PHILADELPHIA - The Thomas Jefferson University women's basketball team (20-7, 12-5 CACC) dropped its final home game of the season on Wednesday night, falling to USciences, 58-49.
 
GAMEPLAY
The score was even at two before the Rams went on a 9-3 run to take an 11-5 lead. The Devils answered with eight of the next 10 to make it 13-all with 2:09 left in the opening quarter. The teams remained tied at 17 apiece at the end of the period.
 
Haley Meinel made back-to-back buckets to give the Rams a 21-17 advantage in the second. Jefferson still had a four-point cushion (23-19) before USciences rallied for eight straight points to go ahead 28-23 with 1:18 left. Sam Yencha finished the half with a jumper and the Rams trailed 28-25 at the break.
 
The margin was five (34-29) in favor of the Devils with 5:42 to go in the third quarter. The visitors upped the lead to 11 (40-29) with a 6-0 run. However, Jefferson responded with eight in a row to close the period and get within three (40-37).
 
The Rams began the fourth with a three-pointer and a layup to jump in front 42-40. There were five lead changes and two ties over the next five minutes as the teams battled back and forth. Cassie Murphy put Jefferson ahead 49-47 with 3:31 remaining. However, the Rams went cold after that point, missing their last three shots of the game and committing three turnovers. The Devils capitalized, netting 11 consecutive points to claim the win.
 
INSIDE THE BOXSCORE
- Emily Keehfuss: 13 points on 5-of-6 shooting, 7 rebounds
- Haley Meinel: 12 points, 4 rebounds, 2 steals, 1 assist
- Kaya Burkhart: 7 points, 2 assists
- Cassie Murphy: 6 points, 7 rebounds
 
JEFFERSON AS A TEAM
FG: 19-of-46 (41.3%)
3PT: 3-of-11 (27.3%)
FT: 8-of-8 (100.0%)
 
NOTES
- Jefferson was perfect at the foul line for the first time this season.
- The Rams were allowed few second opportunities, grabbing a season-low two offensive rebounds.
- It may have been the final contest between Jefferson and USciences, one of the marquee rivalries in the East Region over the last decade. USciences will be absorbed by Saint Joseph's University at the end of the academic year. The two squads could potentially meet once more in the CACC Tournament.
 
CACC PLAYOFF PICTURE
With the defeat, Jefferson is locked into the third seed in the South Division for next week's conference tournament. The Rams will be on the road for the rest of the campaign. Jefferson's quarterfinal opponent on Tuesday, March 1^st is still to be determined.
 
UP NEXT
The Rams end the regular season at Holy Family on Saturday, February 26. Tip-off is at 1 p.m.