KUTZTOWN, Pa.- The West Chester University women's basketball team (10-10, 6-8) is preparing for its fourth game in five days on Wednesday as the Golden Rams travel to Kutztown (12-8, 8-5) for the second game of their season series against the Golden Bears beginning at 5:30 p.m.
West Chester vs Kutztown
Game Details: February 4 I 5:30 P.M.
Location: Keystone Arena (Kutztown, Pa.)
Series: 51-40
Coverage Links: Live Stats I
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WCU Links: NEWS I
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Kutztown Links: NEWS I
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Last Time Out
West Chester fell to Millersville on Monday night by a 73-59 final. The Golden Rams trailed by 20 at the half and by as many as 22 early in the third quarter before outscoring the Marauders 18-14 in the third and going on another run in the fourth to pull back to within eight with two minutes to play. Unfortunately, this was as close as West Chester could get to coming all the way back in the home loss to Millersville, as the visitors went 8-for-8 at the line in the fourth to leave Hollinger with a win for the first time since 2012.
Lena Stein (Collegeville, Pa./Perkiomen Valley) led West Chester in scoring with 13 points as the Golden Rams shot 31.9 % (23-of-72) from the field and 4-for-25 (16.0 %) from beyond the arc, while also going 9-for-11 (81.8 %) at the line. West Chester shot north of 31 % only once in the loss, shooting 50.0 % (6-of-12) in the third quarter but shot 26.3 % (5-of-19) in the first, 27.8 % (5-of-18) in the second, and 30.4 % (7-of-23) in the fourth. Despite the loss, West Chester did manage to end the game with a 42-34 rebounding advantage, including a 20-7 advantage on the offensive glass, which led to a 12-6 lead in second-chance points in the 14-point setback.
Flock Talk
West Chester enters play on Wednesday averaging 63.8 points per game on 40.8 % shooting from the field and 25.3 % shooting from beyond the arc, along with 72.7 % shooting at the free throw line. West Chester also holds a slim 38.3-37.4 lead in rebounding, although the Golden Rams trail 17.7-17.0 in turnovers. West Chester also averages 16.2 assists and 10.0 steals per game, along with 2.8 blocks per game. The Golden Rams' opponents enter play averaging 62.7 points per game on 37.1% shooting from the field and 24.7% from beyond the arc.
Individually, Stein is first on the team in scoring, rebounding, and steals after a strong effort on Monday night, now averaging 9.7 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 1.6 steals per game.
Marianna Papazoglou (North Wildwood, N.J./Wildwood Catholic) and
Macie McCracken (North Wildwood, N.J./Wildwood) are second and third on the team in scoring, averaging 9.3 and 9.2 points per game, respectively.
Kimi Sayson (Oceanport, N.J./Shore Regional) and Ava Mazur (Linwood, N.J./Mainland Regional) are tied for first on the team in assists, averaging 2.6 helpers to go along with 5.5 and 4.7 points per game.
Youth Movement
West Chester has scored 1,275 points (63.8) so far this season, and 694 (54.4 %) of those points have come from the Golden Rams freshman class, as the newcomers, averaging 34.7 points per game, led by Stein's 9.7 points per game and McCracken's 9.2 per game.
The Gauntlet
Wednesday night is West Chester's fourth game in seven days, after playing its third in five days on Monday night against Millersville in a rescheduled game from January 27. West Chester is 1-2 during this stretch and is set to face a well-rested Kutztown squad that has not played in nearly a week, with their last game coming on January 29 against Mansfield.
Series History
West Chester is 51-40 all-time against Kutztown after going 1-3 in the last four meetings, including a 49-46 loss in Hollinger earlier in January for its first home loss to the Golden Bears since 2022. West Chester is looking to avoid a sweep at the hands of Kutztown, something that has not happened since the 2022 season, when Kutztown won 64-53 at home and 75-51 in Hollinger as part of a five-game winning streak over the Golden Rams.
Scouting Kutztown
Kutztown (12-8, 8-5) enters play following a 90-66 win over Mansfield in Keystone Arena last Thursday night, as the Golden Bears enjoyed a bye on Saturday at the end of the first half of PSAC East play. Kutztown jumped out to a 23-16 lead after the first quarter and a 50-36 lead at the half en route to the 24-point home victory. Alexa Windish led Kutztown in scoring with 18 points on 6-of-6 shooting from beyond the arc, while Danae Ellzy and Olivia Smelas added 15 and 14 points, respectively. Kutztown shot 49.2 % (31-of-63) from the field, including an 11-of-21 (52.4 %) from three-point range, while also going 17-for-23 (73.9 %) from the free throw line, including a 7-for-10 effort in the second half.
For the year, Kutztown enters play averaging 62.9 points per game on 39.6 % shooting from the field and 28.9 % from beyond the arc, along with 68.8 % shooting at the free throw line. Kutztown also holds a +1.7 (38.3-36.6) lead in rebounding and an 18.5-18.0 (+0.5) lead in turnovers, averaging nearly 15 points per game off turnovers. Kutztown also averages 13.7 assists, 9.6 steals, and 4.7 blocks per game. Kutztown's opponents enter play on Wednesday averaging 56.1 points per game on 34.5 % shooting from the field and 28.0 % shooting from beyond the arc.
Individually, Leila Hurley and Ellzy are first and second on the team in scoring, averaging 10.2 and 9.7 points per game, while Madison Siggins is third, averaging 9.1 per game. Bella Quinn is first in assists, averaging 3.5 assists, 1.5 steals, and 6.2 points per game, while Smelas leads the team in rebounding, averaging 9.1 rebounds per game along with 6.9 points, 2.9 assists, 2.5 steals, and 1.4 blocks per game.
Up Next
West Chester will be back in action on Saturday afternoon at Shippensburg beginning at 1 p.m.
