Boxscore

PIKE CREEK, Del. - The Goldey-Beacom College women's basketball team suffered a 76-51 defeat to Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference South Division rival, Holy Family University on Sat. afternoon in both teams' conference openers at the Joseph West Jones Center.

In the rematch of last year's CACC Finals won by the Lightning, Holy Family once again triumphed at the Jones Center where they are now a perfect 10-0 in the Division II era. Last year, GBC became the first CACC team to ever beat the Tigers twice in one season, but both wins came at HFU's Campus Center. The loss drops the Lightning to 4-3 (0-1 CACC) while the Tigers improve to 4-3 overall and 1-0 in league play with the win.

Junior forward Akilah Sewell and freshman center Chelsea Grover did a tremendous job defensively on the CACC's leading scorer, Erin Mann, holding her to just six points on 1-of-8 shooting from the field and just three rebounds. The two Lightning bigs combined for 13 points and 11 rebounds on the day as well. However, with the focus on stopping Mann, HFU guard Ana Cruz erupted for 21 points on 5-of-12 from the field (4-of-9 3-pt. FG). Also, reserve interior players Kelly Brady and Carolyne Heston scored 15 and 14, respectively. Brady and Heston helped the Tigers to a 46-36 rebounding edge and turned 14 offensive rebounds into 16 second-chance points. HFU's line-up went 10-players deep, with eight different Tigers getting in the points column as HFU's bench outscored the Lightning's 41-14.

The Lightning out-shot HFU 41-percent to 28-percent in the first half, but saw a 10-point lead they had mounted dissipate in the final five minutes thanks to a Heston-led 9-0 Tiger run which tied the score at 30-all with 20 seconds left before intermission. Two free-throws by junior guard Ashley Rosario gave the Lightning a 32-30 lead at intermission, but momentum was clearly on HFU's side as the two teams went into the locker rooms.

HFU scored 16 of the first 20 points in the second half to take a 46-36 lead a little over six minutes into the action after the break. Twice GBC closed to within seven, but that would be as close as it would get the rest of the way. The Lightning managed just three points in the final eight minutes of regulation while HFU scored 18 to run its lead up to the largest margin of the afternoon for the final lopsided verdict.

Next up for the Lightning is a rematch of last year's thrilling CACC quarterfinals game versus University of the Sciences. GBC will host at the Jones Center at 6 p.m.