SHEPHERDSTOWN, W.V.- In need of a win to bolster its PSAC Tournament chances, the West Chester University women's basketball team (10-14, 6-12) fell to Shepherd (10-13, 8-10) on the road on Wednesday night by a 77-63 final.
West Chester found itself down early, but erased the deficit and led briefly in the second quarter but Shepherd scored 47 second-half points to earn its first win over the Golden Rams since February 2022.
Shepherd jumped out to an early 7-0 lead before West Chester closed the first quarter on a 14-9 run to cut the deficit to 16-14 heading into the second quarter.
West Chester opened the second quarter on an 8-4 run to take a 22-20 lead with 5:59 to play in the first half before Shepherd went on another 7-0 run to take a 27-22 lead with two minutes to play.
Macie McCracken (North Wildwood, N.J./Wildwood) answered with a three with 1:24 to play until halftime to increase her first-half total to 11, which cut the deficit to 27-25. Shepherd closed the first half on a modest 3-0 run to take a 30-25 lead into the halftime break.
The Golden Rams remained close to begin the second half, trailing by three (32-29) with 7:32 to play after an
Erin Daley (Lafayette Hill, Pa./Plymouth Whitemarsh) layup before Shepherd answered with another 6-0 run to take a 38-29 lead. Shepherd stretched its lead to 17 with 3:31 to play after a Cassidy Rhodes three before West Chester answered with an 8-0 run to cut the lead back to single digits at 48-39 with 1:51 to play. West Chester scored its final six points of the third from three-point range as McCracken and
Marianna Papazoglou (North Wildwood, N.J./Wildwood Catholic) both hit threes as West Chester shot 50.0 % (3-for-6) from three-point range but trailed 56-45 heading into the fourth quarter.
Papazoglou scored the first points of the fourth to cut the deficit to 56-47 with 9:47 to play before Shepherd stretched its lead back to 18 with 8:38 remaining after another three by Rhodes for a quick 12 points. The Rams continued to control the fourth quarter, leading by 21 with under four minutes to play before Kara Wehner stretched the lead to 74-51 with three minutes remaining. West Chester finished the game on a 12-3 run, cutting the deficit to 77-63, but it was not enough to come all the way back in the 14-point loss.
West Chester shot 40.6 % (26-of-64) from the field in the loss, including a 9-for-18 (50.0 %) from three-point range, while also going 2-for-3 (66.7 %) at the line.
McCracken led West Chester in scoring with 21 points on 8-of-13 shooting, including a 4-for-5 effort from three-point range, while also posting eight rebounds, which tied Papazoglou for the team lead. Papazoglou and
Alivia Mauz (Williamstown, N.J./Williamstown) each finished with nine points.
Shepherd shot an identical 40.6 % (26-of-64) from the field, including an 8-for-24 (33.3%) from three-point range, while also shooting 54.8 % (17-for-31) from the free throw line.
Lamaria Estridge finished the game with a team-high 19 points and was one of three Rams in double figures as Wehner added 14, along with 12 from Rhodes. Estridge picked up a double-double in the win, finishing with 12 rebounds along with four steals and a pair of blocks.
Shepherd finished the game with a 47-40 lead in rebounding, which helped the Rams finish the game with a 17-10 lead in second-chance points, along with a 30-28 lead in points in the paint.
Shepherd also finished the game with a 22-17 lead in turnovers and a 27-21 lead in points off turnovers.
Up Next
West Chester will be back in action on Saturday at home against Lock Haven, beginning at 1 p.m., before playing its final regular-season games of the week next week at Millersville and at home against East Stroudsburg.
