* The CACC and NE-10 had a full slate of games on Wednesday but the report begins with a key clash at the apex of the ECC...
* Queens won their eleventh contest in a row and opened a two-game lead atop the ECC thanks to their 73-58 victory over Molloy. Madison Rowland (21 points, 11 rebounds, 5 steals, 5 blocks), Beth Bonin (19 points, 8-8 FT) and MacKenzie Rowland (15 points, 7 boards) led the Knights attack, as they took a 31-30 halftime lead and steadily opened it up in the second half. The Lions, behind Aliyah McDonald's double-double (22 points, 11 boards) and solid outings from Ihnacinse Grady (12 points) and Kamala Thompson (11 points, 6 rebounds), had the better of things on the glass (41-31) yet were unable to slow QC down in the second half. Turnovers were a huge factor here, as Molloy suffered fifteen more miscues (21-6), allowing Queens to rack up a 20-2 edge in points-off-mistakes. QC also shot better (42%-39%), snapping the Lions nine-game win streak and grabbing a measure of control in the race for the ECC crown.
* Bentley overcame a nineteen-point second half deficit and ended the game on a 13-2 run to deny Stonehill's upset bid in Waltham, 63-56. The Skyhawks bolted to a 9-0 lead out of the blocks and led 33-17 at the break. Their advantage reached 42-23 with 6:22 left in the third frame when the Falcons started their rally. A 15-5 spell to end the period drew Bentley within 47-38 and they kept the pressure on. Stonehill held a 54-50 edge with 4:07 left after a Kate Ross basket but the Falcons went ahead for the first time at the 1:18 mark thanks to a pair of Macchi Smith (10 points, 8-8 FT) foul shots, 55-54. Kelsey Shaw's (11 points, all in the second half) bucket gave the Skyhawks their last lead, 56-55, with 1:02 to go but they then went four straight possessions without a shot. Meanwhile, Smith (6-6) and Lauren Green (2-2) sank eight free throws in a row to send Bentley ahead for good. Jen Gemma (28 points, 12 rebounds) and Green (12 points) led the Falcons to their sixth consecutive win while Courtney Walsh (16 points, 4-10 3FG) and Samantha Hyslip (14 points) topped the Stonehill ticket. The Falcons hold a five-game lead in the NE-10 Northeast Division and could clinch at least a tie for the division crown on Saturday.
* Sara Ryan's three-pointer with one-tenth of a second left lifted Southern New Hampshire to a stunning 56-53 win over Assumption, keeping their NE-10 playoff hopes alive. This was a tight one pretty much all night (nine ties and nine lead changes) with the Penmen on top at the half, 23-22. The Greyhounds snared the lead a few times in a tense final period and tied the game for the last time with 1:15 left thanks to a Jo Impelllizeri (19 points, 9 rebounds) hoop, 53-53. Ryan ended the game with a flourish, though, making it back-to-back SNHU wins. Kylie Lorenzen (18 points, 7 caroms) topped the Penmen stat sheet while Allison Stoddard (21 points) was AC's best option. The Penmen had the upper hand from the field (42%-35% FG) and held AC to just one three-pointer (1-12 3FG) while converting the most important one of the game at the other end. The Hounds are now tied with St. Anselm for second place in the NE-10 Northeast Division.
* A 12-1 burst to close the game provided the University of the Sciences a 65-53 CACC South win over Holy Family, enough to send the Devils back to the top of the division. Alex Thomas produced a career-best 30 points (10-18 FG, 5-10 3FG, 5-6 FT) to show the way for Sciences but they trailed after three periods, 38-37, in a game that saw four ties and thirteen lead swaps. An 8-0 run gave the Devils the lead for good with 6:23 to go, 49-42 (Thomas had five in the surge) but the Tigers fought back and closed within 53-52 with 3:03 to play after an Abigail Iannotti (16 points, 12 caroms) basket. The Devils closed the door after that, sinking 7-10 at the line in the last 47 seconds as part of their closing spree. Sciences enjoyed a 20-8 edge in turnovers and used it to out-score HFU, 18-7, in points-off-turnovers. Jill Conroy potted 16 points along with Iannotti for Holy Family but their playoff hopes took a hit with this result.
* Alynna Williams (24 points, 10-13 FT) led Philadelphia to a 64-51 CACC South decision over Goldey-Beacom to gain ground in the playoff chase (they're tied for fourth place). The Rams led for much of the game but only by a 43-38 margin after three periods. A 10-0 binge to start the fourth quarter made things a lot calmer (53-38) and that the Rams rolled. Excellent board work (46-35, including 12 rebounds from Erin Rafter) helped the PU cause and they also had the better of it at the line (18-26 FT; GBC 6-10 FT). Tanner Turner-Rush (12 points) led the way for Goldey-Beacom but their three-game win streak comes to an end and they lost their share of the CACC South lead with the defeat.
