Women’s Basketball Slated Eighth in D2SIDA Atlantic Region Media Poll

CALIFORNIA, Pa. – West Chester University's women's basketball squad is slated eighth in this week's D2SIDA Atlantic Region media poll and crack the Top 10 for the first time this season. West Chester (3-1, 1-1 PSAC) opened its Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) schedule by splitting a pair of games on the road at Gannon and Clarion. The Golden Rams nearly pulled off the win at Gannon, but their fourth rally fell short in a 76-73 loss. West Chester bounced back in impressive fashion with a 106-71 victory the following day against host Clarion. The Golden Rams received contributions from everyone on the squad as the 106 points marked the first time that the team had scored over 100 points in a game since 2014 and were the most by a West Chester women's basketball team since 2000-2001. Sr., F Mia Hopkins (Pittston, Pa./Pittston) is averaging a double-double thus far, producing 15.3 points to go along with 12 rebounds (Second in PSAC). Meanwhile, senior Porscha Speller (Lancaster, Pa./Lancaster Catholic) leads the team with 21 points per contest (Fourth in the PSAC) as well as 4.8 boards. Fellow guard Destiny Jefferson (Scranton, Pa./West Scranton) tallied a career-high 20 points in West Chester's victory over host Clarion on Sunday. The freshman made a difference in the conference win with 20 points (8-8 FG, 2-3 FT) in addition to four rebounds for the Golden Rams. West Chester heads to Holy Family University after the Thanksgiving break. Tipoff is set for Sunday inside the Campus Center Gymnasium at noon. D2SIDA Atlantic Region Media Rankings 1. IUP - 60 points - previously 1 2. California - 53 - 3 3. Edinboro - 43 - 8 4. Johnson C. Smith - 42 - T-4 5. Virginia Union - 40 - 2 6. Glenville State - 27 - T-4 7. Bowie State - 20 - 9 8. West Chester - 18 - RV 9. East Stroudsburg - 16 - 6 10. Gannon - 5 - NR