WEST CHESTER, Pa.-Emily McAteer (Thornton, Pa./Garnet Valley) had a career night, turning in a double-double with 21 points (one point shy of her career high) and 15 rebounds, which set a new career-high but it was Lincoln who closed the game on an impressive run to eventually erase a deficit it had held for much of the game to halt the Golden Rams winning streak with a 76-67 win in Hollinger Field House.
West Chester led for much of the contest, but Lincoln used a big second half, which saw the Lions outscore their hosts 44-30, including 16-7 in the third quarter to erase the deficit and escape with a nine-point victory over the streaking Golden Rams
McAteer was one of three Golden Rams in double figures as
Anna McTamney (Plymouth Meeting, Pa./Plymouth Whitemarsh) finished with 14 while
Leah Johnson (Columbus, N.J./Notre Dame) nearly had a double-double finishing with 10 points and nine assist to go along with seven rebounds, which was second best on the squad in the setback. In addition to her 21 points and 15 rebounds, McAteer also ended the game with four rejections, which led all players on the night.
For Lincoln, Anyssa Fields led the team in scoring with 29 points and six rebounds while Kania Pollock finished with 21 points of her own as the lone two Lincoln players in double figures in the upset victory.
West Chester jumped out to an early lead in the first quarter leading by five with 3:50 to play before Lincoln answered back with a quick run to take a 20-19 lead and prompt a WCU timeout with 1:12 to play. West Chester and Lincoln each had opportunities to change the score in the final 70 seconds of play coming out of the timeout but neither side was able to get the look it was seeking as the game went to the second with WCU trailing 20-19.
In the first five minutes of the second quarter, West Chester opened on 10-4 run to erase its first quarter deficit and take a 29-24 lead into media timeout with 4:52 to play in the first half. Heading to the half, West Chester held a 37-32 lead behind a 17-point first half performance by
Emily McAteer (Thornton, Pa./Garnet Valley) in addition to 11 rebounds and three blocks in just 20 minutes of action.
Leah Johnson (Columbus, N.J./Notre Dame) also turned in strong first half, pulling in four rebounds to go along with a team-best four assists in the opening 20 minutes.
West Chester ended the first half shooting 38.5 % (10-of-26) from the field but was 10-of-16 from inside the arc while also going a perfect 17-of-17 at the charity stripe. For Lincoln, Anyssa Fields matched McAteer's 17-point first half performance was 17 of her own on 7-of-9 shooting, including a 3-of-4 effort from deep as the lone player to make a three-pointer in the first half.
Lincoln was 14-of-40 (35.0 % ) from the field in the first half while going 3-for-7 (42.9 %) from beyond the arc and 1-of-2 at the line.
In the third quarter, West Chester and Lincoln traded stops but it was West Chester who held a slim 42-39 lead with 4:14 to play in the period. Lincoln closed the frame on a 9-2 run to take a 48-44 lead into the fourth quarter.
Lincoln matched the largest lead of the game by either side, stretching its advantage to eight points with 8:10 to play before a quick steal and layup by
Morgan Warley (West Chester, Pa./Villa Maria Academy) to make it a six -point game. Lincoln refused to allow the Golden Rams to complete the comeback, eventually stretching the lead to as many as 14 points with 1:35 to play in the victory over the homestanding Golden Rams.
After a perfect 17-of-17 effort from the line in the first half, West Chester shot just 8-of-14 from the line in the second half while making its only two three's of the game in the fourth quarter during the ill-fated comeback bid. West Chester ended the game shooting 33.9 % (20-of-59) from the field and 2-for-21 from three while also shooting 25-of-31 from the line in the setback.
For Lincoln the second half saw the Lions get to the line 14 times, converting on 14-of-20 from the stripe in the comeback victory. Lincoln ended the game shooting 28-of-72 (38.9 %) from the field and 5-of-16 (31.3 %) from three-point range.
Lincoln ended the game with a 50-38 advantage in rebounding and a corresponding 16-10 advantage in second chance points. Despite the setback, West Chester did end the game with a 23-14 lead in points off turnovers after both sides committed 18 turnovers on the night.
Up Next:
West Chester returns to action on Sunday afternoon at Wilmington beginning at 2 p.m. in what will be its non-league finale before a week long layoff until returning to action at Pitt-Johnstown on Sunday the 18
th.
