MILLERSVILLE, Pa.- The West Chester University women's basketball team (10-15, 6-13) enters the final week of the regular season in need of a pair of wins and some help to extend its season into March and the PSAC Tournament when that begins next Monday evening. West Chester's first foe this week is Millersville (12-14, 8-12), which enters play on a five-game losing streak of its own and is one of three teams, along with West Chester and Shepherd, battling for one of the final two PSAC Tournament spots as the regular season winds down. Opening tip for Wednesday night's class inside Pucillo Gymnasium on the campus of Millersville University is set for 5:30 p.m.
West Chester at Millersville
Game Details: February 25 I 5:30 P.M.
Location: Pucillo Gymnasium (Millersville, Pa.)
Series: 53-49
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Last Time Out
West Chester enters play on the heels of its sixth loss in a row, a 65-53 setback to the PSAC East Regular Season Champion, Lock Haven Bald Eagles. West Chester held an early lead and cut the deficit to as few as two in the second half after outscoring its guests in the second (13-12) and third (19-16) quarters but it was not enough to avoid the home loss as Lock Haven outscored the Golden Rams 20-11 in the fourth to earn a 65-53 victory. Alana Robinson led Lock Haven and all scorers with 22 points on 9-of-13 shooting, while
Lena Stein (Collegeville, Pa./Perkiomen Valley) led three Golden Rams in double figures with 15 points.
Erin Daley (Lafayette Hill, Pa./Plymouth Whitemarsh) chipped in 14 of her own, along with 10 from
Marianna Papazoglou (North Wildwood, N.J/Wildwood Catholic). West Chester shot 37.9 % (22-of-58) from the field in the loss, including a 50.0 % (7-of-14) effort in the third quarter, but was just 3-for-17 (17.6 %) from three-point range and 6-for-9 (66.7 %) at the line.
Flock Talk
West Chester enters play averaging 61.6 points per game on 40.0 % shooting from the field and 25.8 % shooting from beyond the arc, along with 70.6 % from the free throw line. West Chester's opponents average 63.4 points per game on 38.0 % shooting from the field and 26.8 % from three-point range, while also holding a slim 38.0-37.3 lead in rebounding and a slim +.3 (16.8-17.1) lead in turnovers over the Golden Rams.
Individually, Stein leads the team in scoring, rebounding, and steals, averaging 9.6 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 1.8 steals per game.
Macie McCracken (North Wildwood, N.J/Wildwood) and Papazoglou rank second and third in scoring, averaging 8.6 and 8.4 points per game, while Papazoglou also ranks second in rebounding, averaging 5.0 rebounds per game.
Kimi Sayson (Oceanport, N.J/Shore Regional) and
Ava Mazur (Linwood, N.J./Mainland Regional) are first and second on the team in assists, averaging 2.5 and 2.4 per game.
Youth Movement
West Chester has scored 1,540 (61.6) points per game through its 25 games this season, and the Golden Rams' rookie class has accounted for 836 (54.3 %) of these points this season, averaging 33.4 points per game.
The Painters
West Chester continues to outscore its opponents in the paint, holding a 774 (31.0/g)-660 (26.4/g) lead in the paint through its 25 games this season.
Second Unit Strong
West Chester averages 28.5 points per game off the bench, which continues to lead the PSAC and ranks 18
th in Division II women's basketball. Union (Tn) continues to lead the nation, averaging 37.6 points per game.
Series History
West Chester retains a 53-49 lead in the all-time series over Millersville after taking two of three from the Marauders last winter, including a 64-56 win in Millersville in the First Round of the PSAC Tournament last March. West Chester fell to its rivals in Hollinger for the first time since February 2012 earlier this season, but has still managed to go 8-2 against Millersville in the last 10 meetings.
Scouting Millersville
Looking to halt a four-game losing streak, the Millersville Marauders took to the road on Saturday to visit Bloomsburg. Millersville trailed 27-18 after the first quarter and matched the Huskies the rest of the way, but this nine-point deficit was too much to overcome in a 76-67 road loss to the Huskies. Millersville shot 45.5 % (25-of-55) from the field, including a 6-for-19 (31.6 %) effort from three-point territory, while also going 11-for-13 (84.6 %) at the line. The Marauders finished with four players in double figures as Bryn Zentner led the team in scoring with 19 points on 9-of-14 shooting, while Danielle Ranieli added 15 of her own, along with 10 each from Gabby Bowes and Morgan Mahoney.
As a team, Millersville enters play on Wednesday averaging 63.0 points per game on 36.8 % shooting from the field and 33.0 % from three-point territory, while also shooting 70.8 % at the line. The Marauders' opponents average 66.6 points per game on 36.1% shooting from the field and 30.3% from three-point range, while also holding a 42.1-41.0 (+1.1) lead in rebounding and an 18.1-15.1 (+3.0) lead in turnovers over the Marauders. Individually, Ranieli leads the team in scoring, assists, and steals, averaging 13.3 points, 2.4 assists, and 1.8 steals per game, while Zentner is second in scoring (9.0/g) and first in rebounding (7.2/g).
Up Next
West Chester will be back in action at home on Saturday for its regular-season finale against East Stroudsburg, beginning at 1 p.m. Fans are encouraged to arrive early, as Senior Day ceremonies will occur prior to the game.
