PHILADELPHIA – A dominate first half performance propelled the Philadelphia University women's basketball team to a 74-54 Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) victory over Goldey-Beacom Saturday afternoon in the Gallagher Center.

Bria Young (Philadelphia, Pa./Prep Charter) scored nine of her 17 points in the opening 10 minutes to help the Rams get out to a 20-10 first quarter lead. The key to the quarter was a 13-0 Philadelphia run—that included seven of Mary Newell's (Lansdale, Pa./Villa Joseph Marie) game and career-high 22 points—over a 3:35 span to turn a two-point deficit into a 15-4 advantage. During the run, Philadelphia shot 6-of-7 from the floor, while Goldey-Beacom (0-9, 0-3 CACC) missed seven straight shots.

The second quarter belonged to Rachel Day (Horsham, Pa./Archbishop Wood) as she knocked down three 3-pointers during an 18-5 surge that ballooned the Philadelphia cushion to 38-19 with 48 seconds left before halftime. The Rams defense was once again very solid as it held the Lightning to 2-of-11 shooting over the 7:19 stretch.

Philadelphia—who took a 38-21 lead to the break—shot 53.6 percent, 4-of-10 from three, and owned a 20-14 rebounding advantage in the first half. The Lightning shot 26.7 percent and were 0-of-11 from 3-point range.

The Ram advantage grew to a game-high 24 points (57-33) on a Newell jumper with 1:30 left in the third quarter.

Tori Arnao (Newtown, Pa./Archbishop Wood) picked up her sixth double-double of the season with 12 points, 16 rebounds, five assists, and three steals. Day finished the game with 15 points, while Young added six assists, five steals, and five rebounds.

The Lightning got 13 points, 11 rebounds, and four blocked shots from Brittani Bryson. Mikila Stefanski contributed a team-high 14 points.

Philadelphia ended up outshooting Goldey-Beacom 50.0 percent to 33.8 percent and outrebounding the Lightning 40-33.

The Rams have their first CACC road test up next on Tuesday, Dec. 8 against Wilmington (Del.) at 6 p.m.