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WEST CHESTER, Pa. - Looking to close out 2017 off on a high note, the West Chester University women's basketball team returned to Hollinger Field House on Saturday afternoon to take on fellow Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) East opponent Kutztown University.
Despite some serious winter weather, fans from both factions managed to pile into Hollinger on Saturday to witness the first PSAC East game for both squads this season. Sitting at 5-4 overall (2-3 PSAC), the Golden Rams came into Saturday's conference matchup boasting the second-highest scoring offense in the league at 81.9 points/game, while shooting a league best 0.465 from the floor. On the flip side, the Golden Bears embarked on Hollinger on Saturday with a 7-4 mark overall behind a similar 2-3 number in conference play.
Along with the weather, the story of Saturday's game was the continued strong play of senior guard
Porscha Speller (Lancaster, Pa. / Lancaster Catholic), who continued to show why she is one of the most dominating players throughout the PSAC. Connecting on 9-of-23 shots from the field, Speller dropped in a game-high 25 points against Kutztown, while pulling in a career-high 15 boards to help propel West Chester (6-4, 3-3 PSAC) past the Golden Bears 76-58 on Saturday afternoon. Speller's 25-point outing marked the sixth 20-plus point scoring night for the senior this season and she paired that with 15 boards to give the Lancaster native her third double-double of the season.
Kutztown held two slim leads during the early parts of the first quarter, but these small cushions would not last long. With the game tied at 6-6 at the 5:53 mark, the Golden Rams closed out the opening frame by outscoring the visitors 10-2 to take the 16-6 advantage after the first ten minutes. The Golden Bears managed to trim the deficit to as little as three in the second quarter, but the Golden Rams were quick to answer back and closed out the first half with a jumper from
Destiny Jefferson (Scranton, Pa. / West Scranton) to give the home team the 32-23 lead entering the locker rooms.
West Chester continued to dominate in the second half, pushing its advantage to as many as 18 points on two separate occasions. Up 70-58 with 1:23 remaining in regulation, the Golden Rams used a triple from
Lexi Bruno (Millville, N.J. / Millville) - paired with a free throw by Speller and a layup from
Justyn Roberts (Harrisburg, Pa. / C.D. East) - to end the game on a 6-0 run to give the home team the 76-58 victory at home.
Speller's 25 led four West Chester players in double figures. Bruno added 12 points, seven boards, and four assists off the bench, while senior
Camden Boehner (Gettysburg, Pa. / Gettysburg) chipped in 11 points (4-of-8 shooting) in 29 minutes played. Logging 29 minutes off the bench, Roberts added 10 points in the win and
Mia Hopkins (Pittston, Pa. / Pittston) contributed seven points and seven rebounds against Kuztown on Saturday.
KU's Alexis Smith led the way with 15 points overall, while Rylee Derr pitched in 11 points, while grabbing a team-high eight boards and six assists for the Golden Bears.
