Women's Basketball Snaps Losing Streak; Defeats Salem 88-78

 WEST CHESTER, Pa.- Looking to avoid its longest losing streak since the 2016-17 season the West Chester women's basketball team (2-2) was back on the hardwood on Saturday afternoon against non-league foe Salem University (0-4). West Chester led by a career-high 24 points from sophomore Destiny Jefferson (Scranton, Pa./West Scranton) got the win it was looking for defeating Salem 88-78 in what was a high-scoring affair throughout.

The Basics:
Final Score: West Chester 88 Salem 78
Records: WCU (2-2) Salem (0-4)
Location: Hollinger Field House, West Chester, Pa.

How it Happened:

• In the first quarter, West Chester jumped out to an early lead outscoring its opponents by a 26-15 margin to take a commanding lead to the second quarter. West Chester trailed to open the game as its guests scored the first basket but this did not last for long as West Chester quickly answered back extending its lead to as much as 13 (26-13) before ending the first quarter with an 11 point cushion.
• This lead proved to be vital for West Chester as Salem answered back in the second quarter, outscoring its hosts 17-14 to trail by just eight (40-32) heading to the halftime break.
• West Chester opened the second half on an 8-2 run to extend its lead to 48-34 with just over eight minutes to play in the third quarter. This early run helped West Chester to get back on track as the Golden Rams ended the quarter outscoring the Tigers 31-26 to take a commanding 71-58 lead to the fourth and final quarter of play.
• Much like the second quarter, Salem attempted to mount a comeback in the fourth outscoring its hosts 20-17 to cut into the deficit. However, the early lead that West Chester built up in the first and third quarters proved to be too much to overcome for the Golden Rams visitors as West Chester handed Salem its fourth-straight loss to open the season winning by a final score of 88-78.

West Chester Rundown:

• Jefferson and Gabrielle Troisi (Norristown, Pa./Pope John Paul II) were the Golden Rams leading scorer as Jefferson poured in a game and career-high 24 points while Troisi registered another double-double with 19 points and a game-high 10 rebounds. Jefferson also ended the game as the assist leader dishing out a game-high eight helpers before the final whistle.
• Freshman Zhane Snow (Wilmington, Del./Concord) reached double-digits once again on Saturday afternoon scoring 12 points going 5-of-10 from the field and 2-of-3 from the line.
• Katherine Fisher (Rutledge, Pa./Strath Haven) was the final Golden Ram to enter double-figures scoring 10 points of her own while also pulling down seven rebounds.
• West Chester ended the game with a decisive 55-42 edge in rebounds thanks in large part to a plus-nine advantage on the defensive glass.
• As a team, West Chester shot 48.7 % (37-of-76) from the field while shooting 21.1 % (4-of-19) from three-point range. West Chester also shot 45.5 % (10-of-22) from the charity stripe.
• Additionally, West Chester ended the game with a 22-to-6 advantage in second chance points as well as 58-to-44 advantage in points in the paint.

Tale of the Tigers:

• Alicia Smith had a great day for Salem on Saturday as she led the Tigers in scoring with 22 points as one of just two Tigers to break into double-figures.
• The Tigers went 30-of-79 (38.0 %) from field goal range while shooting a dismal 4-of-2 (16.7 %) from three-point range and 14-of-20 from the line.
• Salem did manage to end the game with a plus-nine advantage in turnovers as the Tigers turned the ball over 18 times while forcing the Golden Rams into 27 turnovers.

Up Next:
West Chester will embark on its first road trip of 2018 on Tuesday evening when West Chester takes the short drive over to Lincoln for another non-conference game with that game beginning at 6 p.m.