WEST CHESTER, Pa.- Despite leading for much of the contest and a career-best, 13-point shooting performance from freshman
Morgan Warley (West Chester, Pa./Villa Maria Academy), the West Chester women's basketball team (1-3) fell to Chestnut Hill on Sunday afternoon by a final of 80-68.
In the first quarter, West Chester and Chestnut Hill traded baskets early but the game went to the second quarter even at 17-17. West Chester was 7-of-13 from the field and 3-of-4 from range through the opening quarter while holding its guests to a poor 4-of-16 shooting performance from the field but a 9-of-10 effort from the line kept the Griffins in the game.
During the second quarter, West Chester and Chestnut Hill each picked up the pace offensively, with the Golden Rams outscoring the Griffins 27-23 in stanza thanks in large part to an impressive 77.8 % (7-of-9) shooting effort from three-point range in the period. Chestnut Hill also stepped up its offensive production in the second quarter, going 9-of-12 from the field to keep the game close and trail by just four points (44-40) heading into the halftime break.
Early in the second half, West Chester continued to shoot well, going 6-of-13 and 4-of-7 from beyond the arc during the third quarter but Chestnut Hill found its stride as well, as the Griffins matched the Golden Rams 16 points in the period to trail by just four heading into the fourth and final quarter of play.
In the fourth, West Chester kept the Griffins at bay through the early part of the period but following the second media timeout of the frame the Griffins closed the game with an impressive 14-0 run to earn a 80-68 victory over the Golden Rams. Chestnut Hill ended the fourth quarter, outscoring the Golden Rams by an impressive 16-points (24-8) to complete the comeback victory.
Leah Johnson (Columbus, N.J./Notre Dame) was the other of two Golden Rams in double figures with a team-high 18 points on 7-of-13 shooting including a 4-for-6 performance from beyond the arc. Johnson also ended the game with the team lead in assists, registering five helpers in the setback.
Sarah Holweg (West Pittston, Pa./Wyoming Area) and
Kyra Jefferson (Bethlehem, Pa./Liberty) tied for the team-lead in rebounds with four each as the Golden Rams were out-rebounded by a 47-23 margin. Jefferson also ended the game with the team and game-high in steals, registering four in the Sunday afternoon setback.
For Chestnut Hill, Leah Miller registered a double-double with 21 points and 17 rebounds while Kaitlyn Carter led the way in scoring with a game-high 26 points.
As a team, West Chester turned in its best three-point shooting effort of the season, shooting 53.8 % (14-of-26) from beyond the arc while also shooting 45.6 % (26-of-57) from the field. The Golden Rams were just 2-of-3 from the charity stripe while the Griffins were an impressive 30-of-32 from the line, earning trips to the stripe throughout the contest. Away from the free-throw line, Chestnut Hill shot just 23.5 % (4-of-17) from three-point range and just 38.3 % (23-of-60) from the field as they escaped Hollinger Field House with the narrow non-league victory.
West Chester did end the game with a 15-11 edge in points off turnovers and a 7-2 advantage in fast break points but Chestnut Hill led in all other categories including a 32-14 lead in points in the paint, a 38-26 edge in bench points, and a 21-0 advantage in second chance points.
West Chester will have plenty of time to consider this afternoon's setback as the Golden Rams do not return to action again until after Thanksgiving when they visit another CACC opponent in Jefferson with that contest set to begin at 6 p.m.
