PHILADELPHIA, PA (March 7, 2009) - Tournament Most Valuable Player Jessica Romano registered 29 points and 13 rebounds to lead Philadelphia University to the 2008-09 Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) Women's Basketball Championship w ith a 72-63 triumph over Wilmington University. The Lady Rams out-scored Wilmington, 45-33, in the second half, with 18 courtesy of Romano. With the win, the Lady Rams have captured the CACC's automatic bid to the NCAA Division II Regional Tournament. The field and host for the tournament will be announced Sunday evening.

After defeating the top seeds from the North and South Divisions en route to the championship game, the South No. 4 Wildcats came out strong and took a 20-11 lead 10:28 into the contest. The Wildcats stayed in control for most of the half before Philadelphia went on a 10-5 run over the final six minutes of the half to pull within three at the break, 30-27. Wilmington opened the tournament by upsetting the overall top seed, Holy Family University, and followed with a win over the North Division winner, Dominican College, in the semi-final round.

Philadelphia, the No. 2 seed from the South Division, took over at the start of the second stanza and out-scored the Wildcats 23-10 over the first eight minutes of action. The lead stretched to 12 (60-48) with 7:52 on the clock, but Wilmington made a run and pulled to within four (63-59) with 2:11 remaining. Philadelphia answered and scored the next five points to take a 68-59 edge with 47 seconds left. Romano and senior guard Amanda Brennan iced the game by going a combined 9-for-10 from the free-throw line over the final 1:24. For the game, Philadelphia hit 27-of-34 (.794) shots from the charity stripe. Brennan and her sister, junior Kate Brennan, joined Romano on the All-Tournament team.

In three tournament contests, Romano averaged 22.7 points, 10.3 rebounds and shot 55.9-percent (19-of-34) from the field and 88.2-percent (30-of-34) from the free-throw line.

Junior guard Kim Parker led Wilmington with 21 points, four rebounds and four assists, while junior forward Amelia Simmons added 11 points and six rebounds. Both players were named to the All-Tournament team.

Philadelphia enters the NCAA Tournament with a 21-9 record, while Wilmington falls to 18-12. The results from the tournament and the All-Tournament team are listed below.

CACC Tournament Quarterfinals

Mar. 3

S#4 Wilmington 67, S#1 Holy Family 64

S#2 Philadelphia 72, S#3 USP 51

N#1 Dominican 71, N#4 Nyack 61

N#2 Bloomfield 61, N#3 Caldwell 50

CACC Tournament Semifinals at Philadelphia University

Mar. 6

S#4 Wilmington 64, N#1 Dominican 55

S#2 Philadelphia 76, N#2 Bloomfield 63

CACC Tournament Championship at Philadelphia University

Mar. 7

S#2 Philadelphia 72, S#4 Wilmington 63

All-Tournament Team

Jessica Romano, Philadelphia - Tournament MVP

Amanda Brennan, Philadelphia

Kate Brennan, Philadelphia

Kim Parker, Wilmington

Amelia Simmons, Wilmington

Christine McCollum, Holy Family

Althea Chambers, Dominican

Tiffany McDaniel, Bloomfield