SHEPHERDSTOWN, W.Va.  – Graduate student forward Sydney Clayton (Frederick, Md./St. John's) scored a game-high 26 points to lead Shepherd University (23-6) to a 61-51 win over West Chester (9-19) in first round action of the PSAC Women's Basketball Tournament at the Butcher Center on Monday night, 

Clayton hit on 11-of-18 field goals with a 4-of-7 effort from the foul line. She also added 11 rebounds to post her 11th double-double of the season.  

Junior guard Abby Beeman (Ridgeley, W.Va./Frankfort) added 14 points, seven assists, and six rebounds. Graduate student guard Marley McLaughlin (Haymarket, Va./Battlefield)  also tossed in 14 points 

Leah Johnson had 12 points and 11 rebounds to lead the Golden Rams. Justyn Roberts added 11 points and 11 boards, while Sarah Holweg also had 11 points. 

Shepherd had a 32-25 lead at the break. 

Shepherd shot 40 percent (24-60) from the floor with a 33.3 percent effort (5-15) from three-point range for the game. The Rams connected on 53.3 percent (8-15) of their free throws. 

West Chester hit on 33.9 percent (20-59) from the floor with a 30.8 percent effort (4-13) from three-point range for the game. The Golden Rams connected on 63.6 percent (7-11) of their free throws. 

West Chester had a 46-35 edge on the boards.  Shepherd forced 18 turnovers and committed 11.  

The Rams return to action on Wednesday when they travel to second-seeded Bloomsburg for a  6 p.m. contest for quarterfinal action of the PSAC Tournament. 

Notes: Shepherd improved to 12-2 at the Butcher Center this season … Shepherd's 23 wins this season are the second most in program history (The Rams went 24-7 in 2007-08) … Abby Beeman's seven assists tonight give her 225 for the season as she broke her previous Shepherd single-season mark of 219 set in 2019-20.