PHILADELPHIA – The Thomas Jefferson University women's basketball team (6-1, 1-0 CACC) pulled away in the fourth quarter to defeat visiting Chestnut Hill (3-4, 0-1 CACC), 55-46, in the conference opener on Wednesday night.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Rams got out to a 6-0 lead in the first quarter. Jefferson led by as many as seven (10-3) in the period and took a 12-7 advantage into the second. Both teams struggled offensively, combining to go just 7-for-28 (25.0%) from the field.
 
The Rams were ahead by seven again (16-9) before the Griffins scored four in a row to get within three (16-13). However, Emily Keehfuss answered with a three for Jefferson to up the margin to six with 5:28 on the clock. It was a seven-point difference once more at 22-15 then Chestnut Hill closed the half with seven straight points to bring it to a 22-22 tie at the intermission.
 
The Rams tallied the first four points of the third quarter to go ahead 26-22. The Griffins responded with eight of the next 12 to take their first lead of the game at 30-29 with 1:48 to go. However, it was short lived as Jefferson rallied for six consecutive points to go back on top before a Chestnut Hill free throw cut the deficit to four (35-31) entering the fourth.
 
The Griffins made the first bucket of the final quarter to get within two (35-33). The Rams then created separation with a 9-0 run that gave them a 12-point cushion (45-33) with 5:31 remaining. Morgan Robinson scored four points while Keehfuss and Maeve McCann each hit a three. Chestnut Hill was able to close the gap to five (51-46) with 39 seconds to play but the Rams went 4-for-4 at the foul line down the stretch to put the game away.
 
INSIDE THE BOXSCORE
Sam Yencha: 13 points on 5-of-9 shooting, 9 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 steal
Emily Keehfuss: 12 points on 4-of-8 shooting (2-4 3PT), 2 assists, 1 rebound
Haley Meinel: 11 points, 4 rebounds, 4 blocks, 1 assist, 1 steal
Morgan Robinson: 8 points, 8 rebounds, 6 assists, 6 steals
Maeve McCann: 6 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal
 
JEFFERSON AS A TEAM
FG: 21-of-58 (36.2%)
3PT: 5-of-13 (38.5%)
FT: 8-of-12 (66.7%)
 
NOTES
- Morgan Robinson netted her 500^th career point.
- After shooting just 29.5% over the first three quarters, Jefferson saved its best for last, going 7-for-14 (50.0%) in the fourth.
- The Rams won their conference opener for the fifth straight season.
 
UP NEXT
Jefferson heads to Lincoln (Pa.) on Saturday, December 3^rd for a 2 p.m. non-conference game.