PHILADELPHIA – Senior forward Kristen Blye (Chester Springs, Pa./Downington E.) scored a team-high 12 points, grabbed six rebounds, and blocked three shots to help the Philadelphia University women's basketball team fight off Chestnut Hill, 55-46, in a Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) contest Saturday afternoon in Sorgenti Arena.

The win improves Philadelphia's overall record to 8-5 and its CACC mark to 5-3. Head coach Tom Shirley moved into sole possession of fifth place for the most career wins by a Division II women's basketball head coach with 635, passing former West Texas A&M coach Bob Schneider.

Chestnut Hill is now 2-12 overall and 0-7 against the conference.

Senior guard Taylor Peltzer (Holland, Pa./Archbishop Wood) and sophomore guard Monica Schacker (Doylestown, Pa./Germantown Academy) both netted 11 points, while junior guard Samantha Morris (Wenonah, N.J./Deptford) added eight points and seven rebounds.

Freshman forward Tori Arnao (Newtown, Pa./Archbishop Wood)—who entered the game eighth in D-II in rebounding—hauled down a game-high 11 boards.

The Griffins received a game-high 13 points from Lindsey Alexander. Olivia Gorczynski contributed 12 points, while Aimee Bouie grabbed nine rebounds.

The Rams opened the second half on a 13-4 run, capped by a Peltzer triple with 12:08 left in the game, to take a game-high nine point-lead (41-32).

Chestnut Hill chipped away at its deficit and was able to close within a basket (48-46) when Tenisha Townsend-Mobley hit two free throws with 4:12 left in regulation.

Philadelphia forced Chestnut Hill to shot 0-4 down the stretch and commit two turnovers, while scoring the final seven points of the game, including four from Blye.

Philadelphia trailed early on, but Morris hit a jumper at the 6:08 mark to cap a quick 5-0 spurt and put the Rams ahead 20-18. Following the baskets, the teams would swap a one-point lead six team over a 4:57 span until a Blye lay-up gave the Rams a 28-25 advantage with 1:11 left in the half.

Gorczynski buried a trey in the left corner with three seconds remaining to send the teams to the locker room tied at 28.

The Rams shot 34.6 percent (18-of-52) from the field, and 50.0 percent (6-of-12) from three. Chestnut Hill connected on 29.6 percent (16-of-54) of its shots, 33.3 percent (6-of-18) from three. Philadelphia won the rebounding battle, 41-33.

Philadelphia now has a week off to prepare for its final non-conference game of the year, a home contest against Washington Adventist on Sunday, Jan. 20 at 2 p.m.