* NE-10 Southwest Division leader Adelphi fended off a Pace rally to secure a 64-54 win and stay four games ahead of the pack. A 17-2 bomb spanning the first two periods helped the Panthers take the lead for good; the margin peaked at 36-20 and was 36-25 at the half. A 13-0 Setter run which bridged the halves cut the deficit to 36-33 in the third period but that was as close as they came, as the Panthers stabilized and stretched the lead out in the fourth quarter. Sierra Clark (23 points, 13 boards) and Calli Balfour (19 points, 7 rebounds) led the Adelphi attack, one that shot better than Pace (41%-32%) and hauled in nine more rebounds (43-34). Alexandra Monteleone (23 points, 10-23 FG) was sharp for the Setters in defeat with Jackie DelliSanti adding 10 points and 6 rebounds to the effort.
* Caldwell regained a share of first place in the CACC North thanks to their 68-45 win at Dominican. Kristen Drogsler (24 points, 10-11 FT) and Sharell Sanders (12 points) topped the attack for the Cougars, who claimed a 33-19 halftime lead and blew the game open in the third quarter (54-32 after three periods). Stefani Alston and Jacqueline Rywalt (11 points each) kept the Chargers afloat but it wasn't enough. Caldwell was +8 in turnovers (21-13) and made more impact at the line (14-16 FT; DC 8-10 FT) to get the job done and end Dominican's four-game win skein.
* Dana Watts (21 points, 13 boards, 11-12 FT) led the way for AIC to beat New Haven, 61-40, and solidify second place in the NE-10 Northeast Division. The Yellow Jackets were steady, if not spectacular, leading 31-17 at the interval and pulling away in the fourth quarter. Alyssa Guyon (13 points) and Imani Stepney (10 points) added depth for the winners, who overcame dreary three-point shooting (1-6 3FG) with a glut of free throws (19-20 FT). Micaah Womack (10 points, 10 rebounds) was a bright spot for the Chargers, who shot just 28% overall. UNH did go 11-12 at the stripe but that proved to be of minimal importance.
*St. Thomas Aquinas led all the way in a 59-48 ECC victory over visiting LIU Post, pulling to within a half-game of second place in the conference as a result. The Spartans led 15-4, 26-18 and 43-35 at the various checkpoints and although the Pioneers hung in it, they never really made a serious run at STAC. Kaitlyn McCue (15 points) and Alex Bertolino (11 points) led the Spartan scoring but their best attribute was rebounding (52-34, including 11 each from Adiya Henderson and Samantha Burden). Mikaiya Moore (16 points) and Kylie Garrett (14 points) accounted for the bulk of the LIU Post attack in a game where shooting (STAC 33%, LIU Post 28%) was sub-par both ways.
* St. Anselm put together a 24-3 explosion to span the halves (12-0 to end the first and 12-3 to start the second) and rode that to a 67-60 NE-10 Northeast win over Franklin Pierce in Manchester. The Ravens managed to fight back and closed the Hawk lead (which was 56-45 after three frames) to one, 61-60, with 1:35 to go. St. A's held firm there, however, and now have a share of second place in the division. Candace Andrews (23 points, 7 steals, 6 assists) was active for the Hawks while Caitlyn Abela and Kaila Duarte tossed in 13 points each in support. St. A's shot a blazing 62.2% from the floor, more than FPU could handle. Jemma Thacker cashed in a career-high 24 points (4-7 3FG) to lead the Ravens while Sarah Middleton added 13 points. FPU shot 45% from the floor and nearly claimed their first league win of the season but came up just short.
* Roberts Wesleyan moved into fourth place in the ECC thanks to a three-point fueled 83-70 win over the University of the District of Columbia. The Redhawks canned 16-41 from behind the arc with Lucy Covely (28 points, 8-17 3FG) doing much of the damage. Covely hit five triples in the third quarter, one that RWC dominated (22-9, snapping a 33-33 halftime deadlock) on their way to victory. The Redhawks made only eleven two-point baskets on the night but they did convert 13-14 at the line to aid their three-point barrage. UDC was 12-31 from deep at the other end (they were 12-25 inside the arc) with Shantrel Oliver (23 points, 10 boards, 8 assists, 4-11 3FG) posting a near-triple double to keep them in it. The Firebirds also had solid games from Bailee White and Tyra Coombs (11 points each) but were unable to end their losing skid. Taya Andrews (11 points) was one of three others in double digits to support Covely for the Redhawks as they moved over .500 in ECC play.
