Box Score NEWARK, Del. – Senior guard Taylor Peltzer (Holland, Pa./Archbishop Wood) came off-the-bench to shoot 9-of-12 from the field, 4-of-7 from three, on her way to a career-high 26 points and help the Philadelphia University women's basketball team rally to knock off Wilmington (Del.), 86-68, in a Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) contest Saturday afternoon at the WU Athletics Complex.
Philadelphia (13-12, 9-9 CACC) faced a 46-38 deficit with 18:54 left after Wilmington's Danielle Thomas drained a pair of three-pointers to open the second half. A lay-up by sophomore guard Najah Jacobs (Philadelphia, Pa./Central) at the 17:14 mark capped an 8-0 run and tied the game up at 46.
Trailing 50-46, Peltzer knocked down a three-pointer and hit a lay-up on the Rams' next two possessions to give Philadelphia its first lead of the game, 51-50, with 15:26 left.
A Jacobs free throw with 12:31 to play started a 27-9 burst over an 11-minute span that gave Philadelphia a game-high 22-point lead (85-63). Peltzer led the charge with 11 points and sophomore guard Monica Schacker (Doylestown, Pa./Germantown Academy) hit a two three's as part of her 15-point afternoon.
In the first half, Thomas, who finished with 26 points for the Wildcats, knocked down a pair of triples to put the Rams in a 26-13 hole with 10:24 left. Philadelphia chipped away of the deficit and eventually tied the game at 38 on a Schacker jumper with 37 seconds left in the half.
An Allison McDonald basket at the 20-second mark gave Wilmington a 40-38 halftime lead.
Freshman forward Tori Arnao (Newtown, Pa./Archbishop Wood) finished with 12 points and 11 rebounds for her 14th double-double of the season, fifth in the last six games.
Philadelphia shot 44.3 percent (27-of-61) from the field, 38.9 percent (7-of-18) from three. Wilmington (3-23, 1-18 CACC) connected on 36.5 percent (27-of-74) of its shots, 42.9 percent (9-of-21) from behind the arc.
The Rams enjoyed 30-10 free throw attempt advantage. Philadelphia went 25-of-30 at the stripe (83.3 percent), while Wilmington was 5-of-10. Both teams grabbed 43 rebounds.
Philadelphia closes out its regular season at home against Chestnut Hill on Tuesday, Feb. 26 at 6 p.m. Peltzer and senior forward Kristen Blye (Chester Springs, Pa./Downingtown E. ) will be honored before the game as part of Senior Day.
