Women's Game Recaps #72 - 2/27/18

 Women’s Game Recaps #72 – 2/27/18

• The CACC quarterfinals took center stage on Tuesday with all the higher seeds advancing. The report starts with the top overall seed…

• The University of the Sciences rode a brilliant performance from Colleen Walsh (career-high 31 points; 11-19 FG, 9-15 3FG) to a 58-41 win over Felician to book their place in the CACC semifinals this weekend. Walsh (who also nabbed six rebounds) split her points evenly (15 in the first half on 5-7 3FG shooting and 16 in the second half on 4-8 3FG accuracy) and was the central figure for the Devils, which also got 13 points and 6 rebounds from newly-minted CACC Player of the Year Sarah Abbonizio. Sciences led all the way, arriving at the break with a 29-12 lead and basically playing the rest of the game out in point-trading fashion (29-each in the second half). Bionca Chambers (13 points but also 11 turnovers) and Kameron Stone (12 points, 6 boards; 40 minutes) were the top scorers for the Golden Falcons, who shot just 28% overall in ending their season. The Devils made 35% from the floor and sank 9-29 three-pointers, all the makes from Walsh (the rest of the team went 0-14 from deep). Sciences will face Caldwell in the first CACC semifinal on Saturday at Jefferson’s Gallagher Center.

• Caldwell went hog wild offensively in their 109-49 destruction of Chestnut Hill to guarantee their eighth straight CACC semifinal appearance. The Cougars set program records in points and three-pointers made (16-26 3FG) while shooting a blazing 64% from the field overall. The onslaught left the Griffins on their heels all night and their shooting (29% FG; 6-27 3FG) was nowhere near enough to make this a game. Tina Lebron (24 points; 8-12 3FG) was one of six Cougars to reach double digits, joined by Kristen Drogsler (15 points, 7 boards), Sharell Sanders, Karlie O’Driscoll (15 points each), Andie Lennon (12 points, 8 assists) and Maura Kelty (12 points, 7 boards), as the home team led all the way (56-25 at the half) and out-scored CHC in every quarter. Vicky Tumasz (16 points) was the lone Griffin to reach double figures. Caldwell was a plus on the glass (38-27) and turned the Griffins over by a 2-1 ratio (20-10), the latter leading to a massive 36-4 edge in points-off-turnovers. Caldwell meets Sciences in one of Saturday’s semifinal games in Philadelphia.

• Zhane Robinson (23 points, 10 boards) was the catalyst for Bloomfield in their 75-43 victory over Holy Family, sending the Bears to the CACC semifinals on a five-game win streak. BC beat HFU in every quarter, establishing a 30-18 halftime lead and pulling away after the restart. Kiamsha Bynes (15 points, 8 rebounds) and Deja McKenzie (13 points, 5 boards) supplied good support for the winners, who topped the Tigers in most team stats, including shooting (43-30%), rebounds (54-28) and paint production (44-18). Holy Family, which ends the season on a four-game slide, did get solid work from Elizabeth Radley (12 points, 8 caroms) and Alexis Hofstaedter (11 points, 5 assists) but never really had a foothold in this one. The Bears will face host Jefferson in the second CACC semifinal game on Saturday.

• Jefferson completed the set of all the higher seeds winning, shrugging aside Dominican to ensure they will be part of the semifinals in their own building, 74-55. Beverly Kum (20 points, 15 rebounds; 7-11 FG) had a big game for the Rams and she had plenty of help, as Alynna Williams (13 points), Rachel Day (12 points, 7 boards) and Caitlyn Cunningham (11 points) all filled the stat sheet. The game was a close one for the first half, featuring eight ties and six lead changes, but a Cunningham trey at the end of the half gave the Rams a 32-29 lead and they didn’t relinquish it. Jefferson scored the first five points of the third period to stretch it out and eventually doubled-up the Chargers over the final twenty minutes, 42-26, to win going away. Jasmine Gee (15 points) and Rebecca Rabeiro (10 points, 6 assists) keyed the DC effort but they had rebounding issues (Jefferson, 48-27) and didn’t get to the line much (Jefferson 11-14; DC 6-7 FT), both damaging areas. The Rams face Bloomfield in the CACC semis on Saturday back at the Gallagher Center.

• This week’s national polls again see three East regional teams all in both respective top 25’s; Bentley (#12 WBCA; #14 D2SIDA), Stonehill (#12; #6) and Sciences (#19 in both polls). The last official NCAA Division II regional rankings prior to the announcement of the tournament field on Sunday will be tomorrow (Wednesday).