WEST CHESTER, Pa- Emily McAteer (Thornton, Pa./Garnet Valley) picked up her first double-double of the season, scoring 21 points on 8-of-10 shooting, while also collecting 10 rebounds in 28 minutes of action to help lead the 13
th-ranked West Chester University women's basketball team (2-0) to a convincing 85-56 victory Livingstone College (1-1) to conclude the 36th Carol Eckman Memorial Classic presented by Hampton Inn of Exton/Downingtown.
West Chester never trailed on Sunday afternoon, jumping out to an 8-0 lead to start the game and never looking back en route to a 29-point victory over its guests. The Golden Rams led by as many as 31 early in the fourth to start the season a perfect 2-0.
Sunday afternoon's victory also helped West Chester start the season a perfect 2-0 for the first time since the 2017-18 season when the Golden Rams defeated Glenville State and Livingstone to open the year.
West Chester jumped out to an 8-0 leadto open the game, eventually stretching the advantage to 16 points (25-9) heading into the second quarter. West Chester shot an impressive 66.7 % (6-of-9) from the field and 40.0 % (2-of-5) from deep in the first quarter, led by 10 points from McAteer.
The Golden Rams continued to flex their offensive muscle in the second quarter, extending the lead to as many as 22 heading into the halftime break.
McAteer led all scorers in the first half, finishing with 16 points on 6-of-8 shooting, while
Leah Johnson (Columbus, N.J./Notre Dame) chipped in nine of her own to rank second on the team in scoring. West Chester shot well in the first half, shooting 42.3 % (11-of-26) from the field, including a 9-of-10 effort from inside the three-point line. West Chester also shot a blistering 94.7 % (18-of-19) from the line in the first half of action.
For its part, Livingstone shot just 25.0 % (6-of-24) from the field, while going 8-for-9 (88.9 %) from the line through the opening 20 minutes of action.
West Chester continued to extend its lead in the third, stretching the lead to as many as 30 as three more Golden Rams entered double figures as
Anna McTamney (Plymouth Meeting, Pa./Plymouth Whitemarsh) increased her total to 14, as did Johnson, while
Jayde Boyd (Pittsburgh, Pa./Oakland Catholic) finished with 10 of her own entering the fourth quarter.
Woth the game in hand and leading by 31 early in the fourth quarter, West Chester's starting lineup saw limited playing time in the fourth, providing opportunity for a variety of younger players to take center stage for the Golden Rams down the stretch of the victory.
Sofia Coleman (Dresher, Pa./Gwynedd Mercy Academy) and
Kyla Glasser-Hyman (Inzai, Japan/Hightstown) each scored their first points as Golden Rams, finishing with five and three, respectively.
West Chester ended the game shooting a solid 47.3 % (26-of-55) from the field, including a 7-for-26 (26.9 %) effort from beyond the arc to go along with a 86.7 % (26-of-30) effort at the line. For its part, Livingstone, who was led by a trio of Livingstone players with 12 points each, shot 33.3 % (17-of-51) from the field, while connecting on just one of 13 attempts from beyond the arc. The visitors also ended the game shooting 80.8 % (21-of-26) from the line in the setback.
West Chester ended the game with a commanding 43-24 lead in rebounding, including a 15-6 advantage in second-chance points. West Chester also ended the game with a 20-18 lead in points off turnovers, a 34-26 lead on points in the paint, and a 19-10 advantage in points off the bench.
Up Next:
West Chester returns to action next Saturday afternoon against Wilmington (Del.) beginning at 1 p.m.
