WEST CHESTER, Pa. – Visiting IUP (Pa.) spoiled West Chester's return to Hollinger Field House this afternoon, knocking off the Golden Rams in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) crossover matchup, 86-75.
West Chester (4-2, 1-2 PSAC) stuck right with IUP (Pa.) (6-0, 3-0 PSAC) in the first half. Each team exchanged shots as the Crimson Hawks took a four point lead into halftime. The Golden Rams scored five unanswered to begin the third quarter to recapture the lead. It was a back-and-forth affair until three minutes left in the quarter.
Momentum swung IUP's way in that moment, going on a 9-2 spurt to finish off the third quarter. Six of those nine points came from a pair of triples. A Megan Smith triple exactly at three minutes was the difference as the Crimson Hawks never relinquished the lead after that point. The lead extended to double-digits in the fourth, but the Golden Rams did not go away.
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Camden Boehner (Gettysburg, Pa./Gettysburg) knocked down a jumper with a minute left in the game to pull West Chester within six. The Crimson Hawks did not do themselves any favors in the contest, going 11-20 in the fourth at the line. They finished 51.9 percent from the line (14-27). However, they did manage to hold onto the victory in the final moments.
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Mia Hopkins (Pittston, Pa./Pittston) continues to shine for the Golden Rams, tallying a game-high 22 points, 14 boards, five assists, and a pair of blocks. She went 8-12 from the field in addition to going perfect (2-2) from behind the arc. Hopkins' 22 points and 14 rebounds marked her fifth double-double in six games.
She was one of four West Chester players to be in double-figures as fellow seniors
Porscha Speller (Lancaster, Pa./Lancaster Catholic) and Boehner registered 16 points in the conference game.
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Katherine Fisher (Ruttedge, Pa./Strath Haven) poured in 10 points and three boards as well.
West Chester shot 47.3 percent (26-55) from the field, while being 35.0 percent (7-20) from behind the arc. The Golden Rams were 16-20 from the charity stripe for a team average of 80 percent.
IUP's Carolyn Appleby posted 25 points to go along with four assists to lead the Crimson Hawks to its second conference win of the season. She was one of four players in double figures. Brittany Robinson captured a double-double with 19 points in addition to 10 boards.
West Chester returns tomorrow with a PSAC matchup against Seton Hill at 1 p.m.
