WEST CHESTER, Pa. – An early lead, balanced scoring attack and some strong defensive play led the Bloomsburg University women's basketball team to a 67-55 victory over West Chester on Saturday afternoon.
The Huskies (17-8, 15-4 PSAC) took control in the first quarter by jumping out to a double-digit lead and had four different players score at least 12 points while the defense held the Golden Rams (7-15, 5-11 PSAC) to just 32.3% shooting on the night to earn the win.
Meghan Corridoni (Exeter, Pa./Holy Redeemer) led Bloomsburg with 18 points and added six rebounds while Katelin Starr (Berwick, PA/Berwick) finished with 13 points and eight boards. Emma Saxton (York, Pa./Central York) had a well-balanced game scoring 12 points, dishing out seven assists and hauling in seven rebounds. Megan Fisher (New Holland, Pa./Garden Spot) also had 12 points and knocked down a pair of threes throughout the contest.
The Huskies' double-digit lead after the first period was a result of some solid shooting as the team was 9-16 (56.25%) from the field to gain a 21-10 advantage. The Golden Rams did take the first lead of the ballgame after knocking down a three on their opening possession, but Bloomsburg responded with an 11-0 run. A jumpshot by West Chester's Kyra Jefferson pulled the home team back within a six-point game with 4:20 left, but the Huskies again responded with a run, this time a scoring margin of 10-2 to make the game 21-7 with under a minute left. The Golden Rams knocked down a three to make it 21-10 after the first.
In the second quarter, West Chester cut into Bloomsburg's lead a bit, but the Huskies were able to answer every time the Golden Rams made it a three-possession game in order to maintain their advantage. West Chester scored the first two baskets of the second quarter to make it 21-14, but Lauren Kirsch (Palmyra, PA/Lower Dauphin) nailed a big three-point shot to extend the Huskies' lead. A few possessions later, the lead was cut to seven again before Corridoni made a field goal. The Golden Rams came within seven points two more times in the frame, but a pair of free throws by Saxton and a jumper by Fisher made it a 32-23 game at halftime.
Bloomsburg's nine-point halftime lead was cut to five quickly in the third when West Chester scored on its first two possessions. However, the Huskies then went on a 13-4 run to make it a 45-31 game with 5:25 left in the third. Bloomsburg shot 58.33% (7-12) in the frame and outscored West Chester 18-14 to take a 50-37 lead into the final quarter.
The Huskies were able to extend their lead to as much as 18 in the final period of play and held onto their advantage for the remainder of the game to capture the road win.
Aside from shooting and strong defensive play, controlling the paint was a big factor for Bloomsburg in the win. The Huskies outscored the Golden Rams 34-20 in the paint and won the rebounding category by a final tally of 42-30. Bloomsburg also scored 15 points on second-chance opportunities.
As of Saturday, Bloomsburg (17-8, 15-4 PSAC) sits in the No. 2 spot behind Kutztown (20-5, 13-3 PSAC) in the Eastern Division of the PSAC.
The Huskies will host Mansfield (7-15, 6-12 PSAC) Monday evening at 5:30 PM in their next contest.
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