INSTITUTE, W.Va. – The West Liberty University women's basketball team was unable to complete a season sweep of West Virginia State Thursday night as the Yellowjackets stormed back from a 12-point halftime deficit to edge the Hilltoppers, 73-70, Thursday night at Fleming Hall.

West Liberty (12-6, 10-4) had handed State (7-11, 7-8) a 73-64 loss in a first-semester meeting at the ASRC on Dec. 4.

The Hilltoppers seemed to have things well in hand at intermission, taking a 39-27 lead into the locker room after taking command with a 19-4 run midway through the opening half.

The hosts made some defensive adjustments at the break and West Liberty – which had shot better than 50 percent from the floor in the first 20 minutes – seemed to lose its shooting eye.

As the Hilltoppers struggled, West Virginia State began to find the range with Jasmine Blanton and Asia Greenleaf forming a lethal 1-2 punch.

The speedy Blanton drew several fouls with a series of dribble drives to the rim while the 6-1 Greenleaf – who had missed the first meeting between the teams with an injury – emerged as a force in the paint.

The Yellowjackets outscored the Hilltoppers, 29-11, over the first 11 minutes of the second half to turn that 12-point halftime lead into a 56-50 deficit.

West Liberty battled back to within a single point, 63-62, on a Hillary Southworth basket as the clock ticked past the 4-minute mark but the cold-shooting Hilltoppers couldn't get over the hump as State closed out the game at the charity stripe.

Blanton finished with a game-high 27 points, including a 13-of-17 showing from the foul line, while Greenleaf poured in 13 of her 15 points after intermission while collecting a team-high 9 rebounds. Jordan Brock rounded out the Yellowjackets' double-figure scorers with 14 points.

Hillary Southworth hit a 3-pointer at the buzzer to finish with 26 points and end WLU's 1-for-10 second half slump from behind the arc. Emily Blevins had 15 points and 8 rebounds while Meghan Wiseman added 11 points and 8 boards. Liz Flowers checked in with 6 points but just missed a double-double with 9 rebounds and a game-high 10 assists.

West Liberty returns home to host Seton Hill on Saturday. Tipoff is set for 2 p.m. at the ASRC.