* Excellent bench work (22-2) and sound three-point shooting (7-13 FG) helped Merrimack win a low-scoring NE-10 tilt over St. Michael's in Vermont, 43-38, and end a three-game slide. The Warriors never trailed in the contest and held a 37-28 edge after three periods, keeping the Purple Knights at bay thereafter to bolster their playoff hopes. My'Asia Alston (12 points) was the key off the pine for MC, while Hannah Neild (11 points) was their top-scoring starter. Leah Spencer (13 points) was SMC's only double-digit scorer. Both teams shot under 30% from the field but the Purple Knights failed to connect enough from long-range (3-14 3FG) to stay with the Warriors. Both teams are tied with Stonehill in a three-way cravat for fourth place in the NE-10 Northeast Division.
* LeMoyne won their third in a row, blasting the College of Saint Rose in Syracuse, 82-40, sending the Golden Knights to their fourth straight defeat. The guests scored first but the Dolphins tallied the next 18 points to grab an 18-2 lead and they never looked back. LC led 26-11 after one period and 46-18 at the half, rendering the second half a virtual footnote. Corinne Poitevein (career-high 18 points) and Alayia Demand (14 points) topped the LeMoyne scoring as they shot a crisp 51.7% and made 10-24 from three-point territory. No Saint Rose player scored more than eight points (Morgan Sullivan off the bench) and they shot a miserable 22.7% as a team to ensure the defeat. LC holds third place in the NE-10 Southwest Division while the Golden Knights are now just a half-game ahead of idle Southern Connecticut for fourth place.
* Wilmington won their fourth game in a row, getting by Georgian Court in Newark, 89-82. The Wildcats had a good shooting day (51.6% FG, 5-11 3FG, 20-24 FT) and needed it to prevail, as the Lions (46.7% FG, 8-16 3FG, 4-4 FT) were solid at the other end. This one featured ten ties and ten lead changes, with the teams never separated by more than eight points, illustrating how close the game was. WU led at the half (49-44) and after three frames (65-64) and, despite GCU's best effort, the Wildcats never lost the lead in the final ten minutes. Five Wildcats reached double figures, including LaShyra Williams (25 points, 10-11 FT), Jasmine Lee (24 points, 9-12 FG) and Macy Robinson (20 points, 9 boards). Alliyah Berger (26 points, 7 rebounds, 4-6 3FG) and Kaitlyn Lister (19 points, 8-13 FG) sparked GCU and the Lions enjoyed a 42-31 rebound bulge on the night. Wilmington shares fourth place in the CACC South with Philadelphia, both just a game behind Chestnut Hill is a tight playoff race.
* Felician blew a sixteen-point second half lead but recovered to best Post in their CACC North encounter, 65-61. The Golden Falcons held a 48-32 lead with 5:51 left in the third quarter but the Eagles went on a 15-0 spree to close the period and make it a game. Post eventually led thanks to a 7-0 run, 53-52, with 6:27 to play but were unable to hold it. Marta Moix's (11 points) basket with 1:23 to play put Felician up to stay (59-57) and Danelle Gibson (14 points, 6-7 FT) sank 4-4 at the line in the last 28 seconds to lock up the win for the Golden Falcons. Safiyyah Lee added 13 points for the winners, who stayed within a half-game of the last divisional playoff spot with the victory. Deasia Acklin (15 points) and Tyra Jones (14 points, 8 caroms) topped the Eagles offense but their playoff hopes are fading.
* Concordia nipped Nyack, 77-74, at Bowman Gym to stay a step ahead of Felician in the CACC North playoff race. The Clippers won the glass battle (45-31) and shined at the line (19-23 FT) in this one as they led all the way in a hard-fought fourth period. Nyack was within a point down the stretch a few times, including 75-74 with 14 ticks left after a Bryanna Brown (16 points, 4-8 3FG) triple. Julianne Wilkinson (14 points) made a pair of foul shots with :08 to go and when Brown missed a game-tying trey attempt, the Clippers had the win. Jessica Rosalbo (21 points, 7 rebounds) was the best bet for Concordia although Hadiyah Black (10 points, 16 rebounds) was vital to the effort. Tayelor McCalister (23 points) and Brown accounted for much of the Warrior scoring yet they still sustained their sixth straight defeat.
* Chestnut Hill won a rare non-league February match-up, out-running Washington Adventist, 98-84, in Philadelphia. The Griffins used an 11-0 run to start the second period to help construct a 52-35 halftime edge. The Lady Shock (7-16) watched CHC begin the third period on an 8-0 binge (60-35) and never really made the hosts sweat after that. Six Griffins were in double digits, led by Vicky Tumasz (24 points, 7 boards, 5 steals, 5-11 3FG), Shannon Glenn (17 points) and Mary Trossi (15 points, 9 assists, 6 rebounds). Chestnut Hill lived at the line (31-38 FT) and forced ten more turnovers (30-20) on the night. Courtney Jenkins (16 points, 6 boards), Olivia Turner (16 points, 6 rebounds) and Chyna Smith (15 points) topped the WAU scoring but they didn't get to the line as often as CHC (10-13 FT) and had no answers once the Griffins opened the game up in the second half.