RUTHERFORD, N.J. – The Felician University women's basketball team was unable to halt the winning streak of visiting Thomas Jefferson University on Saturday afternoon at Job Gymnasium. Jefferson defeated the host Golden Falcons, 76-43, in Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference action for its eighth consecutive victory.

The Rams (19-5, 11-3 CACC) are ranked No. 7 in the most recent NCAA Division II East Region media poll. Jefferson sophomore Haley Meinel (Warrington, Pa./Central Bucks South) was 12 for 14 from the field and recorded 29 points, seven rebounds and six steals.

The result left both teams in third place in their respective CACC division, each with four games remaining. At season's end, the top four teams in each division will advance to the conference championship tournament, with the top two hosting a first-round game. Just a half-game separates the front four in the CACC North, with Felician (9-13, 7-6) tied for third with Caldwell University, its next opponent. Jefferson remained two games off the pace of first-place Chestnut Hill College and one back of second-place University of the Sciences in the CACC South Division.

Sophomore swing player Briana Lee (Jersey City, N.J./Irvington) led the Golden Falcons with 12 points, nine rebounds and five steals. Senior guard Niaimani Marshall (Jersey City, N.J./Suffield Academy [Conn.]) had eight points and four assists and sophomore center Aisha Traore (Bronx, N.Y./Adlai Stevenson) totaled seven points and nine rebounds for Felician.

Jefferson was ahead, 17-11, after one quarter and by as many as 16 points during the second period. A three-point field goal by Marshall during the closing seconds allowed the Golden Falcons to enter the halftime break trailing, 36-23.

But the Rams took full control during period three, outscoring their hosts, 21-9, to exit with a 25-point spread. The lead reached 30, 64-34, following a Cassie Murphy (Bethlehem, Pa./Notre Dame-Green Pond) layup with 7:14 remaining, and the final margin was Jefferson's largest of the day. Murphy accumulated 18 points and six rebounds for the Rams, who held Felician to 30-percent shooting and forced 26 Golden Falcon turnovers.

Felician travels to Caldwell on Tuesday for a 5:30 p.m. tip. It will be the first of two meetings in a seven-day stretch for the Golden Falcons and Cougars.Go