WATERBURY, Conn. – The #22/16 Thomas Jefferson University women's basketball team (20-3, 11-1 CACC) erased an 18-point deficit to come back and defeat Post (14-9, 9-4 CACC) on the road, 77-71, in conference action on Saturday afternoon.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
The teams were even at four with 8:40 left in the opening quarter. The Eagles then scored 13 straight points to begin a 24-6 run that gave them a 28-10 advantage with 1:15 on the clock. Post went 9-for-10 from the field during the stretch and drilled five three-pointers. Overall, the home team shot a blistering 73.3% (11-of-15) during the period, including 71.4% (5-of-7) from beyond the arc. The Rams tallied the last six points of the quarter to get within 12 (28-16) entering the second.
 
Jefferson posted eight of the first 10 points in the second to close the gap to six (30-24). The Rams trailed by seven (35-28) at the 3:50 mark but put together a 9-2 run to even the score at 37 late in the half. Cassie Murphy led the way with five points. The Eagles hit a jumper in the closing seconds for a 39-37 halftime lead.
 
Jefferson started the third with six of the first eight points to take its first lead of the afternoon at 43-41. After a Post layup, the Rams came back with another six in a row to go ahead 49-43 with 6:22 remaining. However, the Eagles responded with an 11-4 surge to go back in front 54-53 with 1:47 to go in the quarter. Jefferson had a one-point edge (57-56) with 1:01 left before Post ended the frame with back-to-back layups to take a three-point cushion (60-57) into the final period.
 
The Rams opened the fourth with four consecutive points for a 61-60 advantage. The Eagles answered with 10 of the next 14 to claim a five-point margin (70-65) with 4:47 on the clock. Jefferson rallied for six points in a row to go back in front 71-70 with 3:33 to play. Morgan Robinson stole the ball and converted a fastbreak layup for the go-ahead basket.
 
After each team came up empty on its next possession, Post drew a foul and went 1-for-2 at the line to even the score at 71 with 2:22 left. The Rams missed their next shot but Sam Yencha came up with a steal to get the ball back. Emma Kuczynski was fouled and she made both free throws to give Jefferson a two-point lead with 1:22 to go. Robinson and Yencha both came up huge on defense, swiping the ball on back-to-back Post possessions and now allowing the Eagles to attempt a shot. Haley Meinel went to the stripe and knocked down two shots, Post missed a three-point attempt, and Kuczynski added another pair of free throws in the final seconds to secure the victory.
 
INSIDE THE BOXSCORE
Cassie Murphy: 21 points on 9-of-17 shooting, 4 rebounds
Morgan Robinson: 16 points on 6-of-9 shooting, 6 assists, 6 steals, 2 rebounds
Emma Kuczynski: 13 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists
Sam Yencha: 11 points, 13 rebounds, 2 steals
Haley Meinel: 11 points, 5 rebounds, 3 steals
 
JEFFERSON AS A TEAM
FG: 25-of-62 (40.3%)
3PT: 0-of-7 (0.0%)
FT: 27-of-31 (87.1%)
 
NOTES
- Morgan Robinson tied her career high with six steals.
- Sam Yencha recorded her 11^th double-double of the season.
- Haley Meinel moved into second place on the Rams' all-time steals list with 245 for her career.
- The triumph was the 900^th win in program history.
 
CACC PLAYOFF PICTURE
With the victory, Jefferson officially clinched a spot in the CACC Tournament. The Rams currently sit in first place in the South Division with five conference games remaining. Their magic number to secure a home game for the quarterfinal round is four.
 
UP NEXT
Jefferson hosts Wilmington on Wednesday, February 8^th at 8 p.m.