Image: Elijah Allen and Mia Kozicki via wcugoldenrams.com (photos by Samantha Yothers and Scott Rowan, graphic by Billy Mills)
With the fall sports season coming to an end, it’s time to take a look at what’s coming to campus this winter. The West Chester University (WCU) Basketball program begins its 2024–2025 season looking to benefit from last year’s success and come away with a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) title. The men’s and women’s teams made PSAC tournament appearances, along with a National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) tournament appearance by the women’s team. Damien Blair, men’s head coach, and Kiera Wooden, women’s head coach, both seek their first PSAC winning season as head coaches for WCU.
Men’s Basketball
Blair enters his 17th season as the head coach of the men’s basketball team here at WCU. During his time with the Golden Rams, he was capable of leading his team to three PSAC championship game appearances and four NCAA tournament appearances. Blair’s men also achieved a feat of 12 playoff appearances in a row going all the way back to his third season in 2011 (excluding the 2020–2021 season canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic).
West Chester placed second in the PSAC preseason poll amongst nine teams in the PSAC East. East Stroudsburg University would be the only team ahead of the Golden Rams in this year’s preseason poll. Rival Millersville would be right behind WCU at third.
The Golden Rams ended their 2023–2024 season with a 15–7 record against PSAC opponents and a 19–11 overall record. The team qualified for the playoffs by defeating Shepherd University in the first round. There, they faced top-seeded PSAC East rival Lock Haven away from home. WCU’s season came to an unfortunate end as they fell short yet again at the quarterfinal stage of the tournament.
With the end of the 2023–24 season, Blair’s work was only beginning for this upcoming season. Following the absence of graduating seniors and transferring players, the men’s team welcomes six new players to its squad. Two of those players are freshmen, while the remaining four are incoming transfers. All six of these players are looking to find their spot within Blair’s rotation for the upcoming games this season.
WCU began its season with a trip to West Virginia. On Nov. 8 and 9, the Golden Rams participated in the Mountain East Conference (MEC)/PSAC Challenge, facing both West Liberty University and Wheeling University. The visiting Rams found themselves short in both contests, starting 0–2 on the year. On Nov. 16, WCU returned to action against Wilmington University for its first home game of the season. With that, the Golden Rams earned their first win at Hollinger Field House of the 2024–25 season. WCU now holds a 1-2 record with a meeting against Jefferson University on Nov. 20. Senior Elijah Allen leads the Golden Rams with an impressive 54 points across the three games. Junior transfer Davante Dennis falls right behind Allen with 38 points this season so far.
Women’s Basketball
Coming into the 2024–25 season, Wooden enters her 11th season as head coach for WCU. During her time with the Golden Rams, she led the team to five NCAA tournament appearances along with one PSAC championship game appearance. Wooden was also fortunate enough to see her team make the playoffs in eight of her last 10 seasons as head coach. In addition, she is a 3-time PSAC East Coach of the Year award winner.
The Golden Rams placed second in this year’s PSAC preseason poll. 2024 PSAC runners-up Lock Haven took the top spot in the East while Kutztown is right behind WCU at #3.
West Chester ended its 2023–24 season with an 18–4 conference record along with an overall of 24–7. The Golden Rams were more than impressive at home, going undefeated in 17 games. Qualifying for the PSAC tournament, the team reached the semifinals before falling to eventual winner Gannon University. After its exit from the PSAC tournament, WCU earned a bid to the NCAA tournament as the seventh seed in the Atlantic Regional. The Golden Rams ultimately fell short of Fairmount University, ending their season.
Wooden’s work for the 2024–25 season began by welcoming four new players to its roster. Three of those players are freshmen while the remaining player comes as a transfer. The four players look to make an impact on the program and lead the Golden Rams to another multi-tournament appearance season.
The WCU women’s basketball team began its season with a 0–3 record. First, the team traveled to West Virginia to face both West Virginia State University and the University of Charleston. Wooden’s team fell short in both games, starting the season off to a 0–2 record. On Nov. 14, the Golden Rams traveled to Philadelphia to face off against Holy Family University. The visiting Rams yet again fell short in a competitive contest away from home. WCU now holds a 0–3 record with PSAC play around the corner.
Senior Michelle Kozicki leads the team in points with 54 across the three games. Senior Anna McTamney and sophomore Erin Daley are also up there in points with a respective 51 and 29 after three games.
West Chester returns to action against Wilmington University in its 2024–25 home opener on Nov. 18 before traveling to Slippery Rock University for its PSAC opener.
Billy Mills is a fourth-year Media and Culture major with minors in Communications and Music Production.