Follow the Golden Rams!
@WCUAthletics
/WCUAthletics
/WCUAthletics
/wcupais1
PHILADELPHIA, Pa. - The West Chester University women's basketball team took a step outside of conference play on Tuesday, as the team hit the road and headed to the Bobby Morgan Arena in Philadelphia to battle the No. 24 Devils from the University of the Sciences.
The Golden Rams entered Tuesday's game coming off a 72-53 victory at home over Mercyhurst University on December 9, while the nationally ranked Devils returned home on Tuesday after splitting two games at last weekend's St. Rose Holiday Classic in New York.
Tuesday's matchup pitted two of the best programs on either side of the ball against one another, as West Chester brought its Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC)-leading offense (83.8 points/game) to the Bobby Morgan Arena to test USciences' Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC)-best defensive unit (57.2 points/game).
Despite holding a 10-0 advantage to start the game, the Golden Rams found themselves down 62-34 at the conclusion of the third quarter. Down 26, the visitors began to slowly chip away at the deficit as the final quarter progressed, eventually putting together a 14-0 run midway through the frame to get within 12 (69-57) with just over three minutes remaining. West Chester was able to hack the Devils' lead down to 11 following free throws by
Justyn Roberts (Harrisburg, Pa. / C.D. East), but the home team quickly began to put the game out of reach at the foul line. USciences ended the game by going 7-for-7 from the charity stripe down the stretch to thwart the Golden Rams' comeback effort and claim the 82-67 victory at home.
Five early points by
Camden Boehner (Gettysburg, Pa. / Gettysburg) sparked a 10-0 WCU run to start the game. The Devils quickly combated the Golden Rams' push and managed to outscore the visitors 13-2 over the next six minutes to take the slim 13-12 lead after the first 10 minutes of action.
USciences would outscore West Chester 49-22 over the next two quarters to give the home team a comfortable 62-34 lead entering the fourth. Facing a 26 point mountain to overcome in the fourth, a layup by
Rylee Power (Newtown Square, Pa. / Marple Newtown) would jump start the Golden Rams and spark one of West Chester's best efforts of the season.
Porscha Speller (Lancaster, Pa. / Lancaster Catholic) followed Power by scoring the next four points on her own, before
Lexi Bruno (Millville, N.J. / Millville) would connect from downtown to bring WCU within 17 (69-52) with just over four minutes to play. Bruno came through again moments later with two free throws to trim the deficit to 15 prior to
Mia Hopkins (Pittston, Pa. / Pittston) and Boehner both converting from the charity stripe to cap the 14-0 Golden Rams' run with the score 69-57 in favor of the Devils. Down double digits with under two minutes remaining, West Chester would be forced to foul. Along with a stellar defensive unit, USciences entered Tuesday's game as the No. 2 free throw shooting team in the country (82.3%), and the Devils proved why down the stretch – converting on its final seven free throw attempts (17-of-18 overall) to close out the game and seal the 82-67 win.
Speller paced the West Chester (5-4) attack with 19 points on Tuesday, while Boehner chipped in 12 points on 4-of-8 shooting. Hopkins collected a team-high eight rebounds and four assists to go along with seven points and Bruno contributed 11 points off the bench.
Sarah Abbonizio's 23 points led three Devils in double figures and she was also tops on the team with seven rebounds in 36 minutes played.
