WEST CHESTER, Pa.- After returning to the PSAC Tournament a season ago, following a brief one-year hiatus, head coach
Kiera Wooden and the West Chester women's basketball team enter the 2022-23 season looking to make continued progress in the journey to the top of the PSAC East.
PRESEASON PROGNOSTICATION
West Chester was ranked fourth in the PSAC East Preseason poll, released earlier in October. Kutztown was picked to finish atop the PSAC East with eight first-place votes, followed by Bloomsburg, West Chester, and Lock Haven to round out the top five. In the PSAC West, California (Pa.) secured the top spot in the poll with six first-place votes, while Gannon was picked second with three first-place votes of its own.
LOOKING BACK
Last season, West Chester entered the season hungry to make its return to the postseason and avoid making a habit of missing the PSAC Tournament. West Chester accomplished the goal of returning to the Tournament, appearing as the sixth seed, marking the sixth time in the last seven years in which West Chester appeared in the PSAC Tournament. As the sixth seed, West Chester earned a road trip to Shepherd, who had a tremendous 2021-22 season; West Chester battled throughout but eventually fell to the Rams in the First Round of the Tournament.
The Golden Rams, who ended the year with a record of 9-19 overall and a mark of 7-14 in league play, did a good job of getting themselves extra possessions a season ago, ranking sixth in the league and fourth in the PSAC East in rebounding while also ranking seventh in the league in steals, thanks in large part to a PSAC-leading 3.0 steals per game by
Leah Johnson (Columbus, N.J./Notre Dame). This impressive average also ranked the sophomore guard 10
th in all of Division II in both steals and steals per game a year ago.
West Chester returns over 60 % of its scoring from a year ago with over 1,000 points returning to the court led by First Team All-Conference selection Johnson and
Alexa Abbonizio (Springfield, Pa./Springfield).
ROSTER CHECK
West Chester returns a number of starters from a year ago, headlined by All-League honoree Johnson, who averaged 16.1 points and 8.2 rebounds per game to lead the Golden Rams in both categories a season ago. Johnson also led the team and ranked third in the PSAC in assists a year ago, averaging 4.9 per game, which was 20
th in all of Division II at the end of the 2021-22 season. Johnson is joined in the backcourt by Abbonizio, who averaged in double figures for much of the 2021-22 season, ending the year averaging 9.7 points and 3.3 rebounds per game while also leading the team in three-point field goals made with 45 makes on the year.
In addition to the return of Johnson and Abbonizio, West Chester also returns
Abby Penjuke (Collegeville, Pa./Methacton), Kaziah Ross (Binghamton, N.Y./Binghamton), Alana Boyer (Harrisburg, Pa./Susquenita), Maya Carter (Harrisburg, Pa./Bishop McDevitt), Morgan Warley (West Chester, Pa./Villa Maria), and Rachel Conran (Springfield, Pa./Springfield). Carter saw minutes in the starting five last year for West Chester and ranks third on the team among returners in scoring, averaging 4.0 points and 2.6 rebounds per game. Penjuke, who also appeared in the starting five throughout the 2022 season, ranks second on the team in returning rebounding, averaging 4.3 rebounds per game a year ago.
West Chester also welcomes six newcomers to the roster for the 2022-23 season, including one true freshman in
Alianna Hopta (York, Pa./West York) and five transfers in
Emily McAteer (Thorton, Pa./Garnet Valley/Loyola Md.), Michelle Kozicki (Wilmington, Del./Padua/La Salle), Briana Seltzer (Reading, Pa./Reading/Goldey-Beacom), Valerie McGriff (Lansdale, Pa./North Penn/Bloomsburg), and Anna McTamney (Plymouth Meeting, Pa./Plymouth Whitemarsh/U Sciences)
McAteer and Kozicki each bring Division I experience to the Golden Rams, having played at Loyola (Md.) and La Salle, respectively, prior to joining West Chester, while Seltzer and McTamney each bring consistent playing experience from Goldey-Beacom and Sciences. Seltzer averaged just over 13 points a game for Goldey-Beacom a season, while McTamney averaged 7.3 points per game for U Sciences in its final season as well.
THE SLATE
For the first time in recent memory, West Chester will open its season away from home, playing in the Atlantic Region Tip-Off Challenge inside the Walker Convocation Center in Institute, West Virginia, opening the year on Saturday, November 12
th, against defending National Champion Glenville State before facing host team West Virginia State on Sunday the 13
th. West Chester will return back to the Keystone State from its visit to West Virginia with a game at Chestnut Hill on Sunday the 20
th, before hosting Jefferson on Saturday the 26
th, following Thanksgiving in its Home Opener. After opening its home slate vs Jefferson, West Chester will remain home to host Mercyhurst and Gannon on December 2
nd and 3
rd before hosting Lincoln on December 8
th in its final home game until December 30
th against Seton Hill. West Chester will not have to endure a 22-day layoff after its December 8
th match, instead visiting Wilmington on December 11
th, Pitt-Johnstown on the 18
th, and IUP on the 19
th in its final game before the Holiday Break.
West Chester will open the New Year the same way it concluded 2022 with a home game against Mansfield on January 4
th in what will be the PSAC East opener for the Golden Rams. West Chester will then travel to Kutztown on January 7
th and return home to face Shippensburg on the 11
th before a three-game road trip takes them to Clarion, Lock Haven, and East Stroudsburg on the 14
th, 18
th, and 21
st, respectively. West Chester will have a quick turnaround after its visit to ESU on the 21
st, welcoming Shepherd to Hollinger on the 23
rd before visiting Millersville the 25
th and hosting Bloomsburg on the 28
th to conclude the month of January.
West Chester is set to open February at home again vs Kutztown on the 1
st before visiting Mansfield and Shippensburg on the 4
th and 6
th ahead of a home game vs ESU on February 8
th. The Golden Rams will have a bye on 11
th before visiting Shepherd on the 15
th and returning home on the 18
th and 22
nd in its final homestand of the year vs Lock Haven and Millersville before visiting Bloomsburg to conclude the regular season.
FOLLOW THE GOLDEN RAMS
Radio and audio broadcasts will be available throughout the season on 95.3 FM/WCHE1520AM and wche1520.com while all home games and road games against fellow PSAC teams will be streamed on the PSAC Sports Digital Network.
Fans are also reminded of hte new single-game ticket prices for the upcoming season at $20 for single-game century club tickets, $10 for adults, and $5 for children/seniors. Century club season ticket packages are also available starting at $100 per seat.
As always, fans are encouraged to visit wcupagoldenrams.com and follow West Chester Athletics on social media for all the latest news and notes on the Golden Rams varsity athletic programs.
