Women's Basketball | 11/26/2011 11:42:00 PM

Box Score BOX SCORE

FAIRBANKS, Aka. – The West Liberty University women's basketball team nearly shot the northern lights out Saturday night in rallying to an 84-78 victory against Western State (Colo.) on the final day of the University of Alaska's North Star Invitational.
    Coach Lynn Ullom's Hilltoppers (5-2) scorched the twine at a 64 percent clip (16-of-25) from the field after intermission, storming back from a double-digit deficit in the second half to post their second tournament victory in three nights.
    The taller Mountaineers (1-5) put West Liberty in an early hole, jetting out to an 11-0 lead less than five minutes after the opening tip.
    Taking full advantage of a 29-10 first-half rebounding edge, Western State led by as many as 13 points in the opening period before settling for a 41-33 margin at the break.
    The Colorado squad pushed the lead back out to 11 points in the early minutes of the second half before the Hilltoppers finally found the range and began closing the gap.
    A Jenn Cessna 3-pointer at the 12:08 mark produced the only tie of the game, 53-53, and Chelsea Bradley gave West Liberty its first lead, 55-53, with a pair of free throws at 11:12.
    Western State went back in front briefly but the Hilltoppers – who drained 4-of-5 3-point shots in the second half – went ahead to stay, 60-58, on Bri Kamarec's third bonus bomb of the night with 8:18 on the clock.
    West Liberty pulled away slowly but steadily down the stretch, taking its largest lead of the night, 82-73, with less than 30 seconds remaining.
    Hillary Southworth poured in 16 of her career-high 22 points in the second half to lead the Hilltoppers while the two freshman guards – Kamarec and Bradley – each posted career-high 13-point nights. Kayla Ayers added a dozen points and led the team with 7 rebounds.
    Nikki Trujillo led all scorers for Western State with 24 points but was held to just 3 points in the second half. Rangy center Katie Hall muscled home 19 points and collected 16 rebounds in a losing cause.
    West Liberty won't have much time to rest after playing its fifth game in eight nights. The Hilltoppers return home Sunday and will be right back on the road again Tuesday night with a crucial West Virginia Conference test at Fairmont State. Tipoff is set for 5:30 p.m. at Joe Retton Arena.