PHILADELPHIA, Pa.- Bella Mazur (Linwood, N.J./Mainland Regional) scored a team-high 12 points and
Macie McCracken (North Wildwood, N.J./Wildwood) scored a career-high 10 off the bench to help West Chester (3-2) erase a six-point deficit heading into the fourth quarter for a 58-54 win over Jefferson (4-2) inside the Gallagher Center at Jefferson on Sunday afternoon.
West Chester trailed for much of the afternoon on Sunday and was behind 45-39 heading into the fourth, but a 14-4 run gave West Chester a 57-51 lead that the Golden Rams would never relinquish in a four-point victory over Jefferson. The Rams entered the week among the unbeatens in Division II women's basketball but have now fallen to 4-2 on the year after falling to Felician and West Chester.
West Chester shot north of 55.0 % from the field in both the third (58.33 %; 7-of-12) and fourth (55.6 %; 5-of-9) quarters to shoot 45.1 % (23-of-51) from the field in the game, including a 25.0 % (4-of-16) effort from beyond the arc in the victory.
West Chester was also 8-for-13 (61.5 %) at the free-throw line.
Jordin Tate (Wilmington, Del./Caravel) led West Chester in rebounding with seven, while
Kimi Sayson (Oceanport, N.J./Shore Regional) dished out a team-best four assists. Tate also led the team in steals with four.
West Chester shot 36.7 % (11-of-30) from the field in the first half, led by 10 points from
Bella Mazur, as the Golden Rams found themselves down 26-24 at the halfway point.
West Chester led for just under two-and-a-half minutes in the first half but was never far from the lead as Jefferson never led by more than five (26-21) with under two minutes to play in the half.
Kimi Sayson scored the final points of the half from three-point range with 47 seconds to play as the visitors trailed by just two midway through. Sayson's late three was one of just two first-half makes for the Golden Rams as the team shot just 18.2 % from deep.
Jefferson shot 35.5 % (11-of-31) from the field in the first half, including a 0-for-5 effort from deep. Gabby Recinto led Jefferson in scoring in the first half with 10 points of her own to match Mazur.
Jefferson stretched its lead to nine (39-30) with 3:46 to play in the third before a 5-0 run, including a McCracken three, got West Chester back to four (39-35) with 1:51 remaining. West Chester trailed 45-39 heading into the fourth quarter.
West Chester found itself down 47-43 with six minutes to play, but went on a 14-4 run led by six points from
Lena Stein (Collegeville, Pa./Perkiomen Valley) to grab a 57-51 lead late with 16 seconds to play. Jefferson got the deficit to three at the free-throw line and forced a turnover to have a chance at the final shot as time expired. Caleigh Sperling took a three with two seconds to play, but it was off the mark. Tate grabbed the rebound and was fouled in the process. The freshman hit 1-of-2 at the line to close out a 58-54 victory.
Jefferson ended the game with a 44-32 lead in rebounding, although turnovers were even at 19-19. Points off the bench was the difference maker on Sunday afternoon as West Chester's second unit outscored Jefferson's 21-5, led by the career-high 10 from McCracken to improve to 3-2 overall and 2-1 against Division II foes.
Jefferson shot 32.8 % (22-of-67) from the field, including an 0-for-11 effort from three-point range, while also going 10-for-13 (76.9 %) at the free throw line.
Emily Spratt led Jefferson and all scorers with 19 points on 7-of-16 shooting from the field, while Gabby Recinto scored 18 points on a team-best 9-of-18 shooting, along with 14 rebounds, while Jordyn Thomas finished with 10 of her own as the third and final Ram in double figures.
Up Next
West Chester will open crossover play on Saturday at home against Pitt-Johnstown, beginning at 1 pm.
