Philadelphia, Pa. (3/5/23) The Dominican University New York women's basketball team won their second Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) Women's Basketball Championship in the last three years after defeating the top seed from the north division, Post University, 63-54, this afternoon in a game played at the Gallagher Athletic, Recreation and Convocation Center on the campus of Thomas Jefferson University.

Dominican improves to 21-10 on the season and earns the league's automatic bid to the NCAA Divison II East Region Tournament at a site to be determined next week. Fans can find out where Dominican goes on the NCAA Division II Selection Show on Sunday night on ncaa.com(.)

Cayla Howard (Naugatuck, Conn.) poured in 21 points and eight rebounds to lead the Lady Chargers in the victory.

Alexis Suarez (Poughquag, N.Y.) added 14 points, while handing out seven assists, grabbing five rebounds and swiping a pair of steals, as she was named the Most Valuable Player of the tournament. Tanasha Mills (New City, N.Y.) followed with 13, as those three -- along with Chidinma Ndukauba (Brooklyn, N.Y.) -- were named to the CACC Women's Basketball Championship All-Tournament Team.

Sha'Raya Haines pumped in a game-high 24 points for Post, as the Eagles were competing in CACC Championship Weekend for the third time in as many seasons competed in (2020, 2022, 2023).

Dominican held a 33-26 lead at halftime and led throughout the second half. Post, though, didn't fold and pulled to within two at 54-52 with 2:30 remaining on a three-point basket from Haines. However, the Lady Chargers countered by scoring the next nine points including seven from Howard on five throws and a layup with just :28 left. The closing surge sealed the win and Dominican's championship celebration.

The Lady Chargers held a narrow 11-8 lead after the first 10 minutes, but then went for 22 points in the second quarter in building the seven-point lead at the break. The teams played to a 12-all ledger in the third quarter before Dominican's closing surge capped it.

Dominican was a hot 7-of-13 from beyond the arc including Mills' perfect 3-for-3 clip from deep. Howard was 2-for-3 as well.

2022-23 CACC WOMEN'S BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM
Morgan Robinson (Jefferson)
Skyler Searfoss (Caldwell)
Sha'Raya Haines (Post)
Tijanae Simmons (Post)
Chidinma Ndukauba (Dominican)
Alexis Suarez (Dominican)
Tanasha Mills (Dominican)
Cayla Howard (Dominican)
MVP: Alexis Suarez (Dominican)