PHILADELPHIA (March 9, 2025) – South Division No. 2 seed Holy Family University defeated South No. 1 seed and event host Thomas Jefferson University, 77-68, in the championship final of the 2024-25 Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference Women’s Basketball Championship tournament on Sunday afternoon at the Gallagher Athletic, Recreation and Convocation Center.
Holy Family wins the CACC title for the conference-record 10th occasion in the program’s 26 years as CACC member, and the first time since 2015. The Tigers, ranked No. 25 in the most recent national NCAA Division II media poll, claim the CACC’s automatic berth into the D-II East Regional Championship.
HFU (24-6) never trailed on the day. The Tigers were up by as many as 10 points in the first quarter and 23-15 at period’s end. Trailing, 44-35, at halftime and by 12 points early in the third quarter, the Rams came back to tie the score at 48-48. But a three-point field goal by Taylor Hinkle put the visitors ahead for good, and HFU pulled away during the final period.
Hinkle scored 17 points with 11 rebounds and Kaelah Carter (7-8 FG) totaled 15 points and five assists for the Tigers. HFU received 11 points each from Skyler Searfoss (seven assists) and Jessica Riepe. Cassie Murphy led the Rams (24-7), the tournament’s 2024 champion, with 24 points and nine rebounds.
Hinkle was named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player after averaging 14.0 points and 12.3 rebounds during her three games in the event. Holy Family looks forward to the NCAA Division II Women’s Basketball Selection Show tonight at 10:30 p.m., while Jefferson, ranked seventh in the East Region, also hopes to hear its name called.
2025 CACC WOMEN'S BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP
Quarterfinals (Tuesday, March 4, at Sites of Highest Seeds)
N#1 Dominican 76, S#4 Goldey-Beacom 61
S#2 Holy Family 71, N#3 Post 45
N#2 Caldwell 61, S#3 Chestnut Hill 51
S#1 Jefferson 75, N#1 Felician 57
Semifinals (Saturday, March 8, at Gallagher Center, Thomas Jefferson University)
Holy Family 58, Dominican 56
Jefferson 63, Caldwell 54
Championship Final (Sunday, March 9, at Gallagher Center, Thomas Jefferson University)
Holy Family 77, Jefferson 68
2025 CACC WOMEN'S BASKETBALL ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM
Jah’Nel Lewis (Caldwell)
Tanasha Mills (Dominican)
Emma Kuczynski (Jefferson)
Cassie Murphy (Jefferson)
Emily Spratt (Jefferson)
Taylor Hinkle (Holy Family)
Carolyn Prevost (Holy Family)
Skyler Searfoss (Holy Family)
MVP: Taylor Hinkle (Holy Family)
2025 CACC WOMEN'S BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP TOP XVII AWARD
(Student-Athlete with the Highest Cumulative Grade Point Average at the Finals Site)
Skyler Searfoss (Holy Family University)
The Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference is celebrating the 20th anniversary of its affiliation with NCAA Division II. Conference institutions compete for championships in 18 sports – eight for men, nine for women, and one co-ed. The CACC contains 12 members in Connecticut, Delaware, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania. Membership includes Bloomfield College of Montclair State University, the University of Bridgeport, Caldwell University, Chestnut Hill College, Dominican University New York, Felician University, Georgian Court University, Goldey-Beacom College, Holy Family University, Post University, Thomas Jefferson University, and Wilmington University.