SHIPPENSBURG, Pa.- Michelle Kozicki (Wilmington, Del./Padua) scored 28 points on 12-of-19 shooting to help lead the West Chester University women's basketball team (12-12, 9-8) to a dominant 58-38 victory over Shippensburg (8-15, 5-12) on Wednesday afternoon.
West Chester found itself trailing by one at the end of the first quarter but used a stellar third-quarter, which saw the team outscore Shippensburg 20-4 on 58.8 % shooting to break open a close game at the half and cruise to the 20-point road victory.
Kozicki, who scored 20 of her 28 in the second half was one of three Golden Rams in double figures as
Anna McTamney (Plymouth Meeting, Pa./Plymouth Whitemarsh) chipped in 13 points along with an 11-point, 12-rebound double-double by
Erin Daley (Lafayette Hill, Pa./Plymouth Whitemarsh).
Ava Mazur (Linwood, N.J./Mainland Regional) flirted with a double-double of her own despite scoring just two points as the rookie guard led the team in assists with eight while also corralling six rebounds, which was third-best on the team. Daley also led the way in blocks with five, while
Bella Mazur (Linwood, N.J./Mainland Regional) led the team in steals with three.
Shooting 50.0 % (16-of-32) from the field in the second half, West Chester ended the game shooting 41.0 % (25-of-61) from the field, including a 3-for-15 (20.0 %) effort from three-point range, led by two makes by Daley. West Chester also went 5-for-5 (100.0 %) at the free-throw line.
Tonight's victory moves West Chester to 12-12 on the year and 9-8 in league play, which pending results of other games could see the Golden Rams climb as high as third in the PSAC East standings. West Chester was the first PSAC East team in action today due to the weather forecast for this evening so the team will have to await the results of other games to learn where it will sit in the league standings heading into its Saturday bye.
West Chester shot just 28.6 % from the field in the first quarter, led by five points from McTamney and found itself trailing 11-10 heading into the second.
The second quarter told a similar tale as West Chester went on a late-quarter cold spell, outscoring the Raiders 12-10 in the frame to carry a slim 22-21 lead into the halftime break.
West Chester shot just 31.0 % (9-of-29) from the field in the first half, including a 1-for-5 (20.0 %) effort from three-point range.
Led by 11 points from Taja Colbert, Shippenbsurg did not fare much better in the opening 20 minutes, shooting just 29.6 % (8-of-27) from the field, including an 0-for-6 effort from beyond the arc to trail by one at the midway point.
Out of the halftime break, West Chester nearly doubled its first half output, outscoring Shippensburg 20-4, led by 16 points on 8-of-9 shooting by Kozicki to take a commanding 17-point (42-25) lead after a 10-0 run midway through the quarter. West Chester shot a blistering 58.8 % (10-of-17) from the field in the third and outrebounded Shippensburg 14-9 as the Raiders were just 2-for-18 (11.1 %) from the field out of the half.
West Chester extended its lead to 19 early in the fourth after a jumper gave McTamney 13 points on the afternoon on 6-of-14 shooting from the field. West Chester got its lead up to as many as 25 with under four minutes to play in the 58-38 victory.
West Chester ended the game with a 44-32 lead in rebounding, including a 15-11 lead on the offensive glass, which resulted in a 13-6 lead in second-chance points and a 42-26 lead in points in the paint. West Chester also ended the game with a slim 18-17 lead in turnvoers and a 22-13 advantage in points off turnovers.
Shippensburg shot just 27.6 % (16-of-58) from the field in the loss, including a 7.7 % (1-of-13) effort from beyond the arc, as McKenzie Thomas made the lone three of the night for Shippensburg late in the fourth quarter.
Colbert led the Raiders in scoring with 11 points, while Abbie Miller led the team in rebounding with six in the loss.
Up Next:
West Chester will be back in action next Wednesday night at home against East Stroudsburg beginning at 5:30 p.m.
