PHILADELPHIA – Holding onto a 47-43 lead, the #3/4 Thomas Jefferson University women's basketball team (28-1) outscored the Purple Knights 17-5 as the Rams earned a 64-48 victory over the University of Bridgeport (9-19) to advance to the CACC Championship Semifinals.
 
WHAT HAPPENED
The Purple Knights jumped out to an early 7-2 lead, but the Rams' scored nine straight points with Emma Kuczynski and Cassie Murphy getting the shots in for Jefferson. After a score by Bridgeport, Kuczynski and Sam Yencha each had a basket to make it 15-9. After nearly three minutes without a point, Samirah Akinwunmi hit a three, making the Rams' lead only by three points. Haley Meinel made one of her free throws and Yencha scored at the end of the first to have the Rams go in the next quarter up 18-12.
 
After Meinel made the first score in the second, Bridgeport answered with five straight points, getting the game back to three points as Jefferson lead 20-17 with 6:26 left in the first half. The Rams go out to a 10-2 run and secured a double digit lead off of an Emily Keehfuss three-pointer and Emily Spratt going 1-2 at the line while hitting a layup. Akinwunmi hit another three for Bridgeport to get the Purple Knights trailing by seven. Spratt and Keehfuss hit consecutive shots for the Rams. Akinwunmi made her shot from beyond the arc once more, with Shakira Hester converting on a layup to trail the Rams' 35-29 into the break.
 
Bridgeport got out early with a layup and making one of two free throws, trailing Jefferson by three points early in the third quarter. Murphy put made two shots in a row to maintain the five point differential for the Rams. After getting it to four points, Akinwunmi made another three-pointer to get within one point. Hester's jumper put Bridgeport up for the first time since early in the first 40-39 with 2:29 left in the third. Murphy responded with her own shot in the basket with Robinson and Meinel following her lead, each getting a score as it turned to a eight point swing for Jefferson. The Rams held on as they went into the fourth up 47-41.
 
Hester hit a shot to begin the fourth quarter, making it a four point game once more. Robinson's two made free throws and Murphy hitting a layup got the Rams ahead 51-43. Niyah Whitten point from beyond the arc got Bridgeport closer to Jefferson. Murphy, Spratt, Yencha, Meinel, and Robinson all made baskets down the stretch while the Rams' defense began to make turnovers and retain possession of the ball. Jefferson ended the game on a 13-2 run to take the CACC Quarterfinal matchup 64-48 over Bridgeport.
 
INSIDE THE BOXSCORE
Cassie Murphy: 14 points on 7-of-12 shooting, 5 rebounds
Sam Yencha: 10 points on 5-of-12 shooting, 15 rebounds, 3 steals
Haley Meinel: 10 points on 4-of-7 shooting (2-5 3PT), 6 assists, 5 steals
Emma Kuczynski: 9 points on 4-of-7 shooting (1-3 3PT), 1 rebounds, 1 steal
Morgan Robinson: 7 points on 2-of-4 shooting, 12 rebounds, 7 assists
 
UP NEXT
Jefferson will now compete in the CACC Championship Semifinals on Saturday, March 9 at Caldwell, N.J. The Rams will face #3 seed in South division Holy Family University.