WEST CHESTER - Phoenixville’s girls basketball team divided two games at the 20th Annual West Chester Christmas Classic at West Chester University last Thursday and Friday, Dec. 27-28, 2012.

The Phantoms dropped their opening game to Villa Maria Academy of Malvern, 57-38, and then fell to Bishop McDevitt of Wyncote in a closer contest, 43-37, to fall to 3-6 to start the season.

The Phantoms resumed their Pioneer Athletic Conference schedule Thursday evening at home against Pottsgrove in a Frontier Division game and will be on the road against Owen J. Roberts tonight at 7:30.

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Bishop McDevitt 43, Phoenixville 37: Jada Boyce poured in 21 points and took down 17 rebounds, but it was not enough as the Phantoms fell to the Lancers in their second game of the 20th Annual West Chester Christmas Classic at West Chester University Friday afternoon.

Boyce, who scored 17 of her points in the second half, made seven field goals and shot 7-for-13 at the free throw line. She also blocked two shots and had one steal. Taylor Jefferis drained a pair of treys for six points. Gabby Duda finished with five rebounds and four points. Mary Sinnott chipped in with four points for the Phantoms.

Annie Rubino and Bailey Stover each made three steals.

Chanel Brooks (20 points, 16 rebounds) and Sierra DaCosta (17 points) paced the Lancers (2-4) while 6-foot-2 junior center Damaris Hills totaled eight rebounds and four points.

Phoenixville was scheduled to meet Germantown Friends in the seventh-place game of the eight-team tournament at 3 p.m.

Saturday, but the game was postponed due to the snow.

Phoenixville, which missed injured senior standout Aubree Flagg with an ankle injury against the Lancers, had trouble with its shooting. The Phantoms shot 12-for-57 from the floor and 11-for-17 at the foul line. Bishop McDevitt shot 13-for-43 from the field and 14-for-28 at the foul line.

The Phantoms fell behind 7-0 at the outset, but they recovered to take a 10-7 lead and then trailed by just four points at the end of the first period, 14-10.

McDevitt led 19-13 at haltime and was ahead 30-27 after three stanzas.

“We have to attack the basket when we don’t have a perimeter game,” said Phoenixville coach Michele Dunleavy. “We can’t always get the ball inside to Jada and Duda. Jada Boyce is a phenomenal athlete, but she can’t do it all. We have to get our feet set and hit the outside shots.”

The eight-team field consisted of Abington Friends, Bishop McDevitt, Central (Philadelphia), Germantown Friends, Oley Valley, Phoenixville, Susquehanna Twp. (Harrisburg area) and Villa Maria Academy.

McDevitt won the rebounding battle, 40-35, but Phoenixville took better care of the basketball. The Phantoms committed 15 turnovers to 23 by their foes.