Women's Basketball | 11/15/2013 6:32:00 PM
Box Score CLARION, Pa. – The West Liberty University women's basketball team rallied back from a double-digit deficit in the second half here Friday only to see Millersville answer with a late surge of its own to hand the Hilltoppers a 92-83 setback in the first game of the Clarion (Pa. ) Classic.
Coach Lynn Ullom's Hilltoppers (1-2) trailed 70-57 just past the midway point of the second half before hitting the comeback trail.
Jasmin Kiley scored 8 of her team-high 19 points during a 17-5 West Liberty run that trimmed the Marauders' (2-0) lead to a single point, 75-74, as the clock ticked under the 4-minute mark.
The Hilltoppers misfired on their next four possessions, however, and the Marauders (2-0) reeled off 8 straight points to take control, 83-74, with 2 minutes to go before closing out the game at the foul line.
Kiley, a sophomore guard making her first collegiate start, finished with 19 points and 8 rebounds to pace the Black and Gold. Kailee Howe added 18 points and 3 steals while Liz Flowers had 17 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists.
Hilltopper center Kiki Simpson, who entered the game averaging 17 points and 11 rebounds, was limited to just 13 minutes by foul problems and had no points and 2 rebounds before fouling out. Freshman post Colleen McCormick played well off the bench with 10 points and 6 rebounds.
Yasmin Cooper, Millersville's 6-2 sophomore pivot, had a career game with 29 points and 18 rebounds as the Marauders had a 50-40 rebounding edge with 23 of their rebounds coming on the offensive end. Senada Mehmedovic and Carly Gallagher backed Cooper with 15 points each.
The West Liberty women return to Tippin Gym tomorrow for a 6 p.m. game against host Clarion.
