LAKEWOOD, N.J. – Leading by a game-high 10 points in opening minutes of the fourth quarter, the USciences women's basketball team would need to overcome Georgian Court coming back to tie the score to hold off the Lions, 74-68, in its Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) opener on Saturday afternoon.  

Anna McTamney's layup 43 seconds into the final period put University of the Sciences ahead 62-52, but the Devils would go scoreless for the next 5:16, allowing GCU even things up with 4:22 remaining. 

Taylor Hamm had an immediate response, and after the Lions answered that layup McTamney's had a layup of her  own with 2:41 to play to put University of the Sciences on top for good. 

The Devils' defense got four consecutive stops, and Harlem Jennings and Shannon May would combine to make six consecutive free throws in the final minute to secure the victory. 

Jess Huber led all players with 26 points on 10-of-18 shooting, scoring 12 in the third quarter to help USciences turn a one-point advantage at the half into a 10-point lead after three quarters. 

Hamm was also in double-figures with 12 points on 6-of-9 shooting, adding team-highs of eight rebounds, three assists, two steals and a block. 

May and Isla Brennan also had two steals while McTamney (5-of-10 field goals) and Jennings (4-of-6) both scored 11, which tied a career-best for the latter. 

University of the Sciences shot 52.7 percent (29-of-55) as a team, compared to 42.0 percent (29-of-69) for GCU, but the Lions were able to stay in the game by outscoring the Devils 17-4 in second-chance points. 

The first half was played within five points and featured six ties and five lead changes, with the two teams tied after 10 minutes of play and USciences leading by one, 37-36, at the half.

University of the Sciences established the afternoon's first three-possession advantage, 49-42, on Huber's 3-pointer with 5:10 left in the third quarter, and her 3-pointer six seconds ahead of the third quarter buzzer gave the Devils the first of two game-high 10-point leads, 60-52.  

University of the Sciences hosts its first CACC contest on Tuesday, beginning a three-game home-stand when it welcomes Wilmington to Bobby Morgan Arena for a 5:30 p.m. tip.