Women’s Basketball Earns a Win over Gannon to Begin Conference Play

WEST CHESTER, Pa. –West Chester's Madison Torresin (Mechanicsburg, Pa. / Cumberland Valley) registered the go-ahead bucket in the final 34 seconds to help the Golden Rams secure a 65-59 victory over Gannon University inside Hollinger Field House Saturday afternoon. The win marks West Chester's (1-2, 1-0 PSAC) first overall and Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference victory of the season. However, the Golden Rams were trailing by four points at the half as Gannon (0-4, 0-1 PSAC) knocked down 50 percent of its shots from behind the arc. Gannon's Maggie Mitchell lead either team in scoring, producing 23 points and four assists. After halftime, coach Kiera Wooden's team would outscore the Golden Knights by an 18-6 margin. Gannon would go cold from the outside, hitting only two threes to finish the game nine of 27 from downtown. Porscha Speller (Lancaster, Pa./Lancaster Catholic) and Torresin took advantage in the third quarter, going on a 7-0 run to extend the Golden Rams' lead. The Golden Knights answered in the fourth as the back-and-forth affair would go down to the wire with Speller finding an open Torresin for the layup to seal the win. Torresin did lead the squad in scoring, providing 16 points, six rebounds, and four steals. Stuffing the stat sheet for the Golden Rams was Speller. The junior accumulated 14 points, seven rebounds, six assist, and three steals this afternoon. Senior Tori Smick (Pilesgrove, N.J./Woodstown) chipped in nine points and and tied Speller with a team-high seven rebounds as well. Wooden's young squad kept the turnovers in check tonight with only 15, while forcing the Golden Knights into 22. Despite being outrebounded by 10, the Golden Rams managed to hold a 26-14 advantage in the paint. Additionally, West Chester made seven more free throws in the contest. The Golden Rams return to action tomorrow as they face PSAC opponent Clarion inside Hollinger Field House with tipoff set for 1 p.m.