Basketball Spotlight: Devils Hold off Lightning for First Conference Win Tuesday, December 5, 2006 By Bob Heller USIP Sports Information Director Allison Weiss recorded her fourth consecutive double-double and the University of the Sciences in Philadelphia placed two other players in double figures as they held off Goldey Beacom College, 68-62 in Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference women's basketball contest at the Bobby Morgan Arena in Philadelphia tonight. The win was the Devils first conference win of the season, improving their league record to 1-2. USP improves to 3-2 overall. The Lightning fall to 3-3 overall and 2-1 in league play. Weiss (So., Springfield HS/Springfield, Pa.) led the Devils with 18 points and 11 rebounds, connecting on seven of 10 shots from the field. Shelby Rance (Sr., Central Columbia HS/Bloomsburg, Pa.) added 17 points while Rashanna Edwards (Sr., West Windsor-Plainsboro HS/Cherry Hill, Pa.) had a season-high 14, including a perfect 6-for-6 from the free throw line. Edwards also dished out a game-high five assists. Lori Sedina (Sr., Lower Cape May HS (NJ)/Springfield, Pa.) added eight points and dished out four assists while recording two blocks. Toni Jones led the Lightning with 24 points and 10 rebounds. Cherisse Graham came off the bench to score 19 points. Graham also dished out five assists and pulled down six rebounds. Kim Rowley also had 10 rebounds for Goldey Beacom while contributing nine points. After leading the entire first half, the Devils fell behind early in the second half as Jones scored two quick baskets to give the Lightning a 36-34 lead at the 18:09 mark. USP battled back and retook the lead, 40-38 on a Sedina baseline jumper at the 14:55 mark. The Devils continued to lead and opened their biggest lead of the period at that time, 47-42 on a three-point field goal by Autumn Tully (So., Union-Endicott HS/Endicott, N.Y.) at the 10:53 mark, only to have Goldey Beacom reel off five straight points to tie the game for the ninth time at the 9:18 mark. USP again forged ahead only to have Goldey Beacom tie the game three more times, the last at 57-57 with 3:25 left. Graham's free throw with 2:32 left gave the Lightning the lead for just the second time 58-57. Tully's layup however, put the devils back on top for good, 59-58 with just 2:06 left. After a Graham turnover, Edwards added a layup for the Devils final field goal of the game with 1:30 left to make the score 61-58. USP then made seven of eight free throws in the final minute to seal the win, 68-62. The Devils appeared to be pulling away in the first half, opening up a 32-24 lead with 4:04 left in the opening period only to have the Lightning score the next eight points to tie the game at 32-all. Rance's jumper at the buzzer gave the Devils a 34-32 lead at the half. For the game, the Devils connected on 25 of 54 shots from the field (46.3% and 17 of 18 from the free throw line (94.4%). Goldey Beacom made just 26 of 68 shots (38.2%) and was just nine of 12 from the charity stripe (75%). The Lightning held a 42-32 advantage on the board (including 18 offensive boards to the Devils' six). Both teams committed 19 turnovers. The Devils will host Holy Family University on Thursday, December 7, 2006 at 6 p.m. and will take on Caldwell College on Saturday, December 9, 2006 at 1 p.m. before breaking for final exams.