CALDWELL, N.J. – The Thomas Jefferson University women's basketball team (23-7) outscored Chestnut Hill, 40-21, in the first half on the way to ousting the number one overall seed Griffins, 60-45, in the semifinals of the CACC Tournament on Saturday, avenging their two regular season losses to the same squad.
 
The Rams advance to their fourth straight CACC Championship Game, where they will meet their archrival, USciences, once again in one final conference championship showdown between the two programs on Sunday, March 6 at 2:30 p.m. USciences will be absorbed by Saint Joseph's University at the end of the academic year.
 
Jefferson, the third seed in the South Division, looks to win its third consecutive conference title and will have to do so against the Devils, the South Division's second seed, who the Rams have battled in two of their previous three title game appearances. Each team posted a victory in those two matchups. It is the fourth straight season in which Jefferson and USciences have met in the CACC Tournament.
 
GAMEPLAY
Chestnut Hill opened the game with a three-pointer but the Rams came back with 10 straight points for a seven-point advantage (10-3). Emily Keehfuss scored six points in the stretch. The Griffins were within five (12-7) when Jefferson created some more distance, posting six in a row to lead 18-7 with 1:53 left in the first quarter. Chestnut Hill cut the deficit to eight (20-12) heading into the second.
 
The Rams started the second with an 8-0 run to increase the margin to 16 (28-12). Keehfuss poured in another six points with a pair of three-pointers. The Griffins were able to close the gap to 12 (28-16) but trailed by 16 (35-19) with 3:04 left before halftime. Jefferson increased the difference to 21 (40-19) with five consecutive points before Chestnut Hill made the score 40-21 at the intermission.
 
In the third, the Rams maintained the status quo and would not let the Griffins get back in the game. Jefferson led by as many as 22 and only let Chestnut Hill get within 18. The Rams began the fourth with a 54-35 advantage. Points were at a premium in the final frame with just 16 combined between the two squads. The Griffins won the period, 10-6, but only cut the deficit to 15 as it was too little, too late for Chestnut Hill and Jefferson moved on the final.
 
INSIDE THE BOXSCORE
- Emily Keehfuss: 18 points (career high) on 7-of-9 shooting (4-4 3PT), 5 rebounds, 2 assists
- Cassie Murphy: 12 points, 7 rebounds, 1 block
- Sam Yencha: 10 points, 11 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 block
- Morgan Robinson: 9 points, 9 rebounds, 5 assists, 3 steals
 
JEFFERSON AS A TEAM
FG: 25-of-63 (39.7%)
3PT: 5-of-8 (62.5%)
FT: 5-of-14 (35.7%)
 
NOTES
- The Rams forced Chestnut Hill to shoot just 29.7% from the field, the Griffins' lowest since December 8 and their second-worst of the season.
- Sam Yencha posted her second double-double of the season.
- It was the first time that Jefferson and Chestnut Hill squared off in the conference tournament.