West Chester Upends No. 7 IUP In PSAC Semifinals, 63-59

Box Score

BLOOMSBURG, Pa. – Jr, G Dallas Ely (Montrose, Pa./Montrose) poured in a game-high 26 points as the West Chester Golden Rams pulled off a major upset over No. 7 Indiana (Pa.), 63-59, in a PSAC semifinal matchup at Bloomsburg University Saturday afternoon.
 
West Chester (24-4) avenged a 22-point loss to Indiana at home back in early January and punched its ticket into the PSAC Championship Game against California (Pa.) Sunday afternoon at 1:10 p.m. That championship game can be seen live on PCN. Check local listings for channel information.
 
West Chester will play for the PSAC Championship for just the second time in school history. The only other time the Rams have ventured this far into the conference tournament was back in 2003 when they lost to Cal, 58-54. That year, Kiera Manlove-Wooden was West Chester's center of attention. This year, Wooden leads the Rams back to the promised land – only this time as head coach.
 
"I think I'm going to tell them to enjoy the moment," Wooden said when asked about her message to the club tomorrow afternoon. "These opportunities do not come along too often. It's a big stage, but don't let it overwhelm you."
 
The Golden Rams trailed by as many as 10 points late in the first half, 31-21. However, they came back with a 6-0 run, including a 3-pointer by Ely with a one second left on the clock to trail by only four heading into the half.
 
Indiana (25-3) got off to a quick a start in the game, but shot just 31-percent following the opening 10 minutes, allowing the Golden Rams to keep it close down the stretch and eventually take the lead.
 
Ely was held to eight points in the previous meeting and came out with a bang to provide her team with a chance for a conference championship. Teammate Chikisha Steele-Hook (Harrisburg, Pa./Susquehanna Twp.) recorded her seventh double-double of the season with 10 points and 11 rebounds to give the Golden Rams leverage to put the game away.
 
Despite being held to three points, Brittany Sicinski (Downingtown, Pa./Downingtown West) battled in the paint for a team-high 12 rebounds, including a key rebound to the wrap the win with 12 seconds left.
 
"I thought Dallas hit some key baskets at key times," Wooden said about her first-team All-PSAC East guard. "That's what we ask her to do. But, I also thought that Tiff (Tiffany Johnson) came in and settled the team down and got to the hole consistently, and Anna's (Anna Kuntz) play at the beginning of the second half was crucial. Everybody did their job today."
 
Crimson Hawks' Lindsay Stamp, the PSAC West player of the year, was held to 13 points (25 points previously) to lead IUP in scoring. Leslie Stapleton, who put up a 20-spot on the board against the Golden Rams in early January, was limited to half that with 10 while Ashley Stoner contributed 10 as well.