Mosley and the Marauders Finish Strong Against Chestnut Hill

Friday, December 4

West Chester, Pa.

6 p.m.

Millersville University

Chestnut Hill

Mosley and the Marauders Finish Strong Against Chestnut Hill

12/4/2009 8:17:50 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score / Photo Gallery

West Chester, Pa. — An upset-minded Chestnut Hill squad put a first half scare into the Millersville women's basketball team, but Aurielle Mosley's second half dominance kept the Griffins at bay in a 75-60 victory at the Carol Eckman Memorial Tournament in West Chester on Friday evening.

Mosley was all over the stat sheet in the final 20 minutes, registering eight points, three blocks and five rebounds in her best game as a Marauder. The lift was much needed, as Millersville (5-0) traded the lead with the Griffins (0-6) 14 times in the first half. The slow start was compounded by missed opportunities. Chestnut Hill turned the ball over 17 times in the first half, but the Black and Gold could not take advantage enough, despite shooting a solid 46-percent (14-of-30) from the floor.

The Marauders gave the ball back 10 times themselves in the opening half, but it was at the defensive end where things needed to change. Chestnut Hill came in shooting just 28-percent for the season, but responded with a 35-percent (10-of-29) effort through 20 minutes of play. Neither team claimed a lead of more than three points, until Millersville finished the half on a 4-0 run thanks to a pair of free throws from Aiesha Bellamy and a bucket from Gabrielle Styles. The mini spurt gave Millersville a seven-point edge, 35-28, at halftime.

Moving to a full-court press early in the second half, Millersville was able to find its rhythm. A Jenna Craig layup with 18 minutes to play gave the Marauders their first double-digit lead of the night and by the midway point of the half, MU found itself with a 23-point lead, courtesy of a 20-7 run.

Mosley, who redshirted a season ago, was the story of the night, however. The 6-foot-2, York, Pa., native showed a soft touch in the paint all game long, an attribute that was missing from her first four appearances this season. Mosley finished with a career-high 12 points and Chestnut Hill could do nothing to contain her height inside. The Griffins didn't experience much success going at Mosley on the offensive end, either, as she blocked a game-high four shots and pulled down nine rebounds.

A number of fouls brought the final margin down to 15, but Chesnut Hill's late free throw shooting practice did litle to deny the Marauders their second straight 5-0 start.

Mosley may have had the spotlight on Friday night, but not lost in the mix were strong outings by both Dominique Stroman and Bellamy. Stroman's suffocating defense, which included a game-high four steals, was instrumental in the Marauders holding a 14-2 advantage in fastbreak points. Stroman also gave the team 12 much needed points. Bellamy was able to break out of her offensive slump with an 11-point night. In the closely contested first half, it was Bellamy's nine points that led the way for MU.

Fastbreak points weren't the only major advantage for the Marauders, who outscored Chestnut Hill, 48-28, in the paint. In doing so, Millersville moved to 2-0 all-time against the Philadelphia school, which is in just its third season of play at the Division II level.

It's a quick turnaround in West Chester for the Marauders, who take on Lincoln (Pa.) in day two of the tournament on Saturday afternoon. Tip-off is scheduled for 2 p.m.