Basketball Spotlight: Devils Defeat Chargers Saturday, January 28, 2006 By Bob Heller USIP Sports Information Director Leah Shumoski scored 24 points and Mary Beth Christian hit a key basket with 12 seconds left to put the University of the Sciences in Philadelphia ahead by four points as they went on to defeat the Dominican College Chargers, 73-68 in a Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference women’s basketball game this afternoon at the Hennessy Center in Orangeburg, New York. The win improves the Devils record to 11-6 overall and 10-4 in CACC games. Dominican drops to 12-7 overall and 10-4 in league play. Both teams are tied for second place in the league standings with identical 10-4 conference records. Shumoski (Sr., Marple Newtown HS/Broomall, PA) led all scorers with 24 points (10-15 FG, 4-7 FT) and recorded her eighth double-double of the season (third consecutive) with 11 rebounds. Leah also had three assists, three blocks and two steals. Shelby Rance (Jr., Central Columbia HS/ Bloomsburg, PA) and Rashanna Edwards (Jr., West Windsor-Plainsboro HS/ Cherry Hill, NJ) joined Shumoski in double figures with 18 and 15 points respectively. Edwards also had a game-high five assists. The Chargers placed five players in double figures, led by Shalissa Burgess’ 17 points off the bench. Jill Younghans added 12 while Ashley Rossi chipped in 11. The Chargers led by one, 68-67 late in the game when Shumoski went to the free throw line and tied the game, making one of two with 2:21 left. After the Chargers turned the ball over, the Devils had an opportunity to go ahead and did 70-68 on Shumoski’s jumper at the 1:18 mark. A steal by USP’s Lori Sedina (Jr., Lower Cape May HS/Cape May, NJ) gave the Devils the ball again with just under a minute to go. Rance missed the jumper but Shumoski was there for the rebound to give the Devils another chance. Edwards made a perfect pass to Christian (So., Villa Joseph Marie HS/ Warrington, PA) and the sophomore forward buried the open 14-foot jumper from the left side to give the Devils a four point cushion. Rance added a free throw to provide the final five point margin of victory. Leading by six at the break , 41-35, USP built their lead to nine points, 48-39 just four minutes into the final stanza before the Charger went on a 14-4 run to take a 53-52 lead with 10:45 to go. The next eight minutes saw eight lead changes and two ties (the second on the Shumoski free throw to even things at 68-all) as neither team led by more than three down the stretch. The Devils shot 51.8% from the field (29-56) while Dominican shot 50% (28-56). Both teams had 32 rebounds and were dead even in the turnover department with 21 apiece. USP made 15 of 21 free throws (71.4%) while Dominican made just 10 of 16 (62.5%). USP returns home to take on Georgian Court University on Tuesday, January 31, 2006. Tip off is set for 7 p.m.