WEST CHESTER, Pa.- The West Chester University women's basketball team (11-12, 8-8) stretched its winning streak to three in a row with a 67-61 Senior Day victory over Mansfield (9-13, 5-11) on Saturday afternoon.
Prior to Saturday's game, West Chester honored its senior class, which included
Michelle Kozicki (Wilmington, Del./Padua), Anna McTamney (Plymouth Meeting, Pa./Plymouth Whitemarsh), and
Rachel Conran (Springfield, Pa./Springfield).
West Chester led by as many as 14 late in the second quarter and trailed for only 30 seconds but needed a late defensive stand to hold on for the six-point victory. The Golden Rams finished with four in double figures, led by 18 points from McTamney. Kozicki picked up her 15
th double-double of the year with 12 points and 13 rebounds, while
Bella Mazur (Linwood, N.J./Mainland Regional) added 13 points off the bench along with a career-high 10 points from
Alainna Hopta (York, Pa./West York).
Ava Mazur (Linwood, N.J./Mainland Regional) led the team in assists with a game-high five in the Senior Day victory.
West Chester jumped out to an early 7-0 lead and, after a buzzer-beating layup by Hopta
, carried a 17-14 lead into the second quarter.
West Chester got its lead up to 20-14 early in the second before Mansfield stormed back to cut the lead to 22-21. West Chester countered with a 15-0 run led by six points each from Kozicki and
Bella Mazur (Linwood, N.J./Mainland Regional) to take a commanding 35-21 lead with under three minutes to play in the first half.
West Chester continued its strong second-quarter effort, outscoring Mansfield 20-14 in the frame on 53.3 % (8-of-15) shooting from the field, including four makes from beyond the arc to carry a 37-28 lead into the half after leading by as many as 14 late in the second quarter.
Kozicki led the Golden Rams in scoring with 10 first-half points on 5-of-7 shooting, while Danae Ellzy and Sarah Hortin led the Mounties in scoring with 11 and 10 points, respectively.
West Chester shot 45.7 % (16-of-35) from the field in the first half, including 36.4 % (4-of-11) from three-point range.
Mansfield shot 31.4 % (11-of-35) from the field, including 30.8 % (4-of-13) from three-point range, while also going 2-for-4 (50.0 %) at the free throw line.
Mansfield opened the second half on a 9-5 run through the first five minutes of the third quarter to cut the West Chester lead to 42-37 and force an early Golden Ram timeout. Mansfield continued its third-quarter comeback and got the Golden Ram lead down to 42-40. West Chester closed the third on a 10-5 run to take a 52-45 lead into the fourth quarter.
West Chester was just 5-of-18 (27.8 %) from the field in the third quarter as its guests snuck back into the game by virtue of a 9-for-10 effort at the line out of the halftime break.
Mansfield opened the fourth on another 7-2 run to pull back to within two once more after a deep three by Katie Sheeler, which prompted a Golden Ram timeout with 6:25 to play in regulation. Mansfield took its first lead of the game with just over two minutes to play when Danae Ellzy hit a big three to make it a 61-60 Mountie lead. West Chester tied the game at the free throw line as Conran went 1-for-2 before taking a 63-61 lead after a McTamney jumper.
Mansfield tried desperately for the tying basket with under 45 seconds to play but could not get a shot to fall despite countless opportunities. West Chester eventually secured the rebound, and Hopta hit a pair of free throws to give West Chester a 65-61 lead in a slim 67-61 victory.
Katie Sheeler led Mansfield in scoring with a hard-charging 21 points, including four makes from three-point range, while Danae Ellzy and Sarah Hortin, finished with 15 and 10. Hortin also corralled 14 rebounds, finishing with a double-double.
Mansfield shot 30.8 % (20-of-65) from the field, including 32.1 % (9-of-28) from three-point range, while also shooting 75.0 % (12-of-16) from the free throw line.
West Chester ended the game shooting 37.9 % (25-of-66) from the field, including 29.4 % (5-of-17) from three-point range, while also going 12-for-16 (75.0 %) at the free throw line.
Led by Kozicki's 13 rebounds, West Chester ended the game with a 47-44 lead in rebounding, while also finishing the night with a slim 13-12 lead in turnovers, which resulted in 10 points off turnovers.
Up Next
West Chester will be back in action on Wednesday night at Shippensburg beginning at 6 p.m.
