PHILADELPHIA- Marianna Papazoglou (North Wildwood, N.J./Wildwood Catholic) scored a team-high 14 points on 5-of-8 shooting as the West Chester University women's basketball team battled Saint Joseph's (1-0) in a final exhibition game on Tuesday night inside Hagan Arena. Tuesday night was the Hawks' season opener, and after a tight first half, the hosts pulled away in the second half for a 69-46 victory over the Golden Rams.
Playing in a final tuneup before the Division II regular season begins at the end of next week, West Chester gave its Division I hosts all they could handle in the first half, including a lead as big as five early in the second quarter.
West Chester shot a game-best 45.5 % (5-for-11) from the field in the first quarter, including two makes from three-point range to carry a 15-12 lead into the second quarter.
Alivia Mauz (Williamstown, N.J./Williamstown) led West Chester in scoring in the first with five of her seven points as she started the game 2-for-2 from the field, including her lone made three of the night.
West Chester stretched its lead to 17-12 two minutes into the second and led 19-17 with under five minutes to play before the Hawks closed out the half on a 17-9 run to carry a 29-26 lead into the halftime break after a three by Penn State transfer Jill Jekot with four seconds to play in the half.
Down just three at the half, West Chester shot 40.0 % (10-of-25) from the field, including a 30.0 % (3-of-10) effort from three-point range, while also going 3-for-6 (50.0 %) at the line. Papazoglou led West Chester in scoring in the first half with eight of her 14 points on 3-of-5 shooting, including one of three makes from three-point range.
The hosts built on their halftime lead midway through the third quarter, thanks in part to an effective press that forced multiple Golden Ram turnovers and allowed the Hawks to outscore their guests 19-10 in the third quarter, despite shooting just 31.3% (5-of-16) from the field.
Heading into the fourth quarter, SJU held a 48-36 lead after a late Gabby Casey layup, increasing her point total to 10 after three quarters.
In the fourth, the Hawks outscored the Golden Rams 21-10 and shot a game-best 50.0 % (9-of-18) from the field, including two makes from three-point range to close out a 69-46 opening-night victory.
SJU ended the game with a 50-27 lead in rebounding and a 16-22 lead in turnovers, although West Chester finished the game with a 23-19 lead in points off the bench, led by Papazoglou's 14.
For the Hawks, Jekot scored a game-high 20 points on 6-of-12 shooting from the field, along with six made free throws (6-of-7 at the free throw line), and a 13-point, 10-rebound double-double by Casey.
Tuesday night was the Golden Rams' first taste of Atlantic-10 Basketball this season, but not the last, as the team will head to La Salle for a regular-season game on November 18 at 6 p.m.
Up Next
West Chester will officially open its season on November 14 against Salem, beginning at 5 p.m., before hosting Glenville State on November 15 at 3 p.m. on day two of the 37
th Annual Carol Eckman Memorial Classic in Hollinger Field House.
