West Chester vs Shepherd
Game Details: February 5 I 5:30 P.M.
Location: Hollinger Field House (West Chester, Pa.)
Coverage Links: Live Stats I Video
Series: 7-7 (W5)
WCU Links: NEWS I ROSTER I SCHEDULE I STATS
Shepherd Links: NEWS I ROSTER I SCHEDULE I STATS
Last Time Out
Looking to halt a three-game losing streak to end January, West Chester opened the new month with a dominant 58-43 victory over Lock Haven on Saturday afternoon in Thomas Field House. West Chester picked up its first road win at Lock Haven since January of the 2022-23 season after shooting an excellent 44.2 % (23-of-52) from the field, including a season-best 55.6 % (5-of-9) from beyond the arc while also limiting Lock Haven to an opponent season-low 43 points on just 26.3 % (15-of-57) shooting from the field. West Chester trailed for less than 90 seconds early in the first quarter before stretching its lead to as many as 16 in the waning seconds of regulation. Michelle Kozicki notched her 13th double-double of the year and sixth in as many games as she led the team in scoring and rebounding with 21 points and 11 rebounds, while Erin Daley added 18 points on 7-of-8 shooting, including a 3-for-4 effort from three-point range in the victory.
Flock Talk
Kozicki ranks second in the PSAC in scoring, averaging 21.1 points per game, while her 10.3 rebounds per game are fifth best in the league. The senior forward has 13 double-doubles to her name, including six in as many games, which ranks her in a tie for fourth in D2 in double-doubles while also ranking second in the PSAC. Emily Chmiel leads the PSAC and D2 in double-doubles with 16. Anna McTamney is second on the team in scoring and rebounding, averaging 15.7 points and 6.6 rebounds per game. McTamney is eighth in the league in scoring, making West Chester the only team to place two players in the top 10 in the league in scoring. Ranking third on the team in scoring, Bella Mazur has been a great addition to the Golden Ram lineup in her rookie campaign, averaging 9.0 points per game thanks in part to a stretch that saw her turn in six double-digit scoring efforts in eight games and seven such efforts in nine home games this season. As a team, West Chester averages 66.8 points per game on 39.6 % shooting from the field and 26.6 % from three-point range. West Chester also leads the PSAC and ranks fifth in Division II in free throw shooting, connecting on 79.8 % of its attempts at the stripe.
Rare Air
With two 35-point games earlier this season, Kozicki who ranks second in the PSAC and eighth in DII in scoring, averaging 21.1 points per game is one of just three Golden Rams to score 35 points or more in a game twice in the same year. Leah Johnson was the most recent to do so with her 38 points at WVSU on 11/13/22 before scoring a program-record 44 vs Cal on 3/10/23. Mitzi Reitnouer (1981-82) is the only other player to do so, scoring 35 or more three times in February of that season.
We Love Free Stuff
West Chester is fifth in DII in free throw percentage, shooting 79.8 % at the line this season. WCU has hit over 70.0 % in 17 of 21 games and 80.0 % or better in 11 of 17, including a 92.0 % effort vs Lock Haven on January 6.
Working in the Paint
West Chester has outscored its opponents in the paint in 16 of 21 games this season, including a 48-14 lead vs Wilmington. WCU has outscored opponents 622 (29.6/g)-370 (17.6/g) in the paint this season.
Good to be Home
West Chester is 40-13 (.755) at home since November 2021, and to take it a step further, the Golden Rams are 34-6 (.850) at home since November 22, which includes the team’s 27-game winning streak at home, which was halted in December after starting in January 2023.
Second Quarter Woes
West Chester has struggled in the second quarter this season, being outscored 373-301 while outscoring its foes by 20 (1,062-1,042) in the other three quarters combined, including a 398-376 lead in the fourth quarter of games and a 730-696 lead in the second half.
Series History
West Chester is 7-7 all-time against Shepherd after winning each of the last five meetings against the Rams, dating back to January of the 2023 season. West Chester sparked its winning streak with a 94-47 win over Shepherd on January 23 of that season and evened the series at 7-7 with a 68-60 win in West Virginia on January 3 in the team’s PSAC East opener. During this five-game streak, West Chester has won by 10 or more in four of five games, including an 82-27 demolition of Shepherd in January 2024.
Scouting Shepherd
Shepherd (4-17, 1-13) suffered its ninth loss in a row on Saturday at home against East Stroudsburg by a 58-47 final. Shepherd held an 18-16 lead at the end of the first quarter and trailed by just one heading into the half but was outscored 14-4 in the third quarter and could not recover late in the 11-point setback. Shepherd shot just 33.3 % (19-of-57) from the field, including 10.0 % (2-of-20) from beyond the arc, while also finding itself on the wrong end of a 43-35 margin on the glass. Samiyah Nasir scored 14 points, while Lamaria Estridge led the team in rebounds (six) and assists (two).
For the year, Shepherd averages 61.2 points per game on 37.5 % shooting from the field and 26.9 % from beyond the arc. With losses in each of its last nine dating back to a PSAC East opening loss to West Chester on January 3, the youthful Shepherd team has hit tough times in 2025. The Rams trail 41.0-37.1 on the glass and 24.4-19.9 in the turnover battle, averaging just 9.6 steals per game. Individually, Kara Wehner leads the team in scoring and assists, averaging 9.5 points and 2.8 assists per game, while Carmaya Bowman is first in rebounding, averaging 5.7 rebounds per game.
