Box Score
PSAC Tournament Brackets
WEST CHESTER, Pa. – Dana Weems scored a game-high 21 points and pulled down 16 rebounds while Natalie Winters hit a career-high 20 points to lead second-seeded West Chester to an 84-69 victory over third-seeded Cheyney in the PSAC Quarterfinals Tuesday night at Hollinger Field House.
With the win, West Chester (19-9) advances to the conference semifinals where the Golden Rams will travel to Indiana, Pa., to take on IUP Friday evening in the second game of a doubleheader at 7:30 p.m. The first game of the semifinals features Millersville taking on California (Pa.) at 5:30 p.m.
“This was a big win for our team and a big win for our program,” West Chester head coach Deirdre Kane said. “I think we showed a great deal of maturity tonight. We started out the second half awful. But, we fought back and adjusted well. I am very proud of the way we responded.”
Cheyney jumped out to a five-point lead (47-42) three minutes into the second half. However, the Golden Rams responded with a 13-0 run over the next 5:23 to take a 55-42 advantage and never looked back.
“We were optimistic at the half,” Cheyney head coach Darryl Brown said. “We felt that we had taken (West Chester’s) best shot and it was just a one-point game. We had an early lead in the second half. But, (West Chester) got out on that run. We fought back, but just couldn’t come all the way back.”
The Golden Rams shot 58 percent in the second half, including 4-for-8 from the 3-point line after the break, on their way to a 47-point frame in the second half. West Chester answered every Cheyney run with a big 3-point basket to keep the visitors at bay.
Weems pulled down 16 rebounds, and Renata Neal posted 10 boards along with 13 points to lead the Rams offensively. West Chester grabbed 49 rebounds total in the game. Catherine Andrews scored 17 points as the hosts put four players in double figures in the scoring column.
“It was a great atmosphere tonight,” Weems said. “Everybody was playing well. It was fun out there. (Andrews) plays a huge leadership role on this team, and I just get my vibe off of Cat.
“When (Neal) is in a rythym, we are very confident in the outcome.”
Angel Henderson scored 15 points and Angel Stephens 10 to lead Cheyney. Stephanie Orji grabbed 10 rebounds.
West Chester advances to the PSAC semifinals for the first time since 2005 and improved its record in PSAC Tournament play to 10-16. The victory also marked the 600th win overall in program history.
IUP defeated Shippensburg, 55-48, on Tuesday while Cal was an 81-68 winner over Clarion and Millersville downed East Stroudsburg 66-51 in other PSAC women’s basketball quarterfinal action Tuesday.
It was the first time that West Chester and Cheyney have ever met in the postseason. The Golden Rams now hold a 42-12 advantage over the Wolves all-time.
