Philadelphia, PA- Philadelphia University long-time women's basketball coach Tom Shirley reached a momentous milestone in his team's 76-60 win over the visiting Chestnut Hill College Griffins (4-11, 2-6 CACC) on Wednesday evening at the Gallagher Athletic Center. Coach Shirley secured his 600th career victory with the win, cementing his spot as Philadelphia's winningest active women's basketball coach. In the City of Brotherly Love, only Villanova's Harry Perretta is close with 594 victories as of tonight.
PhilaU improved to 8-6 overall and 4-3 in the CACC.
Four PhilaU starters scored in double-digits to help aid the win, as PhilaU junior forward Christine Wooding led all with 20 points, along with eight rebounds. CHC was led by Ebony Washington with 17 points and 12 boards.
A tightly contested first half with seven lead changes, PhilaU pulled out to their largest lead in the stanza with 33 seconds left on a Wooding jumper to forge ahead 36-28. The Rams led 36-31 at the break.
In round two, PhilaU senior guard Taylor Magnus got hot as she nailed three treys in the first six minutes to put PhilaU up 46-41. Magnus finished the night with 15 points and three boards. CHC's Kamia Smith hit a three at 12:49 to put the Griffins within one at 47-46, but PhilaU sophomore forward Taylor Peltzer hit a trey to keep her team up for good. Peltzer added six points in the victory.
A stoic Shirley watched in the final minute and a half as his team put the icing on the cake- senior forward Kate Brennan (17 points, six rebounds) and junior guard Stephanie Agger (12 points, five assists) knocked down two free-throws each to hold on for the win.
PhilaU takes the court next at the University of the Sciences on Tuesday (1/25) at 6 p.m.
