Courtesy of Matt McLagan Caldwell Sports Information
CALDWELL, N.J. – Guard Kelly Killion (Pennsauken, NJ) tallied 21 points to lead the Holy Family women’s basketball team over N.J.I.T., 84-73 in the semifinals of the CACC Tournament Friday afternoon at Caldwell College’s Newman Center. The Lady Tigers (24-5) advanced to Saturday’s final against the University of Sciences in a rematch of last year’s championship game, won by USP. The loss ends the Highlanders’ season at 18-11 despite 31 points from guard Kelly Crowe (Wayne, PA).
The Lady Tigers held the lead for most of the first half, including a 38-29 advantage with 4:14 on the clock. But six points from center Emese Gyuricza (Szolnok, Hungary) and five from Crowe helped the Highlanders close out the half with a 11-2 run that tied the game at 40-40. Crowe had 18 points in the half for N.J.I.T., while forward Ashley Dunek (Mt. Laurel, NJ) tallied 12 for Holy Family.
The second half remained close, with neither team leading by more than four points for the first 12 minutes. A pair of free throws by guard Aine O’Dwyer (Tipperary, Ireland) made the score 61-60 in favor of Holy Family at the 8:01 mark. The Lady Tigers then scored six straight points to take control of the game, and the lead would grow to 71-64 with 2:54 left. Crowe then nailed a three-pointer on the next possession, only to have Dunek convert a lay-up and a free throw on the next possession. The Highlanders cut it to 74-69 on a pair of free throws, but would get no closer, as the Lady Tigers outscored N.J.I.T. 10-4 the rest of the way.
Killion, the CACC co-Newcomer of the Year, made 4-of-7 from three-point range en route to 21 points. Dunek finished with 18 points, while center Megan Bauer (Norwood, PA) and guard Chrissy Kosiek (Philadelphia, PA) tallied 15 points apiece. Crowe’s 31 points are a season-high and included five three-pointers. Gyuricza had 12 points, and center Selena Kershaw (South Orange, NJ) had 14 points.
Saturday’s CACC Tournament championship game will take place at 5:30 p.m. in the Newman Center on the campus of Caldwell College.