On Saturday afternoon, the West Chester University women’s basketball team’s outstanding season came to an unfortunate close. After continuously wowing us throughout the season with miraculous comebacks and dominated victories, the magic came to an end Saturday in a 104-82 lost to Edinboro University.
The playoff run began Tuesday with a game at Hollinger Field House against Kutztown University. This was the third meeting between the two squads, as they were both fighting for a trip to the championship game. This game was exactly what you would expect, fas-paced, scrappy, and aggressive. Kutztown came out firing, shooting the ball above 50 percent from the field in the first half, while WCU also shot well at 40 percent. Early foul trouble for sophomore Anna Kuntz and sophomore Jasmen Clark resulted in extremely limited minutes throughout the first half for the two starters. But captain and leader all season, Brittany Sicinski, stayed efficient as always, and helped keep the Rams close. Sicinski shot 3-for-5 from the field and 4-for-7 from the line in the first half giving her 11 points after twenty. At the buzzer, Kutztown led the Rams 42-36.
Right from the start of the second half, WCU came out firing. The Rams quickly regained the lead just two minutes in, as their shooting percentage rose. Every time it seemed West Chester was going to pull away, Kutztown would hit a clutch jumper or sniff out a timely turnover to pull back. After a few small lead changes, West Chester finally began to pull away on costly Kutztown turnovers. West Chester’s lead grew with great foul shooting in the last seven minutes and the Rams topped Kutztown, 86-74, sealing a spot in Edinboro on Saturday for the Final Four.
West Chester finds its success in a few simple keys that have stayed true all season. “We just need to play as a team, play fundamental basketball, and play relaxed and confident,” explained Ely.
Unfortunately, that is much easier said then done in front of a packed Edinboro crowd in the Final Four.
Saturday’s game went exactly as expected, a packed house. The game started off with Edinboro taking control and, unfortunately, never looking back. Through the first half, Edinboro shot the ball extremely well, especially from behind the arc where they shot 54 percent. The Edinboro lead grew throughout the first half, but West Chester continued to battle like they always do, not allowing the lead to get too far away from them. At half, the Rams trailed by 16.
Although WCU improved their shooting in the second half to 50 percent from the field, Edinboro countered by raising the field goal percentage to 68 percent, posting 55 second-half points. The Rams battled their hardest, never giving up hope, but it was Edinboro’s day. Sickinski finished with 26 and Ely contributed 16 as the Rams miracle season slipped away in a 104-82 loss. Edinboro’s Lauren Hippo shot extremely well, dropping 29 points and grabbing seven boards.
Although the Rams came up short to the goal they had hoped to accomplish, so many things will be taken from this excellent season. In late October, when the official PSAC preseason prediction’s were released, WCU ranked No. 4 in the PSAC East. Now, on Mar. 8, WCU finishes with a 19-9 record, 12-3 in conference play, and 2nd in the PSAC East, proving the resilience and determination of this squad.
Ely, Sicinski, and Junior Kendall Benovy were honored with individual accomplishments this week as well. Ely and Sicinski were selected for first team all PSAC east and Benovy was selected for second team all PSAC East. For Sicinski, this is her first time being selected for first team, last year she was chosen as second team all PSAC East. For Ely and Benovy, this is both of their first selections to either team. Congratulations to all three of these players on extremely successful seasons.
The biggest thing to take away from this season? The future. Looking back to the beginning of the season, many questions were raised on the starting lineups, the bench, and really how successful this team could be.
Today, those questions are all answered. This tightly knit, young and energetic starting five is hungry and just getting started. West Chester will return all five starters next year, and most of their bench, all in search of the prized PSAC championship. Congratulations to the Rams on turning heads all year long and showing the success that can come through teamwork and fundamentals. We will certainly be in for a treat come October 2014.
AJ Arcaini is a second-year student majoring in communication studies with a minor in journalism. He can be reached at AA 788494@wcupa.edu