SLIPPERY ROCK — When he was needed, Maurice Douglas was there — in more ways than one.

The junior guard scored 25 points — draining six treys — and replaced foul-plagued Kyle Camper during a critical stretch in the second half as Slippery Rock University defeated West Chester, 76-63, in men's basketball Sunday at Morrow Fieldhouse.

The Rock (9-4) began the day having lost four of its last five and scored a season-low 57 points in a 64-57 home loss to Millersville Saturday.

"This win gives us momentum going into conference play," SRUcoach Kevin Reynolds said. "We're happy with where we're at, but not satisfied.

"We're 9-4, off to the best start here since 1962, but we could have won a couple more."

They may have lost Sunday had it not been for Douglas.

West Chester (9-4) entered the game having won five of six, including a victory at previously unbeaten Mercyhurst Saturday. The Rams fell behind by 19, 34-15, with 4:19 left in the first half Sunday before getting back in the contest with a 10-0 run before halftime.

That surge continued when West Chester scored the first eight points of the second half to pull within 38-33. The visitors trailed only 47-43 when Camper went to the bench with his fourth foul and 12:54 still on the clock.

Douglas shifted from the two-guard position to running the point, and SRUhad a 64-54 lead when Camper returned with 3:28 remaining.

"In my opionion, Kyle Camper is the best point guard in NCAADivision II,"Douglas said. "But it's my job to back him up in situations like that. I'm the backup point guard and I can handle that role."

"Maurice had a great game,"Reynolds agreed. "He can run the offense for us. He was a big part of the offense today."

Michael Evans Jr. paced The Rock with 26 points, hitting seven treys. Douglas had 25 points, seven rebounds and five assists. Camper had 13 assists and only three turnovers after posting five assists and 10 turnovers in Saturday's loss.

Denell Stephens had 17 points for SRU, which begins PSACWest play Wednesday at Mercyhurst. The Rock's final 14 games are against PSAC West foes.

Of SRU's 25 field goals, 13 were treys.

"That's a big part of our game and Coach won't take that from us,"Douglas said. "If we have an open look, he wants us to shoot. If we don't, we're coming out of the game."

West Chester 89, SRU(women) 74 — The Rock (5-8) never led, but made it interesting.Trailing 61-41 with 12:15 remaining, SRUpulled within 75-68 with 3:33 left as Grove City High School graduate Julie Molloy sank her sixth trey of the day.Molloy finished with a season-high 21 points, but her team got no closer than that seven-point deficit."A little too late,"Rock coach Laurel Heilman said of the rally. "We kept fighting, though. We were down 10 with eight minutes to go against Millersville (Saturday)_ and I felt like we were down 30. We just gave up."Tonight, the quit wasn't there. But the intensity and passion weren't there at the start of this game, either."Molloy and Sasha Sales lead The Rock women with 10.3 points per game. Sales contributed 14 points and 11 rebounds Sunday. Nikki Presto added 14 points."Julie doesn't just spot up and take the 3 all the time anymore,"Heilman said. "She's added the dimension of penetration to the basket. She can get there on one dribble. That's what's making her such a dangerous offensive player."Defense lacked in The Rock's game Sunday as the team allowed a season-worst 89 points. Millersville posted a 60-48 win at SRUSaturday, Molloy leading The Rock with 10 points."We missed a bunch of layups in this game and the shooting touch isn't always going to be there,"Heilman said. "That's why you need the 'D.' We need to bring that every night and we didn't today."Going into conference play, I feel like our halfcourt game is good, but we struggle against pressure. We've got a bunch of juniors and seniors out there, so that's a little disappointing."

Men's GameWESTCHESTER 63Isaiah McGhee 2-4 0-0 4, Ralph Hegamin 9-18 2-2 20, Kehinde Roberts 4-7 5-7 14, Sandy Tanner 5-10 5-6 17, Theil Benn 0-0 0-2 0, Kevin Stokes 0-3 0-0 0, Roger White 0-3 0-0 0, Anthony Haley 0-5 0-0 0, Greg Maugle 1-2 0-0 2, Sam Scott 1-3 4-4 6.

Totals: 22-55 16-21 63

SLIPPERYROCK 76Kyle Camper 0-6 1-2 1, Maurice Douglas 7-16 5-6 25, Michael Evans Jr. 9-17 1-4 26, Maron Brown 0-0 0-0 0, Denell Stephens 6-12 5-8 17, Gary Satterwhite 1-3 1-4 3, Jamar Scales 2-5 0-0 4. Totals: 25-59 13-24 76

West Chester 25 38 —63Slippery Rock 36 40 —763-point goals: Roberts, Tanner 2; Douglas 6, Evans Jr. 7

Wednesday: Slippery Rock at Mercyhurst, 7:30 p.m.

Women's GameWESTCHESTER 89Allison Hostetter 8-13 2-3 19, Dana Weems 10-17 5-6 25, Megan Stewart 2-6 0-0 5, Janelle Garber 7-11 8-12 22, Dominique Adams 2-5 0-0 5, Mary Serratelli 0-0 0-0 0, Renata Neal 2-3 0-0 4, Bridget Carlin 1-1 0-0 3, Jill Keefer 1-5 3-4 6, Angela Altemose 0-0 0-0 0.

Totals: 33-61 18-25 89

SLIPPERYROCK 74Amanda Nero 2-3 0-0 5, Julie Molloy 7-16 1-2 21, Nikki Presto 6-12 2-4 14, Alissa Schake 1-5 1-2 3, Jess Schake 2-4 0-0 4, Sandra Busser 2-2 0-2 4, Kendra Kutz 0-1 0-2 0, Haley Gaidosh 1-2 0-0 2, Chere' Marshall 1-7 4-4 7, Grace Palucis 0-0 0-0 0, Sasha Sales 7-15 0-0 14.

Totals: 29-67 8-16 74

West Chester 45 44 —89Slippery Rock 29 45 —743-point goals: Hostetter, Stewart, Adams, Carlin, Keefer; Nero, Molloy 6, Marshall

Wednesday: Slippery Rock at Mercyhurst, 5:30 p.m.