Box Score
PHILADELPHIA, Pa. – Janelle Garber registered a double-double as West Chester University delivered head coach Deirdre Kane her 400th career victory in an 84-69 non-league women’s basketball game at the Gallagher Center Wednesday night.
Kane becomes the 16th head coach in NCAA Division II history to reach 400 career wins. She is 400-289 in her 26-year head coaching career.
"It was a hard-fought win, which is exactly what I expected," Kane said afterwards. "(PhilaU head coach) Tom Shirley came into our locker room afterwards to present me with the game ball. That was a nice touch. I really appreciated that."
West Chester (5-0) increased its season-opening win streak to five games while Philadelphia University fell to 2-3 overall on the year.
Garber scored a team-high 21 points and grabbed 10 rebounds. Renata Neal posted 17 points and nine boards as the Golden Rams’ dominated the inside game. West Chester outrebounded PhilaU, 45-28 and shot 52.5 percent from the floor in the contest. Megan Stewart added 11 points and five assists.
PhilaU seemed poised to spoil the milestone win for Kane in the first five minutes of the game as the host Rams opened the tilt with a 13-6 spurt. However, the visiting Golden Rams went on a 21-8 run over the next 7:47 to turn that six-point deficit into a six-point advantage.
"We were tight, and they were hitting everything," Kane added. "I never call timeouts that early, but I had to burn two of them to get the team to focus."
Garber hit a pair of free throws with 11 minutes remaining during that momentum-changing flurry that put West Chester in front 18-17, and the visitors would not trail the rest of the night.
The Rams pushed the lead to 14 on a layup from Stewart with 1:47 left before halftime. West Chester led, 47-39, at the break.
PhilaU made another valiant charge out of the locker room as the hosts busted out a 12-1 run in the first four minutes of the second frame to cut West Chester’s lead to three (51-48). However, the Golden Rams answered that bulge with a 7-0 spurt over the next 1:47 that pushed the lead back to double figures (58-48).
Garber’s 21 and Neal’s 17 points were both season highs for the two forwards. Stewart’s 11 points marked the fourth time in West Chester’s five games that the junior point guard has reached double figures.
"We did a much better job of getting the ball inside," Kane explained. "(Ashley) Loper did an excellent job for us in that role."
West Chester is back in action on Friday when the Rams return home for the Carol Eckman Classic at Hollinger Field House. The Rams host Lincoln University at 8 p.m. Millersville will take on Chestnut Hill at 6 p.m.
Saturday, West Chester faces Chestnut Hill at 4 p.m. while Millersville and Chestnut Hill hit the hardwood at 2 p.m. before the Rams game.
