Box Score ORANGEBURG, N.Y. – Philadelphia University women's basketball head coach Tom Shirley became the third coach in NCAA Division II history to record 700 career victories as the Rams defeated host Dominican (N.Y.) College 59-54 in a Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference contest in the Hennessy Center on Saturday afternoon.
Shirley, who is 24th in NCAA women's basketball in career wins, is now 700-326 in his 35-year career, 551-253 with Philadelphia University. He went 149-73 in eight seasons at DeSales University, his alma mater.
Philadelphia (17-6, 13-1 CACC)—who secured a home game for the opening round of the CACC Tournament—used a strong fourth-quarter performance to improve to 9-0 in true road games this season. Trailing by one at the start of the fourth, the Rams went on an 11-2 run in the opening 2:37 to take a 47-39 advantage. Bria Young (Philadelphia, Pa./Prep Charter) led the way, scoring the final six points of the surge.
After the host Chargers (10-12, 6-7 CACC) closed the gap to three (47-44), Young drained a 3-pointer to spark an 11-5 spurt that would put the game out of reach as it gave Philadelphia a game-high nine lead (58-49).
Mary Newell (Lansdale, Pa./Villa Joseph Marie) recorded 16 points and 13 rebounds to lead Philadelphia in the win. Young--who had nine of Philadelphia's 23 fourth-quarter points-- finished the game up with 15 points, 11 boards, four assists, and three steals.
Rachel Day (Horsham, Pa./Archbishop Wood) contributed 14 points.
The Rams had to overcome a 24-15 deficit after Deja Gabbidon—Dominican's top player with 19 points and 14 rebounds—hit a jumper at the 4:37 mark of the second quarter.
Philadelphia started the third quarter on a 9-3 run to take its first lead of the second half (28-27) on a Newell jumper with 5:58 left in the quarter. With the Rams up 34-31, Dominican scored six points in a row to go back in front 37-34. Day hit two free throws with three seconds left to bring Philadelphia within 37-36.
The Rams shot 37.5 percent (21-56) from the floor, while holding the Chargers to 33.3 percent (21-63). Philadelphia also enjoyed a 45-31 rebounding advantage.
Philadelphia returns to action on Tuesday, Feb. 9 with a CACC road contest at the University of the Sciences at 6 p.m.
