Digital Game Program
WEST CHESTER, Pa.- Following its fourth win in a row and second over a ranked opponent in the last three games, the West Chester women's basketball team (4-2) is finishing its preparations for its home non-conference finale vs Lincoln (3-5) beginning at 5:30 p.m on Thursday night.
Series Information
West Chester and Lincoln have met just eight times in their history and despite holding a 5-3 lead in the all-time series, Lincoln has gotten the better of West Chester in recent matchups, winning each of the last two and three of the last four dating back to the 2015-16 season. The lone West Chester win in that stretch came during the 2018-19 campaign when West Chester got a career-best 27 point effort from Destiny Jefferson to roll past the Lions in Manuel Rivero Gymnasium. Jefferson was one of three Golden Rams in double figures as Gabrielle Troisi finished with 19 while Zhane Snow added 18 of her own in the victory.
West Chester found itself behind early, trailing by 11 after the first quarter, however, the Golden Rams outscored their hosts 51-46 the rest of the way but it was not enough to overcome the first quarter deficit.
Leah Johnson led West Chester in scoring with 18 points on 8-of-21 shooting from the field as the Golden Rams shot 40.6 % from the field and just 16.7 % from three-point range in the non-league setback. Jeanna Weatherspoon led Lincoln in scoring with 14 points in the victory as one of three Lions in double figures. Lincoln shot just 40.3 % from the field as well and equally poor 13.3 % from deep but a plus-five edge in turnovers and a lead at the free throw line made the difference in the victory.
Last Time Out
West Chester enters play riding the momentum of a four-game winning streak, a streak that West Chester has not accomplished since winning five in a row in PSAC East action during the 2018-19 season. Most recently, West Chester dispatched #15/8 Gannon at home on Saturday night, using a late first quarter run to hold a slim 15-14 lead at the end of the first 10 minutes before steadily extending the lead the rest of the night. West Chester, who was led by a pair of double doubles from
Leah Johnson (19 Pts, 11 Rebs, 9 Assists) and
Michelle Kozicki (15/11) led by as many eight late in the third quarter but it took a strong effort from the line in the final moments to secure the upset victory.
Regional Respect
With a four-game winning streak, including two wins over ranked opponents for what is just the second time in head coach
Kiera Wooden's tenure at the helm, the Atlantic Region has taken notice of the Golden Rams as the team appeared in the D2SIDA Atlantic Regional Rankings in a tie for ninth this week, marking the first time since November 2018 that WCU has been ranked in that poll.
Double Trouble
West Chester has had three games this year in which two players have registered double-doubles, second only to the 2015-16 season in which West Chester has four separate occasions of two or more players registering a double-double in the same game. The last time West Chester had at least three games with two players registering double doubles was the 2013-14 season, which also included the last time that three Golden Rams recorded a double-double in the same game (Ely, Kuntz, Sicinski vs Millersville 12/4/13).
Leah's Lead
Junior guard
Leah Johnson is off to another strong start to the year, ranking second on the team in scoring, averaging 15.0 points per game while also leading the team in assists, averaging 7.8 per game. Johnson's 7.8 helpers per contest are the best in the PSAC and also rank her third in all of DII women's basketball. Johnson has been flirting with a triple double throughout the season, finishing just one assist shy of this in the win over Gannon. If Johnson achieves a triple double this season, she would become just the fourth Golden Ram to do so and the first since Gabby Troisi in the PSAC Tournament in 2019.
PSAC Honors
Anna McTamney, who leads West Chester in steals, averaging 1.7 per game while also leading the team in blocks, averaging 1.0 block per game was recognized by the PSAC East this week, earning PSAC East Defensive Player of the Week honors after a trio of strong performances over the last two weeks. Over three games, including wins over top-25 teams Jefferson (#22/25) and Gannon (#15/8), McTamney averaged 20.0 points, 4.6 rebounds (primarily on the defensive glass), and 2.3 steals per game to help WCU improve to 4-2 on the year.
Look at the Lions
Lincoln enters play having lost each of its last four games, including a setback at Division I Old Dominion on Tuesday morning by a final of 81-64. Prior to this skid, Lincoln was off to another good start to the 2022-23 season, opening up with a record of 3-1 before falling to Holy Family, Rollins, Jefferson, and Old Dominion to fall to 3-5 on the year. Lincoln is 2-1 vs PSAC opponents so far this season, having beaten Slippery Rock in the season opener before falling to IUP and bouncing back with a win over Shepherd later in November to go above .500 vs its neighboring league.
Linncoln enters play averaging 67.8 points per game, shooting 37.5 % from the field and 32.3 % from beyond the arc while also shooting under 60.0 % (56.7 %) from the line in what has been an inconsistent season for the Lions. Lincoln has done a good job on the boards, entering play with a +2.6 advantage in rebounding margin (42.9-40.3), but an average of 18 turnovers per game has also proved costly for Lincoln so far this season.
Senior guard Kania Pollock has been the leading scorer for Lincoln this year, averaging 14.5 points per game while also ranking second on the team in assists and rebounds, averaging 6.1 rebounds and 2.9 assists per game. Sophomore Anyssa Fields has been the lone other Lincoln player in double figures so far this season, averaging 13.0 points per game while also leading the team in rebounding, averaging 8.4 rebounds per contest through the first eight games of the season.
Up Next:
Thursday night will be the West Chester's final home game for three weeks as West Chester heads to Wilmington on Sunday afternoon for a 2 p.m. start in its final non-conference game of the year before visiting with Pitt Johnstown and IUP on the 18
th and 19
th in the final games before the Holiday Break begins. West Chester returns to action at home on December 30
th vs Seton Hill with that game set to begin at 3:30 p.m.
