win.

 

Cheyney meanwhile struggled on the defensive end as Millersville made baskets at a 51% clip in the first half opening up a 53-27 lead as they cruised to the 32-point win.

 

Takayla Ellis led the Wolves with 17 points while Yasmine Dorrielan had 11 rebounds, five blocks and seven points.

 

A 12-1 spurt in the second quarter opened up the floodgates for the Marauders who turned a four-point lead into 26 by quarter’s end and increased the margin to 34 by the end of three quarters.  Cheyney would come no closer than 29 points the rest of the way.

 

 

D-III Holiday Tournaments

Juniata Holiday Tournament

 

Two holiday tournaments and a trio of regular games highlighted the light Division III schedule last week that saw ten of the area’s Division III squads in action.

 

Two of those teams Delaware Valley University and Gwynedd Mercy University played in the Juniata College Holiday Tournament in Huntingdon, Pennsylvania on Friday and Saturday.

 

The two squads squared off against each other in the opening game with the DelVal Aggies hanging on for a 58-54 win over the Griffins.

 

Ashley Smink led the Aggies (3-7) with 21 points while Danielle Skezielewski and Monika Smallwood chipped in 11 and 10 respectively.  Smallwood also added 11 rebounds to record a double-double.

 

Sydney Thompson and Juliana Hoisington were the only Griffins (5-4) in double figures scoring 16 and 11 points.

 

The Aggies, led by Smallwood's six points, jumped out to an 18-10 advantage after one quarter of play. Gwynedd Mercy pulled to within four, 26-22, at the break and took the lead with an 18-11 run in the third. But the Aggies had the answer in the fourth for the win.

DelVal trailed the Griffins, 40-37, heading into the final 10 minutes of the contest. However, the Aggies opened the quarter with  a 7-0 run capped by a Smink 3-ball (the only three-pointer for the Aggies in the game) giving DelVal a 44-40 lead with 6:16 left.

 

Gwynedd responded with an 8-3 run to go back on top, 48-47 with  3:05 left.

  It was GMU’s last lead of the game as Smink followed with a layup and two minutes later Smallwood scored to make the 51-48.  Two Smink free throws made the score 53-48.

 

Susan Bossler’s three-ball pulled the Griffins within two but a free throw from Smink and two more by Skezielewski pushed the lead to five. 

 Hoisington added a three-pointer with nine seconds left ot make it a one-possession game at 56-54 but Skezielewski sealed the win with two more free throws one second later.

 

The Aggies went on to place host Juniata College in the championship game on Saturday, falling to the undefeated and #18 ranked Eagles(11-0), 68-52.

 

Smink and Smallwood led the Aggies (3-8) with ten points apiece.

 

The Aggies got off to a great start as they hit seven of 12 shots from the field in the opening quarter and took a 15-11 lead. Smink had five points in the quarter while Olivia Gorman added four.

DelVal still led by three, 21-18, midway through the second quarter when Juniata went on an 8-2 spurt to take a three-point lead at the break. 

The Eagles then upped their lead to as many as 12 in the third quarter thanks to 63.6 percent shooting from the field over those 10 minutes. The Aggies got to within nine on two occasions in the fourth before Juniata pulled away to earn the win.

 

Smink and Smallwood represented the Aggies on the All-Tournament Team.

 

Gwynedd Mercy meanwhile played St. Lawrence University in the consolation game, falling to the Saints 67-46.

 

Bianca Adams led the Griffins with 10 points and was named to the All-Tournament team.

 

GMU led early but a 6-0 run by the Saints to close out the first quarter put the Griffins behind 16-12.

  St. Lawrence increased the lead to eight at the break 29-21 and used a 9-0 run in the third to increase their lead to double digits and lead 49-33 entering the final quarter.

 

St. Lawrence used a 14-1 run to open the final period to take their biggest lead at 63-34 with 4:56 left.  The Griffins would come no closer than the final score as The Saints handed GMU their second straight loss.

 

Weather postpones half of Cabrini Holiday Classic

The area’s other holiday tournament; the Cabrini Holiday Classic was shortened to just two games due to Saturday’s snowy weather.  The Cabrini vs. Widener University game and the Rowan University vs. Eastern University game were cancelled on Saturday.

 

On Sunday, Widener took on Eastern University as the Pride held off  a furious comeback by the Eagles to hang on for the 72-70 win.

 

The Pride were paced by Madison Ireland who fell just short of a triple double with 17 points, 10 assists and nine rebounds. Devan Rimmer contributed 15 points while Kyra Schenk tallied 11 points and 11 rebounds for her first career double-double.

 Allison Gallagher added 10 points.  Ireland’s double-double was also her first for her career. 

