While the West Chester women’s basketball team is starting to prepare for another PSAC post-season run and a possible birth into the NCAA Division II National Tournament. Golden Ram Senior center Carolyn Muldoon is quietly finishing-up an outstanding four-year collegiate career. In doing so, both Muldoon and her teammates look prime for “playoff basketball” as host West Chester defeated East Stroudsburg 80-51, last Wednesday night at Hollinger Field House. The victory assured West Chester a PSAC East Playoff berth for the ninth straight year. West Chester is now 13-9 (8-0) in the PSAC Eastern Conference.
Being guarded by an undersized front-line and a freshman player, offensively Muldoon took advantage of her experience, size and strength, scoring 19 points and collecting 12 rebounds.
Defensively she keyed a Golden Rams full court press that forced 18 East Stroudsburg turnovers.
“There were times, early in the game, when we had some mental breakdowns on defense. I knew if we stepped it up on defense, we would be fine because our offense was there. We switched defensively to a 1-3-1 press and they had nothing for it. Their point guard was totally flustered and hence the 18 turnovers on their part,” said Muldoon, who is the 16th player in school history to record over 900 career points, and with at least six games remaining in the season will likely eclipse the 1,000 point plateau for her career.
“If you think about every women’s basketball player that has played here like (graduated All-American) Kiera Manlove, it’s just unbelievable and I’m honored to be in that top percentile,” continued Muldoon, who already holds the record, at Interboro High School, as career all-time scoring leader in Delaware County girls high school basketball history.
Offensively, Muldoon was aided by sophomore forward Elise McCloy (18 points) and guard Kiesha Mack (15 points). Mack became the 15 player in school history to also record over 900 career points and will return next season.
“Elise McCloy did a good job stepping it up today, Kiesha continued her hot shooting, and (Carolyn Muldoon) with her double-double gave us nice balance,” said Head Coach Deirdre Kane, whose club has won five straight games.
Even more astounding may be how the Lady Golden Rams found a way to salvage their record after a devastating 1-6 start to the season, in November, mainly marked by injuries, unfamiliarity and a lack of execution. Now just four months later, Kane and company find themselves on the cusp of capturing their second straight PSAC East crown.
“We had a horrific start at 1-6 and I’m so proud of them because they could have folded but they just kept battling. It made them stronger; they battled through a lot of adversity… And I told them before tonight don’t wish you had that East Stroudsburg game back,” said Coach Kane.
Added the starting 6’0 Golden Rams Center, “These last six games are the last games I’ll ever play, these last six games are the games I’m going to remember. I know maybe the rest of the team doesn’t look at it like that because they have other seasons to play. But for us seniors, Jessica Myers, Greta Neff, Shauna Palmer, and myself, these last six games mean everything….Four years ago, I didn’t envision a 1-6 start and when ever someone asks about our record I feel like I have to explain it to them a little bit. And if we could win another PSAC East championship that would be great, but I rather go 1-6 when we did verses doing that now having won six of our last seven games. ”
Kane, along with her assistant coaches Jim Stinger and Aesha McGibboney, feel the team is really starting to peak at the perfect point in the season.
“I’m thrilled with the way we’re playing, especially defensively, and I’m really looking forward to the challenges that await us,” remarked Kane.