CALDWELL, N.J. – The #3/4 ranked Thomas Jefferson University women's basketball team (30-1) pushed held the Griffins to 39 points while securing themselves a NCAA Tournament bid as the Rams defeated Chestnut Hill College (20-9) 61-39 in the CACC Championship Finals, winning the title for the fifth time in program history.
 
WHAT HAPPENED
The first half saw a close matchup between the two rival schools. Jefferson held onto a 13-9 lead after the first quarter. Morgan Robinson scored the first two baskets for the Rams, assisting next two baskets to Sam Yencha shot and Emma Kuczynski three pointer to have the game at 9-4. Avery White made a shot for Chestnut Hill and Caraline Herb three-pointer had the Griffins trail by four points after the first quarter.
 
Emily Keehfuss hit two three-pointers while Yencha and Robinson's layups put the Rams up by 10 early in the second quarter. Chestnut Hill drove back to a 12-6 run, getting within four points of Jefferson. Cassie Murphy and Emily Spratt knocked down the last two shots in the basket for the Rams, going into the break up 31-23.
 
Jefferson went 14-27 in the first half, shooting 51.9% on the floor. The Rams made 3-7 three-point attempts with a 42.9% from beyond the arc. The Griffins were no slouches shooting, having a 45.5 field goal percentage with 10-of-22 shots going in the basket. From beyond the arc however, Chestnut Hill was 1-7.
 
Caraline Herb made the first basket in the second half, making the game a five-point difference for Chestnut Hill. Jefferson went on a 16-4 run in the second half. The first portion was an 8-0 attack that featured two Kuczynski scores, a Meinel layup, and two made free throws by Murphy to put the Rams ahead 39-26. The second half was a 8-4 difference as Yencha joined Murphy and Kuczynski on the board, helping all three players get into double figures for the day. Jefferson went into the fourth quarter up 47-30.
 
Each team had scores in the last quarter as Bridie McCann hit a three-pointer and Caleigh Edwards made a driving layup near the end, but the Rams' answered by six and four points by Murphy and Robinson respectively. Spratt finished the scoring for the day as the women's basketball team defeats Chestnut Hill 61-39 and secure their sixth program title in program history.
 
INSIDE THE BOXSCORE
Sam Yencha: 12 points on 6-of-16 shooting, 16 rebounds
Morgan Robinson: 12 points on 5-of-9 shooting, 2-2 FT, 6 rebounds, 5 assists
Cassie Murphy: 12 points 5-of-9 shooting, 5 rebounds
Emma Kuczynski: 11 points on 5-of-9 shooting (1-4 3PT), 2 rebounds
 
30 WIN SEASON
Jefferson is now 30-1 on the year. This is the first time in program history that the women's basketball team has reached the 30 win mark.
 
ALL-TOURNAMENT
Cassie Murphy, Sam Yencha, Morgan Robinson, and Haley Meinel were named to the CACC All-Tournament team. Meinel secured the Tournament MVP award.
 
UP NEXT
Jefferson will now await where they will end up going to as the women's team will compete in the NCAA Tournament. The selection show for each region will be tonight at 10:30 p.m.