PHILADELPHIA – Mary Newell (Lansdale, Pa./Villa Joseph Marie) and Tori Arnao (Newtown, Pa./Archbishop Wood) combined for 32 points and 25 rebounds for the Philadelphia University women's basketball team as the Rams knocked off the University of Bridgeport 62-51 Sunday afternoon in the Gallagher Center.

Newell posted 16 points, 14 rebounds, and three assists, all season highs, while Arnao racked up 16 points, 11 boards, two steals and two blocks. Arnao now has three double-doubles this season and Newell has two.

Bria Young (Philadelphia, Pa./Prep Charter) was also in double-figure scoring for the Rams (2-2) with 14 points.

The Rams faced an early 5-4 deficit 3:37 into the contest after the Purple Knights' Louise Ovner drained a 3-pointer to cap a 5-0 Bridgeport run. A Newell put back of an Arnao miss at the 5:41 mark stopped the Bridgeport momentum and put Philadelphia back in front by a point.

With Philadelphia leading 8-7, Newell buried a jumper in the lane to start a 7-2 run that extended the gap to 15-9. Newell and Erin Rafter (Sewell, N.J./Washington Twp.) finished the quarter with back-to-back baskets to give Philadelphia a 19-12 lead.

After Newell opened the second quarter with a bucket to push the lead up to nine (21-12), Bridgeport (1-3) answered back with eight straight points, five from Aurelie Leblance-Florent, to cut the gap to 21-20. The Rams missed four shots during the run.

Jessica Kaminski (Philadelphia, Pa./Archbishop Wood), who finished with seven points, got Philadelphia back on track by hitting two free throws at the 4:40 mark. The successful trip to the line was the beginning of a 9-0 surge, capped by an Arnao layup with 1:55 left in the half, to give Philadelphia a half-high 10-point lead (30-20).

In the third, Philadelphia had to fight off a quick Bridgeport rally that pulled the Purple Knights within 34-31 on a Kadijah Dickson layup. Once again, the Rams had an answer, outscoring the Purple Knights 11-3 over the next 6:11 to open up a 45-34 cushion on a Rachel Day (Horsham, Pa./Archbishop Wood) 3-pointer.

The Rams' lead hit 15 points (57-42) on a Kaminski fast-break layup with 4:18 left to play.

Philadelphia had season best totals in rebounds (42), offensive rebounds (18), assists (17), blocked shots (5), and made free throws (14).

Morgen Caution paced Bridgeport with 12 points and eight rebounds, while Leblanc-Florent added 12 points.

Philadelphia returns to Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference play on Tuesday, Nov. 24 against Georgian Court University at 6 p.m. in the Gallagher Center.