SHIPPENSBURG, Pa.- Emily McAteer (Thornton, Pa./Garnet Valley) scored a game-high 23 points on 9-of-11 shooting to help lead the West Chester University women's basketball team (12-5, 7-4) to an 82-55 victory over Shippensburg (3-15, 2-10) on Wednesday night.
West Chester led by as many as 33 midway through the fourth quarter and had three players in double figures as
Michelle Kozicki (Wilmington, Del./Padua) and
Leah Johnson (Columbus, N.J./Notre Dame) finished with 19 and 16 points each to help guide the Golden Rams to the victory. McAteer and Kozicki tied with
Anna McTamney (Plymouth Meeting, Pa./Plymouth Whitemarsh) for the team lead in rebounding with seven each. At the same time, Johnson added a team-high eight assists, which was one shy of her season-high from opening night against Elizabeth City State.
For Shippensburg, Treasure George led a trio of Raiders in double figures with 13 points in the setback while also posting a team-high four assists.
West Chester jumped out to an 11-4 lead through the first five minutes of action, thanks partly to an early, old-fashioned three-point play off a turnover by Johnson. This early advantage grew to as many as 12 with 2:38 to play in the first quarter after a perfect 2-for-2 trip to the line from McAteer. The Raiders cut into the deficit down the stretch of the first quarter, cutting the WCU lead to seven (18-11) with 1:41 to play, but a late three off a Shippensburg turnover by McAteer gave the Golden Rams a 21-11 lead heading into the second quarter.
In the second quarter, Shippensburg cut the deficit to as few as six with 6:26 to play, but West Chester responded well, extending its lead to 44-27 with 1:02 left in the first half, another three-point play off a Raider turnover by Johnson. The Raiders scored the final four points of the first half, knocking down a pair of free throws before Treasure George connected on a jumper at the buzzer, which cut the Golden Ram lead to 44-31 heading into the halftime break.
Led by 14 first-half points from McAteer, West Chester shot tremendously well in the first half, shooting 59 % (17-of-29) from the field, including a 4-for-8 effort from three-point range, while also ending the first half with a 15-10 lead in rebounding and a 7-6 advantage in turnovers.
Johnson joined McAteer in double figures with 10 first-half points of her own, while George led the way for Shippensburg with 10 first-half points as the Raiders shot 45.5 % (10-of-22) from the field and 42.9 % % (3-of-7) from three-point range.
West Chester opened the second half with a 9-0 run to take a 53-31 lead, which eventually helped the Golden Rams claim a convincing 61-39 lead with 2:34 to play in the third quarter after another jumper by Johnson off an assist from
Morgan Warley (West Chester, Pa./Villa Maria Academy). West Chester extended its lead as the third quarter continued, carrying a 67-44 lead into the fourth.
The Golden Rams led by as many as 33 with 4:12 to play in the fourth quarter after a made three by
Rachel Conran (Springfield, Pa./Springfield Delco). Shippensburg battled down the stretch, cutting into the deficit, but it was not enough to complete the comeback as West Chester rolled to an 82-55 victory on Wednesday night.
West Chester ended the game shooting an outstanding 55.0 % (33-of-60) from the field, including a 37.5 % (6-for-16) effort from beyond the arc, while also converting 10-of-13 (76.9 %) from the line. Shippensburg shot just 36.2 % (17-of-47) from the field in the setback, including a 26.3 % (5-of-19) effort from three-point range, while also shooting 66.7 % (16-of-24) at the free throw line.
The Golden Rams ended the game with a 42-20 lead in rebounding, including an 18-9 lead in offensive rebounds, which translated into a 19-6 lead in second-chance points. West Chester also ended the game with an 18-9 lead in points off turnovers and a 44-14 lead in points in the paint to earn its fourth win in a row.
Up Next:
West Chester returns to action on Saturday afternoon at home against Mansfield beginning at 1 p.m.
