Women's Basketball | 11/23/2013 4:24:00 PM
Box Score CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Kailee Howe poured in a career-high 36 points and the West Liberty University women's basketball team overcame serious foul problems Saturday afternoon to hand Charleston its first loss of the season, 84-80, in a mutual Mountain East Conference opener at Eddie King Gym.
Coach Lynn Ullom's Hilltoppers (2-3, 1-0) never trailed in the first half but the Golden Eagles (4-1, 0-1) hit 15-of-19 shots from the foul line in the first 20 minutes to trail just 38-37 at the break.
Several West Liberty players saw their playing time limited by foul trouble throughout. Leading scorer Liz Flowers played just 16 minutes before fouling out late in the second half while Kiki Simpson missed all but three minutes of the first half after picking up some early fouls.
All five Hilltopper starters had been saddled with four fouls heading into the final 6 minutes and UC took advantage, taking its first lead of the game – 69-68 – on a Chyress Lockhart free throw with 5:49 remaining.
Neither team was able to open things up over the next few minutes and two more Lockhart free throws – after drawing the fifth foul on Flowers – forged the game's final tie, 75-75, with 1:54 to go.
Howe and Simpson took over for West Liberty down the stretch with Howe finding Simpson underneath for a layup that put WLU ahead to stay, 77-75, at the 1:25 mark.
The Hilltopper defense – which held Charleston to 37 percent shooting on the afternoon – got a stop at the other end and Howe was fouled pulling down the defensive rebound with 1:09 remaining. She cashed in both end of the 1-and-1 to make it a two-possession game and Simpson put the game on ice with a steal and a runout layup in the final minute.
Howe stuffed the stat sheet with 36 points, 8 rebounds and 5 steals in a dazzling performance while Kiley – who played all 40 minutes – finished with 17 points. Flowers had a dozen points in her limited action while Simpson grabbed a game-high 11 rebounds and scored 4 of her 6 points in the final 2 minutes.
Lockhart's 17 points led six double-figure scorers in a well-balanced Golden Eagle attack.
The Hilltoppers return home on Monday to host West Virginia State. Tipoff is set for 5:30 p.m. at the ASRC.
