Lakewood, N.J.- The Georgian Court University women's basketball squad succumbed to visiting Chestnut Hill College, 66-63, in Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) action Saturday afternoon in the GCU Wellness Center.

The victory provided the Griffins its first triumph over a conference foe (0-7 CACC) while boosting Chestnut Hill's overall record to 3-12. The Lions limp to a 3-10 overall mark, which includes a 2-5 showing vs. CACC opponents.

The first half did provide many highlights as both clubs shot a combined 18-for-62 (29%) from the the floor. The Lions possessed the lead for a majority of the period, which included a stanza-high 21-13 advantage with 5:27 remaining before intermission.

The Griffins mounted a furious 14-4 run over the next 5:21 and grabbed their first surplus of the afternoon when a three-ball from Brittany McDonough (So.-Brooklyn, N.Y.) put the visitors up 27-25 with 0:06 remaining. The Lions rushed down the court and dropped in a buzzer-beating layup, courtesy of Octivia Booker, to tie the affair at 27-27 heading into the locker room. 

GCU scored the first three points of the second half, taking a 30-27 lead at 18:27 after a Tahira Matthews layup.

An Olivia Gorczynski (Jr.-Parlin, N.J.) three-pointer at 16:37 erased the Griffins' deficit and put Chestnut Hill up 34-32, a lead the road team would not relinquish. CHC grew its lead to a high-water mark of eight points with 2:58 left after a Tenisha Townsend-Mobley (Jr.-Pleasantville, N.J.) jumper made the score 55-47.

Brittany Baker's steal and layup put the Lions within two at 57-55 with 1:28 left, but the Griffins would close the contest with a 9-8 advantage to secure the "W".

The Lions outshot Chestnut Hill (34.8% to 30.4%) from the floor and out-rebounded the Griffins, 56-45. GCU, however, committed 10 more fouls (23-13) and six more turnovers (20-14) while also being outshot at the charity stripe (60.9% to 77.8%).

Townsend-Mobley led all players with her 27 points, which included a perfect 9-for-9 effort from the free throw line. Gorczynski poured in 17 points, while tallying five boards and a game-high five swipes. McDonough dropped in 10 points and grabbed six boards in the complete-game effort (40 minutes). Annie Farrow (Sr.-Ocean Twp., N.J.) led her team with 12 rebounds to go along with eight points.

Matthews collected her fourth double-double and marked her third game with 20 or more points this season with her 20-point, 10-rebound effort. Elizabeth Lawler ripped down a team-high 12 rebounds and blocked a game-high four shots in the outing, while also putting in eight points. Tara Steakin dished a game-best four assists in the defeat.

Georgian Court takes to the road Tuesday evening with a CACC North Division contest at Wilmington University. The Lions defeated the Wildcats, 74-64, back on December 18 in the Wellness Center. Start time is slated for 6:00 p.m.