GLENSIDE, Pa. – The Arcadia University women's basketball team suffered a 71-63 setback to Wesley in non-conference action Sunday afternoon at Alumni Gymnasium. The Knights fell to 3-2 on the season, while the Wolverines moved to 4-1.
HOW IT HAPPENED: Senior
Maureen Fiocca helped Arcadia get off to a fast start with nine points as part of a game-opening 11-2 run over the first 3:38 of the first quarter. Wesley responded with a 13-4 run to tie the contest at 15 with 2:42 left in the opening frame before the squads traded buckets the rest of the way. A three from sophomore
Olivia Roseman that ended that Wolverine run proved to be the difference as the Knights held a 22-19 lead after 10 minutes of play.
An Alexus Stroud three to open the second quarter tied the contest at 22, and sparked a 14-4 run that gave Wesley its first lead of the day. Freshman
Courtney Hoffman drained a three to put an end to the run before Fiocca sandwiched a three of her own around a pair of layups vaulting Arcadia back in front 36-33 with 1:27 left in the opening half. The visitors scored the final seven points of the half for a 40-36 halftime lead.
The second half started much like the first, as Arcadia opened the third quarter on an 11-3 run opened by a
Susan Bossler three. The sophomore put the Knights back in the lead just over three and a half minutes into the stanza with the first of back-to-back layups. A layup from sophomore
Camille Menns with 1:54 left in the frame put Arcadia up 53-48, however Wesley went on to score the final eight points of the quarter to take a 56-53 lead they wouldn't relinquish.
The Knights pulled within one twice in the fourth quarter, first following a pair of Fiocca free throws that opened the frame then on a jumper from the fifth-year senior with 7:05 to go. An 8-10 performance from the free throw line down the stretch helped the Wolverines hang on for the win.
ARCADIA LEADERS: Fiocca recorded her fourth straight 20-plus point game with 26 points on 10 of 23 (43.5%) shooting from the floor; she also tied senior
Imani Alston for the team-lead in rebounds with seven. Bossler posted 16 points for the Knights on 7-16 (43.8%) shooting; she has reached double-figures in every game this season.
MAKING HISTORY: Fiocca moved into sixth on Arcadia's all-time scoring list passing Tracey Jones. Fiocca has 827 career points. Her five steals in the game moved her into ninth all-time with 108.
WESLEY LEADERS: Tiyanna Gibbs led the Wolverines with 17 points on 7-12 (58.3%) shooting while being joined in double figured by Stroud (15) and Monshea Newsome-Murray (13). Gibbs completed the double-double with a game-high 12 rebounds.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS: Arcadia shot 36.1% from the field and 27.3% from distance while going 5-6 at the charity stripe. Wesley shot 40% for the game, but just 25.9% from beyond the arc while converting 12 of 17 free throws. The battle in the paint was even as each team scored 36 points down low. The Knights took advantage of 25 Wolverine turnovers by scoring 22 points. Depth proved to be a factor as Wesley's bench outscored Arcadia's 24-9.
