PHILADELPHIA – The Philadelphia University women's basketball team raced out to a 23-point first-half lead and then withstood an East Stroudsburg second-half rally to close out 2014 with a 58-54 non-conference victory Wednesday afternoon in the Gallagher Center.

Guard Monica Schacker (Doylestown, Pa./Germantown Academy) made a jumper at the 17:33 mark to spark a 35-12 run over the next 15:06 to get out to a 37-14 advantage. 

The Rams (9-1) shot 61.9 percent (13-of-21) from the field and 90.0 percent (9-of-10) at the free throw line to get out to the big lead. Forward Tori Arnao (Newtown, Pa./Archbishop Wood) scored 10 of the 35 points, while forward Alex Heck (Willow Grove, Pa./Archbishop Wood) contributed eight points. Defensively, Philadelphia allowed East Stroudsburg (4-7) to shot just 29.4 percent (5-of-17) and forced 12 turnovers.

East Stroudsburg scored five of the final six points of the half to trim the Philadelphia lead to 38-19 at the break.

The Rams were able to reestablish a 21-point lead when Schacker drained two free throws with 16:06 left in the contest to make the score 45-24. Over a 14:22 span, East Stroudsburg would go on a 29-9 surge to cut the Philadelphia lead to 54-53 on two Allison Howard free throws. Ryann Fiascki posted eight points to lead the comeback for the Warriors.

Forward Mary Newell (Lansdale, Pa./Villa Joseph Marie) stopped the rally with a put-back of her own miss with 1:13 left to put the Rams back up three (56-53). After a Fiascki free throw cut the gap to two, guard Bria Young (Philadelphia, Pa./Prep Charter) missed the front end of a 1-and-1 with 16 seconds left. Fortunately for the Rams, Young was able to grab the rebound, and then successfully hit two free throws to seal the win.

Young led the Philadelphia offense with a game-high 14 points. Arnao posted a double-double, her fifth of the year, with 10 points and a game-best 14 rebounds. Heck added 10 points.

Jessica Martin scored 13 points to lead the Warriors, while Andrea Veres and Fiascki contributed 11 points each.

Philadelphia will open 2015 with a non-conference home contest against Molloy on Sunday, Jan. 4 at 1 p.m.