BLOOMSBURG, Pa.- The West Chester University women's basketball team (13-13, 10-9) put its winning streak to the test on Saturday afternoon as the team visited Bloomsburg (16-11, 10-10) for an important PSAC East clash that may well serve as a PSAC Tournament preview as the two teams battle for positioning in the standings. West Chester found itself behind early after a slow start to the game offensively and could not come all the way back, falling to the Huskies by a 71-55 final.
West Chester shot just 3-of-8 from the field in the first quarter to find itself down 21-9 early and, despite a 66.7 % (8-of-12) effort from the field in the third, could not erase the early deficit to a 16-point loss to the Huskies.
Michelle Kozicki (Wilmington, Del./Padua) led the team in scoring once again with 19 points on 8-of-14 shooting from the field, along with 13 rebounds, while
Anna McTamney (Plymouth Meeting, Pa./Plymouth Whitemarsh) chipped in 14 points of her own, including a 6-for-7 effort at the line.
Alainna Hopta (York, Pa./) nearly finished in double figures, finishing with nine points on 3-of-6 shooting as the junior guard played the full 40 minutes.
Trailing by 12 after the first, West Chester stiffened defensively in the third, and despite going just 4-for-16 from the field, the team went 5-for-5 at the line and outscored its hosts 13-12 to cut the deficit to 11 heading to the half.
West Chester, who did not hit a three (0-for-10) in the victory, continued its comeback bid in the third quarter, shooting a game-best 8-of-12 from the field, scoring 17 points, but Bloomsburg matched this to keep the lead intact. The Golden Rams shot below 30 % in the fourth quarter, going just 5-for-17 (29.4 %) from the field in the final 10 minutes as Bloomsburg stretched its lead in the 71-55 home triumph.
West Chester shot 37.7 % (20-of-53) from the field in the loss, including an 0-for-10 effort from three-point range, while also going 15-for-23 (65.2 %) from the stripe in the setback.
For Bloomsburg, Leah and Ella Kale were the lone Huskies in double figures with 18 and 12 points, respectively, but the Huskies were very balanced as 10 different players scored in the victory.
Bloomsburg shot 61.5 % (8-of-13) from the field in the first and ended the game shooting 44.4 % (24-of-54) from the field, including an impressive 10-for-20 (50.0 %) from three-point range. Bloomsburg also went 13-for-15 (86.7 %) at the line.
West Chester ended the game tied with Bloomsburg in rebounding with 34 each, while the Golden Rams finished with a 38-10 lead in points in the paint and a 10-7 lead in second-chance points.
The second unit made a major impact for Bloomsburg on Saturday as the Huskies bench, led by a team-high 18 points from Ella Kale, outscored the West Chester bench 43-1 in a crucial PSAC East victory.
Up Next
West Chester will look to bounce back in its regular-season home finale on Wednesday night against Millersville beginning at 5:30.
