#8/7 Women's Basketball Halts Griffins Second Half Comeback; Earn 57-51 Win in CACC Opener 

PHILADELPHIA, PA – The #8/7 ranked Thomas Jefferson University women's basketball team (8-0, 1-0) would head into the fourth quarter up 44-29, but the Griffins would get within three points and have the 22-13 score advantage but it would not jump them in the lead as the Rams would hold onto their Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) opener with a 57-51 win over Chestnut Hill College (3-4, 1-1) and remain undefeated on the season. 

WHAT HAPPENED 
The first quarter would see both teams have similar scoring, but the Rams would be up 18-14. Sam Yencha would be a big part of the Rams scoring in this period, having 12 of her team-leading 21 points in this period, going a perfect 6-for-6 on the floor while grabbing three rebounds. Haley Meinel, Cassie Murphy, and Emma Kuczynski would have a shot made in that span as Morgan Robinson added five of her nine assists in the first. 

The second quarter would have the Rams just edge the Griffins once again 10-9, having the cross-town rivalry be competitive this early in the season. Kuczynski and Yencha would make their layups, while Meinel and Emily Keehfuss converted on their three-point shots in the game, getting Jefferson ahead 28-19 with 3:09 left in the half. A Bridie McCann three and Emily Sekerak going 1-2 at the line would cut the Rams lead 28-23 heading into the break.  

Jefferson would begin to pull away in the third quarter, as Yencha made two shots in the beginning of the period, while Meinel hit her own attempt on the floor to push the lead 34-23. After two free throws for the Griffins, the Rams would outscore Chesnut Hill 10-4 the rest of the third quarter, having a 16-6 period. Kuczynski would hit a three while Murphy, Meinel, and Yencha hit at least two shots in the third. Emily Spratt would go 1-2 at the line to help the Rams go into the fourth quarter up 44-29. 

Chestnut Hill would begin to make a comeback and cut into the Rams lead multiple times as they outscored Jefferson 22-13. The Griffins would begin the last quarter going 9-2 off two Sekerak shots and Avery White's five points from a three and jumper, as Sekerak and White would have 10 and 8 points respectively in the fourth, to get within ten points of the Rams 46-36 with 8:16 left in the game. After Yencha's shot was converted, another White three and Caleigh Edwards layup turned the mometun to Chestnut Hill as they trailed 48-45 with 5:07 to go. After trading points by both teams, the Rams would have Murphy, Kuczynski, and Yencha be 1-2 at the line while Robinson had a layup in the last two and a half minutes of the game, holding onto the 57-51 win over Chestnut Hill, halting a comeback upset to remain undefeated on the season and earn the CACC opener victory. 

INSIDE THE BOXSCORE 
Sam Yencha: 21 points on 10-of-13 shooting, 6 rebounds, 2 assists 
Haley Meinel: 11 points on 4-of-12 shooting (1-5 3PT), 4 rebounds, 2 steals 
Cassie Murphy: 9 points on 4-of-11 shooting, 5 rebounds 
Emma Kuczynski: 8 points on 3-of-8 shooting (1-2 3PT), 4 rebounds, 2 assists 
Morgan Robinson: 4 points on 1-of-4 shooting, 2-2 FT, 9 assists 

CLOSING IN ON SCHOOL MILESTONES/RECORDS 
Murphy and Robinson are both closing in on career milestones and school records this season. Murphy has 982 points in her career, with only 18 to go to be the 37th Ram in women's basketball school history to reach the 1,000 point milestone.

Robinson is second in Jefferson history with 610 assists, passing Terry Coleman on that list this past Tuesday when she dished out 12 assists against Lincoln University (Pa.) on November 28. Robinson only needs 45 assists to pass Maribeth Rogers as the Ram's all-time leading assist leader, which was set by Rogers back in 1984. 

NCAA STATISTICS 
Here are some of the statistic standings for the Rams throughout the entire Division II Basketball season so far:
Scoring Margin: 19.3 (18th) 
Winning Percentage: 100% (T-1st) 
Field Goal Percentage: 46.7% (18th) 
Free Throw Percentage: 80.8% (11th) 
Assists Per Game: 20.3 (4th) 
Assist/Turnover Ratio: 1.65 (1st) 
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Morgan Robinson: 51 assists (1st), 7.3 assists-per-game (2nd) 
Sam Yencha: 4 double doubles (2nd), 64.2 field goal percentage (9th), 74 rebounds (11th), 10.6 rebounds-per-game (14th) 
Haley Meinel: 32 steals (1st), 4.57 steals-per-game (3rd) 

UP NEXT 
#8/7 Jefferson will have a quick turnaround when they head back on the road to take on Millersville University on Monday, December 4 at 6 p.m.