Box Score
WEST CHESTER, Pa. – Tournament MVP Dana Weems scored 15 points and registered three steals in just 22 minutes of action, mostly in the first half, as host West Chester cruised to an 83-49 win over Chestnut Hill in the final game of the 2008 Carol Eckman Memorial Tournament at Hollinger Field House Saturday afternoon.
On a day when West Chester (6-1) celebrated the 40th anniversary of the very first intercollegiate women’s basketball national championship team in 1969, the Golden Rams put six players in double figures to romp past the Golden Griffins (1-7).
West Chester shot 51.4 percent in the first half, building its 43-20 advantage at the break. Chestnut Hill hit on just 8 of 31 (.258) from the field in the first half. The Griffins committed 21 turnovers in the contest.
The Golden Rams created 15 steals and dished out 21 assists as a team while grabbing a season-high 52 rebounds on the day. Dominique Adams added 13 points and eight rebounds in the win. Allison Hostetter had 11 points while Megan Stewart, Mary Kate Serratelli and Renata Neal all added 10 apiece.
Stewart led the Rams with seven assists, and Janelle Garber grabbed a game-high 12 rebounds.
Weems and Neal were named to the all-tournament team at the conclusion of the tournament. Weems scored 36 points in West Chester’s two wins while Neal added 28. Weems also recorded a combined eight steals and nine rebounds while Neal shot 76.5 percent (13-for-17) from the field and grabbed seven rebounds and blocked two shots.
Jenna Beck led Chestnut Hill with 17 points and six rebounds. She joined Weems and Neal on the all-tournament team as the Griffins’ representative. Beck posted 12 points and six more boards in Friday’s loss to Millersville. Jenn Delhanty registered 12 points and seven rebounds for Chestnut Hill Saturday.
Millersville finished the weekend tournament undefeated with wins over Chestnut Hill on Friday and Lincoln Saturday. Chestnut Hill and Lincoln both lost its pair of contests in the tournament.
Marian Washington and Janice Pinto, member of West Chester University's 1969 national championship squad, were on hand for a halftime presentation to commemorate their team's ground-breaking accomplishment 40 years ago. Carol Eckman, widely considered one of the pioneers of intercollegiate women's basketball in the country, coached the Golden Rams to that title.
West Chester is off for final exams and will return to action on Wednesday, Dec. 17 at Holy Family.
Carol Eckman Memorial All-Tournament Team
Jenna Beck (Chestnut Hill)
Jenna Craig (Millersville)
Sharay DuBose (Lincoln)
Renata Neal (WCU)
Dana Weems (WCU) – tournament MVP
