Box Score

Millersville, Pa. — Late in the first half, prospects of a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Eastern Division opening win looked dim for the Millersville women's basketball team. The resilient Marauders showed their grit, though, recovering from the early deficit to post a 68-57 win at Pucillo Gymnasium on Wednesday night.

With the game tied at 16 midway through the half, West Chester (10-4, 0-1 PSAC East) put the pressure on, using offense from Janelle Garber, Allison Hostetter, and Jillian Keefer to open up a 26-16 lead. The Marauder offense was stagnant during the 10-0 WCU run, but that quickly changed. Momentum started to swing with Mashira Newman and Ashley Moyer spearheading a half-ending 9-0 run that covered 4:25. Moyer had five of her season-high 14 points in the run and Newman collected the other four, as Millersville (11-3, 1-0 PSAC East) headed to the half down only one, 26-25.

The buckets kept on coming at the start of the second half and by the 6:06 mark of the second half, Millersville held its first double-digit lead of the night, 43-32, off of a Raquel Green lay-up. The Black and Gold stretched the lead to as many as 19, wearing down the Golden Rams methodically. Millersville's offense, which failed to score 60 points in four straight games from Dec. 21, to Jan. 3, put forth its third straight effective game. The Marauders have scored 72, 69, and 68 in their last three contests.

Newman, the reigning PSAC East Freshman of the Week, continued her recent streak of solid performances by registering game-highs of 18 points and six steals. Green tallied 17 on 8-of-9 shooting, as both Newman and Green reached double-figures in scoring for the fifth consecutive game. Moyer's 14 points were a welcomed sight, as the senior from Lebanon, Pa., nailed a season-best four 3-pointers. Jenna Craig had a game-high 11 rebounds for her 29th career double-figure rebound game. She's recorded four double-figure rebound games in her last six.

West Chester had a trio of players finish with double-figures, as Hostetter had a team-high 15, while Garber added 13, and Keefer 10. Millersville defeated the Golden Rams in a PSAC East opener for just the second time in school history. The Marauders are now 2-5 all-time against WCU in PSAC openers. MU also snapped a two-game losing streak to West Chester, after falling to the Golden Rams in a pair of overtime games a season ago.

Next up for Millersville is a visit from Kutztown. The Marauders knocked the Golden Bears out of the PSAC Tournament in the quarterfinal round last year and Saturday's game is the first meeting between the two schools since that game. Tip-off is scheduled for 1 p.m.