Posted: Feb 24, 2015
Rams win big CACC South clash; Traub reaches 2K plateau…
- The only game of the night saw Philadelphia deal the University of the Sciences its third straight loss, 65-60, leaving the teams dead even atop the CACC South standings. Despite losing the game there were two bright spots for the Devils, as star senior Brianne Traub scored her 2,000th career point and they hold the tie-breaker over the Rams should the teams end tied for the division crown. Philadelphia, the host for this clash, scored the first five points of the night and led all the way, allowing them to reach the 20-win mark for the second straight season (the first back-to-back 20-win years they have recorded since 2006 and 2007). Sciences stayed close until a 10-0 spree put the Rams ahead, 31-18, with 1:41 to play in the first half. The Ram lead was 34-22 at the break and quickly morphed into a 40-24 edge early in the second period (17:37). The Devils mounted a comeback, started by a Colleen Walsh three-pointer and continued by Traub, who scored the next fifteen Devil points (including her 2,000th). Once the dust settled, Sciences had trimmed the deficit to 47-42 (9:54) and it was a game. The Devils came as close as three points (50-47, 7:05) but Philadelphia scored the next eight points to rub out any comeback hopes (58-47, 2:46). Najah Jacobs (24 points, 9-14 FG, 2-4 3FG, 4-5 FT) and Alex Heck (16 points, 7 boards) topped the stat sheet for the Rams, who shot better than the Devils (42%-38%), were able to get to the foul line more frequently (Philadelphia 16-19; Sciences 4-6 FT) and forced five more turnovers (14-9). Traub, already the Devils all-time leading scorer, had a game-high 28 points (12-22 FG, 4-10 3FG) and added six rebounds. No other Devil scored more than eight points, although Isabella Ross hauled in a game-high 14 rebounds. Sciences shot the three-ball more often than the Rams (Sciences 10-34; Philadelphia 3-13 3FG) and ended +9 on the glass (41-32) but couldn’t turn those areas into a win. The Devils need a victory over Georgian Court tonight or a Ram loss to Goldey-Beacom to secure the top seed in the CACC South. The Rams have to win and hope the Devils go down to defeat in order for them to claim the top seed. Either way both teams will host a CACC playoff game on Saturday while Holy Family (still technically able to earn a share of the regular season crown) will be the #3 CACC South seed and hit the road for their first playoff contest.
D2SIDA East Regional Poll…
- The new D2SIDA East Regional poll was released yesterday with a new (old) #1, Adelphi. The Panthers regained the top spot from Stonehill, who check in at #2. New Haven, UDC and Franklin Pierce all stayed where they were (#3-#5) with Roberts Wesleyan (#6) and Sciences (#7) trading places. Queens (#8) and Philadelphia (#9) held their spots and Bloomfield (#10) returned to the top 10 for the first time since week #2 (November 25).