GLENVILLE, W.Va. – The West Liberty University women's basketball team saw a gallant upset bid short-circuited by a poor shooting night as No. 6 Edinboro used a 19-2 second-half run to escape with a 90-71 victory in a mutual season opener at the Glenville State Classic.

Coach Lynn Ullom's Hilltoppers outplayed the nationally-ranked Fighting Scots throughout much of the first half only to see Edinboro score the final 7 points of the period to take a 44-36 lead into the locker room.

West Liberty was still within range at the 10-minute mark of the second half, trailing just 64-57, but that's when the Hilltoppers' shooting took a fatal turn for the worse.

The Fighting Scots held West Liberty to just one field goal over the next 6 minutes while Samantha Blazetic, their All-American post, went to work. The 6-3 senior had 8 of her 12 points during that span as Edinboro scored 19 of the game's next 21 points to put the game out of reach at 83-59.

West Liberty finished the night shooting just 35 percent (22-of-63) from the floor, including a disappointing 5-for-24 (20 percent) showing from behind the 3-point arc.

Despite the loss, there were some bright spots for the Hilltoppers. 

Junior guard Hillary Southworth poured in a game-high 26 points while Wiseman, who missed last year due to knee surgery, more than held her own against Blazetic with a 21-point night that included an 11-of-12 performance from the charity stripe. Freshman guard Liz Flowers added 7 points and a team-high 8 rebounds in her collegiate debut.

Darche Jackson's 17 points and 10 rebounds led a well-balanced Edinboro squad which had six players score in double figures.

West Liberty will be back in action on Saturday when the Hilltoppers take on Virginia Union in the tournament's 5 p.m. game.