Devils Upset # 16 Holy Family

By Bob Heller
USIP Sports Information Director

The University of the Sciences women's basketball team handed #16 Holy Family their first loss since November on Thursday night, beating their city and CACC rivals, 73-58.

USP not only broke HFU’s 25-game overall winning skein, they also snapped their 25-game home winning streak. It was the first time since the 1998-99 season the Devils have gotten the better of the Tigers, and it also gives USP their 20th victory of the campaign.

Leah Shumoski (So., Marple Newtown HS/Broomall, PA) was the star in this match, scoring 33 points on 13-23 shooting and grabbing 12 rebounds in 38 minutes for the victors. She was joined in double figures by teammates Shelby Rance (Fr., Central Columbia HS/Bloomsburg, PA) and Stephanie Watson (So., Archbishop Ryan HS/Warminster, PA). Rance had 12 points while Watson chipped in 11 off the bench before leaving late in the game with a knee injury. Roni DiCiccio (Sr., Clearview Regional HS/Mullica Hill, NJ) handed out 11 assists.

The Devils held Holy Family well below their usual shooting output, making just 38% FG for the evening and missing 12 of their 14 3-point attempts. USP made 47% from the field while draining 14-18 at the foul line (as opposed to HFU’s 6-11). The Devils won the glass battle (40-37) and the ball-handling duel (23-19 assist-turnover ratio to HFU’s 17-23), highlighting their effort.

USP led most of the way, with the last Holy Family lead being 7-6. An 8-0 run put the Devils up 28-20. Shumoski scored the first six points of the run all on 8-12' jump shots and Amanda Byrd (So., Christiana HS/Newark, DE) finished the run with a basket with 7:10 left. After the Tigers pulled back within four,30-26 with 4:55 left, USP went on a 7-0 run to increase their lead to double digits, 37-26 with a minute to go in the period, which helped carry them to a 39-30 halftime lead.

The margin ballooned in the 2nd half, as the Devils led by as many as 19 before settling for the final margin. Shumoski scored 19 of her 33 points in the second half.

USP is now 20-5 overall and 19-2 in conference play. The Devils hold the second seed in the upcoming CACC Tournament.