WEST CHESTER, Pa.-Ava Mazur (Linwood, N.J./Mainland Regional) scored a career-high 21 points on 8-of-11 shooting, including three makes from three-point range to help lead the West Chester University women's basketball team (3-5, 1-2) to a 75-64 victory over California (4-5, 1-2) on Friday afternoon in Hollinger.
Mazur was one of three Golden Rams in double figures as
Michelle Kozicki (Wilmington, Del./Padua) finished with 15 points and 14 rebounds for her second double-double in as many games, while
Bella Mazur (Linwood, N.J./Mainland Regional) finished with 14 of her own.
West Chester trailed for under six minutes on Friday afternoon and led by as many as 13 with 1:25 to play in the fourth after a 10-0 run transformed a three-point game into a 13-point lead late in the victory.
Tonight's victory is the Golden Ram's 27th straight victory in Hollinger dating back to 2023, which matched Harding's 27-game home winning streak as the longest active home winning streak in Division II women's basketball. Harding does not play at home again until December 12, which means West Chester will have the opportunity to claim the longest home winning streak in DII with a victory over IUP tomorrow. Tonight's victory is also the second in three games for West Chester and just the fourth in series history.
After shooting just 26.3 % in the first quarter, West Chester shot much better down the stretch, ending the game shooting 44.8 % (30-of-67) from the field, including a 5-for-14 (38.5 %) from three-point range while also 10-for-15 at the free throw line.
California finished with four players in double figures, led by a pair of 15-point performances from Aliva Huffman and Trinity Balog. The Vulcans shot 36.9 % (24-of-65) from the field, including 20.0 % (4-of-20) from three-point range. They were also 12-for-21 (57.1 %) at the free-throw line.
West Chester took the early lead but was down 9-7 with four minutes to play in the first quarter. The first remained close and low-scoring, with the two teams locked at 11-11 after the first 10 minutes. West Chester shot just 26.3 % (5-of-19) from the field in the first quarter, while California connected on 4-of-12 (33.3 %) through the first 10 minutes.
Both offenses began to find their way in the second quarter as the two teams doubled their first-quarter scoring with 11 points each through the first five-and-a-half minutes. West Chester connected on 4-of-7 during this stretch. West Chester continued to shoot well as the second quarter progressed, shooting a stellar 66.7 % (8-of-12) in the frame, including a pair of makes from three-point range by
Ava Mazur (Linwood, N.J./Mainland Regional) and
Rachel Conran (Springfield, Pa./Springfield), which helped the Golden Rams carry a 33-25 lead into the halftime break.
Mazur led West Chester in scoring with eight points on 3-of-4 shooting from the field, including her one three, while also going 1-for-4 at the free throw line.
Trinity Balog led Cal in scoring with 10 points on 4-of-7 shooting from the field. The Vulcans shot 31.0 % (9-of-29) from the field and 10.0 % (1-for-10) from three-point range.
West Chester ended the first half shooting 41.9 % (13-of-31) from the field, including a 3-for-7 (42.9 %) from three-point range and a 4-for-7 (57.1 %) effort at the free throw line.
West Chester saw its lead cut to three early in the third quarter but managed to keep pace with its guests thanks to a pair of Mazur threes, holding a 51-46 lead with 3:24 to play. Cal closed the third on a 5-0 run, outscoring West Chester 26-18 in the frame to send the game to the fourth even at 51-51.
West Chester snuck out to a 63-58 lead with 4:38 to play and scored four of six points out of the game's final media timeout to take a 67-60 lead with under three minutes to play and force a Cal timeout. A three-point play by Kozicki stretched the lead to 10 (70-60) and West Chester got its lead up to as many as 13 with 1:25 to play in the fourth en route to the 75-64 victory.
West Chester ended the game with a 44-41 lead in rebounding, which helped the Golden Rams finish the game with a 46-34 lead in points in the paint.
West Chester and California committed 17 turnovers each in the game, although West Chester outscored Cal 18-11 in points off turnovers.
Up Next:
West Chester will be back in action on Saturday afternoon against Indiana (Pa.) at 1 p.m.