 

Eastern placed four in double figures led by Taylor Azer’s18 points. Regie Robinson added 17 points while De’Naziah Brown chipped in 13.  Taylor Price added 12.

 

Widener led by six at the half, 38-32 and used a 22-10 third quarter run to jump out ot an 18-point lead 60-42 heading into the final ten minutes of action.

 

The Eagles opened the fourth quarter with a 15-2 flourish, getting back-to-back three-pointers from Azer and Price and cutting the Widener lead to five 62-57 with 4:56 remaining.

  Two free throws from Rimmer temporarily stopped the bleeding and put the Pride back up by seven. Eastern however ran off five straight points to close within two 64-62 with 2:41 left. 

 Widener pushed the lead up to six and the Eagles cut it back to two 68-66 with 20 second left.  

 Widener still led by two 70-68 after Price’s layup with eight seconds left when Schenk sank two free throws a second later to seal the win, making a Price layup at the buzzer inconsequential in the final result.

 

In the final game of the Cabrini Classic, the host Cavaliers dispatched Rowan University 80-66 to earn their fifth straight win.

 

Freshmen Lexi Edwards and Ashley Tutzauer collected 18 and 14 points, respectively, while senior Sabrina Hackendorn secured the games only double-double with 15 points and 10 rebounds.

Alex Raring led three Profs in double figures with 22 points. Summer Crilley added 15 points while April Szymczyk chipped in 11 points and nine rebounds.

 

The Cavs took advantage of 22 Rowan turnovers, scoring 26points while their bench provided a substantial boost, outscoring the Profs’ bench 30-6.

 

The two teams played even-up basketball through the first seven minutes before the Blue and White closed out with a 13-1 run to lead 25-13 after one quarter of play. 

 Hackendorn pushed the lead to 14 with a quick basket to open the second quarter before the Profs came back to cut the lead to eight by the halftime break 40-32.

 

Rowan opened up the third quarter with a 6-2 run to bring them to within six, but that is as close as they would come as a 17-4 run for the Cavs would ensue and shut the door on any hopes of a comeback.   Both teams played even basketball in the fourth as the Cavs improved to 7-2 with the win.  Rowan falls to 6-5.

 

And in other Division III action…

 

Meanwhile one other New Jersey team saw action as The College of New Jersey hopped across the river to defeat Arcadia University 74-62 on Saturday.

 

Charlotte Schum led the Lions (8-3) with 19 points (7-10 FG) and seven assists while Kate O’Leary added 15 points and seven rebounds. Shannon Devitt also scored 15 points.

 

Taylor Dunn led the Arcadia (5-6) squad with 21 points while Taylor Fritz and Courtney Hoffman added 16 and 11 respectively.  Camille Menns had 12 rebounds.

 

The Lions grabbed control of the game early, as they raced out to a 9-2 lead with 5:33 remaining in the first quarter. The Lions outscored the Knights in the first quarter 20-11. 

In the second quarter, the Lions extended their lead to 14 with a 12-5 run. Schum set up O'Leary from three point range, then  Devitt scored a layup and added two free throws to give the Lions a 34-20 lead with 2:45 remaining.

 In the third quarter, Devitt capped of a 9-3 stretch with a layup that put the Lions up 47-36, and in the fourth built their lead to as high as 18 on two occasions.  

The Knights would close the gap to nine 69-60 with 1:02 left but that would be as close as they would come.

 

Cairn University cruised to a 69-41 win over Medgar Evers University in the Highlanders final game of 2017.

 

Kendra Stum and Aigner Brookhard scored 25 and 21 points respectively to pace the Highlander squad (3-5) en route to their second consecutive win.

 

The Highlanders led this contest wire-to-wire, outscoring the host Cougars 19-4 in the first quarter and holding a 34-18 advantage at halftime.  A 12-0 run to start the third quarter pushed their lead to 46-18 and the Highlanders would ride out the rest of the game with little or no drama.

 

Penn State Abington dropped a 62-50 decision to Hood University in the remaining Division III game last week to fall to 6-3 on the season.

 

Shayna Rodriguez led the Nittany Lions with 26 points and seven rebounds.  Grace Dewey added 11 points.

 

Hood used a 10-2 run towards the end of the second quarter to open a 28-18 lead by halftime.  

Two three-pointers from Symantha Marrero highlighted a 8-0 Abington run to start the third quarter as the Nittany Lions clawed within two at 28-26.  Hood however finished the quarter with a 14-8 flourish to lead by eight 42-34 heading into the final stanza.

 

A 9-1 run to open the final quarter by host Hood put the final nails in the Abington coffin as the Nittany Lions were unable to get the deficit under double figures the rest of the way.