Box Score
MANSFIELD, Pa. – Junior Alexandra Lennon (Shipley School) scored a season-high 24 points, including 16 in the first half, to lead visiting West Chester University to a 79-71 PSAC East women’s basketball victory over Mansfield University in the regular-season finale for both schools.
West Chester (20-6, 16-6 PSAC) delivered head coach Deirdre Kane her seventh 20-win campaign and third in the last four years. Mansfield (10-16, 7-15) finishes in sixth place in the Eastern Division standings. The Golden Rams’ senior class has now won 79 games in its four-year career. A win in the quarterfinals of the PSAC Tournament would make them the first class since 2004 to reach 80 career wins.
Lennon posted 16 points and grabbed six rebounds by halftime as the Golden Rams jumped out to a 40-29 lead by the break. Mansfield crawled back into the contest, drawing as close as a bucket with 4:26 remaining (65-63). However, Carly Strickland hit a jumper, Ambreelinne Ortman drained a 3-pointer and Jillian Keefer knocked down a pair of free throws to push the Rams’ lead back to nine.
Lennon finished with eight rebounds, four steals and three blocked shots. Ortman finished with a career-high 21 points and 11 rebounds, marking her first career double-double. Allison Hostetter also posted a double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds.
Mallory Moore led Mansfield with 23 points and 11 boards. Jena Matter scored 18.
West Chester hosts Millersville in the first round of the 2012 PSAC Tournament on Tuesday, Feb. 28. Game time is set for 7 p.m. Tickets for the quarterfinals are priced at $7 for adults and $2 for students. Students of member institutions are admitted free with a valid student ID. No complimentary tickets will be allowed. Only conference passes will be accepted.
GAME NOTES: Lennon and Ortman each scored over 20 points, marking the third time this season that two players scored more than 20 points in the same game this season [Lennon-Hostetter at LHU; at Cal] … WCU won 20 games for the second straight season … WCU will compete in the PSAC Tournament for the sixth straight year and 16 of the last 17 seasons … WCU has been to the PSAC Tournament at total of 21 times … WCU and Millersville will meet in the first round of the postseason tournament for the third consecutive season.
