Ware Earns 100th Career Win as Devils Crush Warriors

Erin Chesnavich scored a career-high 21 points and Shelby Rance added 16 as the University of the Sciences in Philadelphia crushed the visiting Nyack College Warriors 73-48 in a Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference women's basketball game at the Bobby Morgan Arena, giving Head Coach Nate Ware his 100th career women's basketball victory.

Ware's record at USP is now 100-60 (62.5%). He had previously been the men's basketball coach at Valley Forge Military College (1996-2000)where he was 98-61 over five seasons and the head men's basketball coach at Eastern University (1982-1996) where he compiled a 232-171 record in 14 seasons. Ware is currently USP's all-time winningest women's basketball coach.

The win improves the Devils record to 10-6 overall and 7-4 in league play and remain in fourth place in the league tied with Goldey Beacom College. USP has now won six straight CACC games. Nyack falls to 6-8 overall and 4-7 in league play.

Chesnavich's (Fr., Bishop O'Reilly HS/Pittston, Pa.) 21 points led all scorers. Erin connected on eight of 13 shots from the field and was a perfect 5-for-5 from the free throw line in just 19 minutes of playing time. Chesnavich also led all rebounders with seven. Rance (Sr., Central Columbia HS/Bloomsburg, Pa.) added 16 points while Allison Weiss (So., Springfield HS/Springfield, Pa.) and Lori Sedina (Sr., Lower Cape May HS (NJ)/Springfield, Pa.) each had eight. Hayley Lentz (Jr., Wilson Area HS/Easton, Pa.) came off the bench to add eight points as well. Rashanna Edwards (Sr., West Windsor-Plainsboro HS/Cherry Hill, N.J.) dished out a career-high 11 assists with just one turnover on the afternoon.

Kaarina Sterns was the only Nyack player in double digits with 11 points (5-7 FG).

The Devils led wire to wire, jumping out to a 15-2 lead in the opening five minutes of the game, getting eight of those points from Chesnavich. The Devils then outscored the Warriors 19-5 over the next 8:37 to take a 34-7 lead before building the margin the 30 by the break 46-16. Chesnavich and Rance had 13 points apiece in the half as the Devils connected on 19 of 34 shots in the period (55.9%) and committed just two turnovers the entire half. The Devils defense limited Nyack to seven field goals on 25 shots (28%).

Chesnavich and Sedina started off the second half with baskets and the Devils boosted their lead to 32, 50-18 at the 17:18 mark. USP would take their biggest lead of the game, 34 points, 59-25 on a traditional three-point play by Rance at the 12:13 mark. Nyack battled back by going on a 17-4 run over the next 7:22 to pull within 21 points, 63-42 with 4:49 left in the game. USP countered with an 8-2 run to go back up by 27, 71-44 with 1:50 left in the game. Chesnavich made three of four shots during the stretch for six of the Devils eight points with Sedina accounting for the other two on a layup. Nyack scored four of the next six points to close out the scoring and make the final score 73-48.

For the game, the Devils shot 49.2% from the field (31063, 3-9 3FG) while Nyack shot 34.0% (17-50, 3-14 3FG). The Warriors were 11 of 18 from the free throw line (61.1%) while the Devils were a perfect 8-of-8. The Devils also outrebounded the Warriors 41-27 and had an excellent assist/turnover ratio (24/12). Nyack committed 15 turnovers (8 assists).

The Devils return to action on Monday, January 22, 2007 when they take on Georgian Court University at the Bobby Morgan Arena. Tip off is set for 7 p.m.