Bloomsburg Drops PSAC Quarterfinal Playoff Game Tuesday

WEST CHESTER —The Bloomsburg University women's basketball team lost to West Chester, 54-53, on Tuesday night in a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) quarterfinal playoff game.

The Huskies end their season with a 12-13 record snapping an 18-year mark of finishing with a record of .500 or better.

Bloomsburg jumped out to an 18-8 lead in the first 10 minutes of the game behind six points from Jamie Kauczka (Kingston/Wyoming Valley West) and four points from Dana Thompson (Pocono Lake/Allentown, NJ). Later in the first half Bloomsburg pushed its lead to 14 points, 29-15, with 6:07 to play when Kauczka hit two free throws.

The Golden Rams then went 9-0 over the next three minutes to close the gap to five points, 29-24. Bloomsburg, though, closed out the half with a three-pointer from Gabe Miskinis (Lewistown/Lewistown) and a jumper from Meggi Rothermel (Minersville/Nativity BVM) for a six point lead, 34-28.

West Chester opened the second by scoring the first five points of the period to cut the deficit to one, 34-33, with 17:32 left in the game.

Rothermel broke the run for the Huskies with a three-pointer at the 14:58 mark to give Bloomsburg a 37-33 lead. Later in the half, West Chester's Keisha Mack hit back-to-back three pointers to give the home its first lead since the opening minute of the game. Bloomsburg then put together a 6-0 run highlighted by a three-pointer from Kelly Burkhart (Sayre/Athens) and a three free throws from Miskinis for a 45-41 lead with 9:15 to play.

Later in the half, Bloomsburg's Thompson converted a three-point play to give the Huskies a 52-46 at the 4:17 mark.

Staci O'Byle and Mack hit back to back baskets to cut the Huskies' lead to 52-50 with 3:48 left. After Kauczka hit one of two free throws to give Bloomsburg a 53-50 edge, O'Byle hit one of two from the foul line at 2:53 to make it 53-51. Mack then scored at the 1:59 mark for West Chester to tie the game at 53-53.

Then with 1:05 left to play O'Byle was fouled for West Chester and hit one of two free throws to win it for the Golden Rams.

Bloomsburg was in scoring by Rothermel with 13 points, while Thompson added 11. Kauczka scored nine points and 11 rebounds.

West Chester was led by 17 points from Keisha Mack and 16 from Dominque Lewis.