Golden Rams Defeat Devils

Caitlin Shaw scored 20 points while Becca Ruggear recorded her first career double-double but the University of the Sciences women's basketball team lost to West Chester University 71-63 Tuesday night at the Bobby Morgan Arena

The Golden Rams improve to 2-0 with the win.  The Devils fall to 1-1. 

Shaw connected on seven of 11 shots from the field and was 6-for-8 from the free thorw line to account for her 20 points.   Ruggear came off the bench and had a career night, scoring 12 points and grabbing 12 rebounds to record her first collegiate double-double.   Colleen Christian added 11 points (three 'treys' and two free throws) for the Devils.  Alyssa Hamm led all players with seven assists. 

West Chester placed five players in double figures led by Megan Stewart's 19 points (5-12 FG, 4-5 3FG, 5-6 FT).  Allison Hostetter added 13 points and Jillian Keefer 12.  Alex Lennon and Ambreelinne Ortman had 10 points apiece.    Hostetter also led the Golden Rams with six rebounds while Stewart had six assists and five steals. 

The Devils made five turnovers in the first six minute as West Chester jumped out to a 22-8 lead which the Devils cut to ten 22-12 at the 11:21 mark and later to eight, 28-20 with 6:46 left in the period.   A golden Ram basket boosted the vistiros lead back up to ten 30-20 before the Devils closed out the period with a 10-5 run to cut the deficit in half 35-30 at the break.  

A'3-ball' by Stewart three minutes into the final 20 boosted the back to five 44-35 before the Devils went on a 12-2 run to take their first lead, 47-46, since the opening basket.  A layup by Hamm started the run , followed by two layups from Sarah Hickman.  A jumper from Shaw and a layup from Ruggear brought the Devils within one 46-45.  Ruggear followed with two free throws at the 12:09 mark to give the Devils a 47-46 lead.  

Two Devil turnovers then led to two layups, giving West Chester a three-point lead 50-47.   Sciences kept things close, with a Hamm free throw tying the game at 52-52 with 6:18 left before West Chester boosted their lead back up to four 58-54 with just under four minutes remaining.  The Devils came as close as two, 60-58 with 3:12 left buyt West Chester proved too strong down the stretch, outscoring USciences 11-5 over the final three mniutes to pull away with the eight point victory. 

Statistically speaking, both teams were fairly even.  West Chester shot slightly better (44.6% to 42.6%) and doubled up the hosts from long range (8-16, 50% to 4-17 (23.5%).  Both teams made 13 free throws with the Devils shooting 81.3% (13-16) to West Chester's 56.5% (13-23).  The two team also were even on the glass, with 34 rebounds apiece.  Sciences committed four more turnovers, 21-17 and had three fewer assists, 18-15. 

The women's basketball team returns to action on Tuesday, November 23, 2010 when they face their third consecutive PSAC opponent, Bloomsburg University in the first game of a women's-men's doubleheader at the Bobby Morgan Arena.  Tipoff is scheduled for around 6:00 p.m.