A late rally by the University of the Sciences women's basketball team fell short as they dropped their fifth straight game, 72-65 to Philadelphia University Tuesday night at the Bobby Morgan Arena.

The loss drops the Devils record to 9-12 overall and 5-9 in Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference games. The Rams improve to 13-10 overall and 11-4 in league games.

Alyssa Hamm (Academy Park HS/Sharon Hill, Pa.) led four USP players in double figures with 15 points (5-11 FG, 3-5 3FG). Marissa Chesnavich (Bishop O'Reilly HS/Pittston, Pa.) added 13 (5-10 FG). Joining Hamm and Chesnavich in double figures were Erin Chesnavich (Bishop O'Reilly HS/Pittston, Pa.) with 11 points (4-6 FG, 3-4 FT) and Melissa Rotz (Central Dauphin HS/Harrisburg, Pa.) with ten (3-7 FG, 2-3 3FG). Caitlin Shaw (Monmouth Regional HS/Eatontown, N.J.) led USP with six rebounds. Erin Chesnavich had five assists, tops amongst the USP players.

Jessica Romano led the Rams with 25 points (7-12 FG, 11-12 FT), ten rebounds and two blocked shots. Kate Brennan added 21 points (8-13 FG, 5-5 FT) to pace the Lady Rams offensive attack. Ashley Gaskins and Nina Brascetta each had four assists.

The Rams led wire to wire, opening up a double-digit advantage midway through the period, 21-11 and building the lead to as many as 21, 38-17 before settling in for an 18-point advantage at the break, 40-22. In the second half, the Rams led by 19, 59-40 with 9:55 left when the Devils scored 13 straight points to pull within six 59-53 with 4:59 left. A triple from Sarah Hickman (Wilmington Christian School/Newark, Del.) started the run follwed by five straight free throws. Hamm's 3-ball cut the deficit to single digits at the 5:44 mark and a Shaw layup completed the run. Taylor Peltzer's two free throws broke the PU scoring drought and boosted the lead back up to eight before another trey from Hamm cut the lead to five, 61-56 with 4:11 left. The Lady Rams then nearly put things away with a 7-2 spurt to increase their lead to ten, 68-58 with 1:49 left. Five straight points by Rotz cut the deficit in half before Brennan and Romano iced the game with a pair of free throws apiece in the final 33 seconds.

Both teams shot about 46% from the field and USP did have a better day from distance (7-12 3FG to Philadelphia's 3-12 3FG) but made fewer free throws (12-16 FT to PU's 21-22 FT).

The Devils return to action on Thursday, February 18, 2010 when they travel to Washington, D.C. to take on University of the District of Columbia in a non-conference game. Tip off is set for 5:30 p.m.