Balanced Effort by Devils as They Tame Lions

Leah Shumoski recorded her fourth consecutive double-double to lead four USP players in double figures as the University of the Sciences in Philadelphia defeated the Georgian Court University Lions 75-62 in a Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) women's basketball game this evening at USP's Bobby Morgan Arena.

Shumoski (Sr., Marple Newtown HS/Broomall, PA) scored 21 points, pulled down 11 rebounds and recorded four assists. Leah entered the game needing just five rebounds to reach 900 for her career and two assists for 250 in her career. In reaching these marks, Shumoski becomes the first NCAA Division II women's player to amass at least 1,600 points (has 1,691); 900 rebounds (has 906); 250 assists (has 252); 250 steals (has 284) and 100 blocks (has 119) over their college career. The senior forward most recently was honored as the CACC's Women's Basketball Player of the Week for her performances last week against Philadelphia University and Dominican College.

Joining Shumoski in double figures were Rashanna Edwards (Jr., West Windsor-Plainsboro HS/ Cherry Hill, NJ), Shelby Rance (Jr., Central Columbia HS/ Bloomsburg, PA) and Lori Sedina (Jr., Lower Cape May HS/Cape May, NJ). Edwards had 18 points and six assists while Rance had 16 points (3-5 from beyond the arc). Sedina recorded 12 points and pulled down eight rebounds (7 offensive) on 6-for-11 shooting.

Annie Alosa and Stephanie Longdo led the Lions with 13 points apiece while Barbara Jones came off the bench to score 10. Jones and Longdo each had nine rebounds to pace Georgian Court.

The Devils led wire-to-wire but it wasn't easy sailing as the Lions kept clawing back every time USP opened some distance, particularly in the first half. USP opened a seven point lead at the break, scoring the final four points to lead 27-20.

The Lions cut the lead to four in the opening minutes of the final stanza but the Devils countered with a 12-6 run to boost the lead to double figures, 44-34 at the 12:11 mark. After a pair of free throws by Shumoski, Edwards stole the ball and went in for a layup and was fouled. The junior point guard made the free throw and boosted the Devils lead to nine, 37-28. Sedina added a short jumper and Rance a three-point field goal before Edwards closed out the run with another layup.

The Lions closed within seven three times over the next 5:30 before the Devils used an 8-0 run to take their biggest lead of the game, 15 points, 66-51 at the 4:21 mark. Shumoski had a layup to start things off then followed with a pair of free throws. Sedina added a basket and Edwards a layup before Georgian's Jordan Gercke hit a jumper to break the run. The Lions added five more points to complete a 7-0 run and pull back within eight, 66-58 with 3:10 left before the Devils went to the free throw line making six of eight while holding the Lions scoreless to go back up by 14, 72-58 with 55 seconds left. Three free throws by Allison Weiss (Fr., Springfield HS/Springfield, PA) provided the final points for the Devils and gave the Devils a 75-62 win.

With the win, the Devils improve to 12-6 overall and 11-4 in league play. Georgian Court drops to 5-14 overall and 4-12 in league play.

The Devils finished the game shooting 42.1% from the field(24-57) while the Lions connected on 36.2% of their shots (25-69). USP made 24 of 35 free throws (68.6%) while the Lions made just 9 of 18 (50%). The Lions a slight advantage on the boards 43-42 but committed 17 turnovers (10 assists) to just 12 for the Devils (19 assists).

USP takes to the road on Thursday, February 2, 2006 to take on New Jersey Institute of Technology in another critical CACC matchup. Tip off is set for 6 p.m.