TWO IN A ROW: Jefferson Downs HFU for Second-Straight CACC WBB Championship
PHILADELPHIA, Pa. (March 8, 2020) – The Thomas Jefferson University women's basketball team (20-11) scored seven of the last nine points over the final two minutes to defeat Holy Family (18-11), 63-59, and claim its second-straight Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) Championship on Sunday at Bobby Morgan Arena on the University of the Sciences campus.
The Rams, who were the South Division's third seed, will take a 12-game win streak into their third consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance, their fifth in the last six years, and their 12th overall.
Alynna Williams, who scored a game-high 23 points, was named the most valuable player of the CACC Championship, as her stellar play in the second half led the Rams to victory. She was joined on the CACC All-Tournament Team by teammates Sabria Lytes and Haley Meinel. Lytes nearly had a double-double with 12 points and nine rebounds, while Meinel added 13 points.
Moe Moore, who also earned a spot on the all-tournament team, poured in a team-best 16 points for the Tigers in the setback. Meghan Hughes came off the bench to chip in 11 points for HFU, who proved despite the loss the program is on the right track to restoring the proud tradition of Holy Family Women's Basketball.
Jefferson scored six of the contest's first eight points and led by as many as six (16-10) in the period. The Tigers closed the gap to one (16-15) heading into the second. The Rams started the quarter with six in a row to increase the lead to seven (22-15) with 7:43 on the clock. However, Holy Family followed with a 12-2 rally to take their first lead of the game (27-24) with 28 seconds to go. Williams made a layup for Jefferson in the final seconds to make the score 27-26 at the intermission.
In the third, freshman Morgan Robinson tied the score at 32 with a pair of free throws. The Tigers responded with four points to regain the advantage with 5:25 left. Williams evened the score again (36-36) with a triple at the 5:02 mark. Holy Family had an answer yet again, tallying eight of the next 10 for a 44-38 cushion. The Rams fought back with an 8-2 run to end the period, sending the title game into the fourth tied at 46. Williams hit two three-pointers in the stretch.
HFU posted the first five points in the final quarter to go ahead 51-46. Williams and Meinel made back-to-back layups to close the gap to one. The Tigers had four of the next six to go back up by three (55-52) with 4:34 remaining. Williams had a layup then Meinel stole the ball and laid it in to give Jefferson a 56-55 advantage (3:02). Holy Family went back in front on free throws before Williams drilled another three to put the Rams up two (59-57) with 1:57 left.
Lytes came up with a steal and Williams hit a devastating three with 1:00 to play to make it 62-57. The Tigers made a layup then had an opportunity with the ball down by three but turned it over with 13 seconds to go. Sophomore Maddie Haney was fouled and went to the line, making one of two to make it a two-possession game (0:11). Jefferson then forced another turnover and ran out the clock to celebrate its successful title defense.
2019-20 CACC WOMEN'S BASKETBALL ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM
Irisa Ye (University of the Sciences)
Sha'Raya Haines (Post University)
Alynna Williams (Thomas Jefferson University)
Moe Moore (Holy Family University)
Sabria Lytes (Thomas Jefferson University)
Haley Meinel (Thomas Jefferson University)
Mia Ehling (Holy Family University)
Elizabeth Radley (Holy Family University)
MVP: Alynna Williams
ABOUT THE CACC
The Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference is an NCAA Division II Conference composed of 14 institutions in Connecticut, Delaware, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania. The member institutions are Bloomfield College, Caldwell University, Chestnut Hill College, Concordia (N.Y.) College, Dominican (N.Y.) College, Felician University, Georgian Court University, Goldey-Beacom College, Holy Family University, Nyack College, Post University of Waterbury, Thomas Jefferson University, University of the Sciences, and Wilmington University.