WEST CHESTER, Pa. - The Carol Eckman Memorial Classic celebrates its 34th Anniversary on Saturday and Sunday as Millersville University, Urbana University and Glenville State College descend upon Hollinger Field House and join host West Chester University in honoring one of women's college basketball's pioneers. The Golden Rams play the Knights of Urbana on Saturday at 2 p.m. and the Pioneers of Glenville on Sunday at 2 p.m.
The tournament is named in honor of former West Chester University head coach, Carol Eckman, who passed away from cancer in 1985. She helped organize the first women's college basketball postseason tournament in 1969, which was played and won by West Chester University inside Hollinger Field House. That tournament, sponsored by the Commission of Intercollegiate Athletics for Women is considered by many to be the first women's basketball national championship.
West Chester posted a record of 16-14 overall and 11-9 in PSAC play last season. Its season came to close with a 58-52 loss to Bloomsburg University in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference quarterfinals. Millersville went 12-16 last year while Glenville State went 30-3 and Urbana went 4-22 as members of the Mountain East Conference.
WCU's
Kiera Wooden is seeking her 100th career win as a collegiate head coach. She boasts a 94-51 record, all with the Golden Rams. West Chester has advanced to the PSAC Tournament in all four seasons under Wooden with two appearances in the NCAA Tournament.
Both of the team's returning starters, seniors
Gabrielle Troisi (Rutledge, Pa. / Strath Haven) and
Katherine Fisher (Rutledge, Pa. / Strath Haven), eclipsed 500 career points toward the end of last season.
Following the Carol Eckman Memorial Classic, West Chester will have it sights set on its first road contest of the 2019-20 season. The Golden Rams travel to play Wilmington University (Del.) on Thursday at 6 p.m. They return home on Nov. 17 at 1 p.m. as Jefferson University visits Hollinger Field House.
