West Chester at Chestnut Hill
Game Details: December 15 I 1 P.M.
Location: Sorgenti Arena (Philadelphia, Pa.)
Series: WCU leads 4-1
Coverage Links: Live Stats I Video
WCU Links: NEWS I ROSTER I SCHEDULE I STATS
CHC Links: NEWS I ROSTER I SCHEDULE I STATS
Last Time Out
After matching the longest active home winning streak in Division II women's basketball with its 11-point victory over California (Pa.) on December 6, the Golden Rams were back in action on Saturday with the chance to pass Harding for the longest winning streak in DII with a win over IUP, which would've been their first since November 2015. West Chester found itself behind early but trailed by just two at the end of the first quarter and eight at the half after an 8-0 run late in the second quarter cut into the Crimson Hawk advantage. Unfortunately, this was the game's final significant run for West Chester as the Crimson Hawks stretched their lead to as many as 17 late in the fourth en route to the 16 (69-53) victory over the homestanding Golden Rams. Michelle Kozicki led West Chester again, finishing with 21 points and 16 rebounds for her fourth double-double of the year and third in as many games after setting a new career-high for rebounding. West Chester shot 28.1 % from the field in the loss, including an 0-for-15 effort from three-point range.
Flock Talk
West Chester enters play after seeing its DII-best 27-game home winning streak halted on Saturday afternoon by a nationally-ranked IUP squad by a 69-53 final. This setback also halted a modest two-game winning streak for West Chester, which had started in improbable fashion with a 79-73 OT victory over Jefferson on December 1. As a team, West Chester averages 66.8 points per game on 39.1 % shooting, including a 26.0 % effort from deep, while also hitting 81.9 % of its free throws, which is fourth best in DII. West Chester’s opponents average 70.4 points per game on 40.7 % shooting from the field, including a 31.6 % effort from deep, while the Golden Rams also hold a 38.4-38.0 lead in rebounding and an 18.9-19.9 lead in the turnover battle.
Individually, Michelle Kozicki (Wilmington, Del./Padua), who earned PSAC East Defensive Athlete of the Week honors earlier this week, is first on the team in scoring (18.3/g) and rebounding (10.0/g) while also averaging 2.0 steals per game. Anna McTamney (Plymouth Meeting, Pa./Plymouth Whitemarsh) is second on the team in scoring, averaging 15.7 points per game, while also ranking second in rebounding, averaging 5.3 per game. Erin Daley (Lafayette Hill, Pa./Plymouth Whitemarsh) is third on the team in scoring and rebounding, averaging 8.3 points and 4.9 rebounds per game, while also ranking second in assists, averaging 2.4 per game along with 1.8 steals per game, which is also third best on the team.
Series History
West Chester leads 4-1 in the all-time series vs Chestnut Hill after winning each of the last two meetings, including a 71-51 victory over the Griffins last November as part of the Golden Rams 27-game home winning streak. West Chester played its first games against Chestnut Hill in December 2008 and 2009 but did not face off against the Griffins again until November 2021, when the Golden Rams fell to CHC by an 80-68 final in Hollinger.
We Are Honored
Kozicki became the first Golden Ram to earn a PSAC weekly award this season after earning PSAC East Defensive Player of the Week honors following two tremendous games a week ago, which saw her record back-to-back double-doubles with 15 points and 14 rebounds in a win over Cal before scoring 21 points and pulling down a career-high 16 rebounds in the setback vs No. 18 IUP.
Chasing History
Kozicki is just 15 points away from scoring her 1000th Collegiate point and is only 97 away from her 1000th point as a Golden Ram.
Bella Can Ball
Averaging 7.9 points per game, Bella Mazur (Linwood, N.J./Mainland Regional) has had a strong start to her collegiate career, particularly at home, averaging 12.7 points per game in Hollinger after scoring 15 vs. Wilmington in her home debut and 14 more in victories over Jefferson and Cal. McTamney scored her 1000th point earlier this season and is just 105 away from her 1000th point as a Golden Ram.
Giant Slayed
West Chester picked up its first win over a nationally-ranked team since 2022-23 on December 1 with its 79-73 OT victory over No. 7 Jefferson. This win was the Golden Rams first win over a top-10 team since a victory over No. 15/8 Gannon during the 2022-23 season. West Chester downed a pair of ranked teams during this season as the Golden Rams also beat No. 22/25 Jefferson in that season. (def. 22/25 Jefferson; 8/15 Gannon).
Working Overtime
The Golden Rams win over Jefferson was the team’s first OT victory since a February 2016 win over East Stroudsburg.
We Like Free Stuff
West Chester is one of the best free throw shooting teams in Division II, hitting 81.9 % of its attempts at the line, which is fourth best in DII and second best in the Atlantic Region, trailing only Frostburg State, who hits 82.9 % of its free throws.
Scouting Chestnut Hill
Chestnut Hill heads into the weekend with a record of 4-6 overall against Division II competition after facing off against and defeating Georgian Court on Saturday afternoon by a 77-74 final. Chestnut Hill jumped out to an early lead after a big second quarter, carrying a 10-point lead into the halftime break, and this proved vital as the Griffins held off the Lions late despite being outscored by a 28-18 margin in the second quarter, which sent the game to the fourth tied at 55-55. Chestnut Hill shot 46.6 % from the field, including a 3-for-10 effort from three-point range, while also going 20-for-24 (83.3 %) at the free throw line in the victory. The Griffins also ended the game with a 41-39 lead in rebounding, led by eight rebounds from Bri Rider. Bridie McCann led CHC in scoring in this victory, finishing with 16 points on 5-of-9 shooting, including a 2-for-3 effort from deep, while also going 4-for-4 at the line. Avery White led Chestnut Hill in assists, finishing with five helpers in the victory. McCann was one of four Griffins in double figures and one of three in the starting lineup, while Emily Sekerak added 14 off the bench on 4-of-6 shooting from the field and a perfect 6-for-6 effort at the line.
For the year, Chestnut Hill averages 70.8 points per game on 42.7 % shooting from the field and 34.1 % from beyond the arc while also outrebounding opponents 42.5-38.9 on the year. This rebounding advantage has proved crucial as the Griffins average nearly 19 turnovers per game, which is almost three per game more than they force. McCann leads the team in scoring, averaging 14.4 points per game, while Rider is first in rebounding, averaging 7.7 rebounds per game. White is second on the team in scoring, averaging 11.1 points per game, while also leading the team in assists (5.0/g) and steals (1.4/g).
The distinction of being 4-6 against DII competition is important for Chestnut Hill as the Griffins will take a break from DII play on Friday night to test themselves against Division I foe La Salle beginning at 6 p.m. inside John Glaser Arena.
