WCU Women Hold Off Millersville Late Charge, 64-57

The following is a press release from the West Chester University Athletic Department.

Alexandra Lennon led four scorers in double figures as second-seeded West Chester University held off a furious late rally from third-seed Millersville University en route to a 64-57 victory in the quarterfinal round of the 2012 PSAC Tournament inside Hollinger Field House Tuesday evening.
 
West Chester (21-6) advances to the conference semifinals and will take on fifth-ranked Edinboro (26-1) in the second semifinal contest at Edinboro University. The other semifinal will pit Bloomsburg (25-4) versus Indiana (Pa.) (22-5). Millersville ends its season at 16-11.
 
When two old rivals get together, sparks typically fly, and Tuesday’s playoff contest was no different. The game had a heightened level of intensity with bodies diving all over the hardwood for loose balls and emotions spilling over with clutch threes.
 
“I feel like it is the same thing with Millersville every year,” senior guard Allison Hostetter said afterwards.
 
With 15:04 left in the game, the Golden Rams held a commanding 23-point lead over the Marauders. However, the visitors began a systematic comeback that pulled Millersville to within five (62-57) with one minute to go. However, Mashira Newman missed a layup and a 3-point attempt, and Carly Gallagher turned the ball over in the final seconds as West Chester clung to its lead.
 
The Marauders held the Rams scoreless for a seven-minute stretch during their improbable march back into the game.
 
“I knew they would make a run,” said 25-year WCU head coach Deirdre Kane. “They always do. These games always go down to the wire.”
 
West Chester seemed frazzled by Millersville’s aggressive defense and up tempo play during the latter stages of the second half. The Rams were able to collect themselves after Kane called a timeout with 2:31 left and Millersville within six (60-54).
 
“You are always a little nervous,” Hostetter commented about the 23-point margin. “We just had to stay composed and run our offense. The clock was our friend. We just weren’t executing at the offensive end.”
 
“When they play in-your-shorts-defense, then they dictate the tempo,” Kane explained. “(Millersville) wasn’t letting us throw the ball around the perimeter.”
 
Sophomore guard Zona Smith, filling in on the second unit for injured Paige Elliott, scored a career-high 10 points on the strength of a pair of 3-pointers in the first half. West Chester was 7-for-9 from beyond the arc at one point in the first half.
 
“I was really nervous playing out of position,” Smith acknowledged. “And I normally don’t shoot 3-pointers at all. I just told myself that it is just basketball. It’s the same game I’ve been playing my whole life. “
 
The Golden Rams made 7 of 10 three’s in the first half altogether while holding the Marauders to a paultry 1-for-10 from downtown. The visitors mustered just 27.9 percent from the field on the night (19-for-68) and connected on only 5 of 26 three-balls.
 
A 3-pointer by Ambreelinne Ortman two minutes into the game broke a 2-all tie, and the game was never tied again. West Chester led throughout the rest of the game.
 
So, for the fourth time in the last five years, West Chester is headed back to the conference semifinals. It will be the Golden Rams’ 12th appearance in the semifinals overall. West Chester last advanced to the PSAC championship game in 2003. And facing the fifth-ranked Fighting Scots is not a concern of Kane’s.
 
“I’m just happy to playing anybody,” Kane beamed.
 
NOTES: West Chester is now 12-20 overall in the PSAC postseason tournament … West Chester and Millersville met up in the conference tournament for the third consecutive season … the Golden Rams are now 10-5 at home in the playoffs and 3-6 versus Millersville in the postseason … tonight’s win evened WCU’s record versus Millersville at home in the playoffs at 2-2 … the win marked the 80th career victory for this season’s senior class … they are the first senior class to reach 80 wins, and average a 20-win season for all four years, since the Class of 2004 … West Chester’s 21 wins are the most in a single season since the 2002-03 campaign (24) ... West Chester and Edinboro met earlier this season out in Edinbor, Pa. ... the Fighting Scots defeated the Golden Rams, 80-76.