Women's Basketball | 11/9/2013 9:55:00 PM
Box Score
GLENVILLE, W.Va. – A hot-shooting Virginia Union squad handed the West Liberty women's basketball team its first loss of the season Saturday night, outgunning the Lady Hilltoppers by a 94-80 count at the Glenville State Classic.
Junior guard Ashle Freeman stole the show for the Panthers (1-1) with 39 points and 8 steals – both career-highs – as Virginia Union shot 52 percent (35-of-67) from the floor and cashed in 22-of-30 free throws to keep West Liberty at bay.
Freeman poured in 20 of her 39 points in the first half to help the Panthers take a 45-39 lead into the locker room at intermission. Freeman opened the second half with two free throws and a layup off a steal to push the margin into double-digits, 49-39, and force the Hilltoppers to hit the comeback trail.
West Liberty trimmed the deficit to 55-53 on a pair of Kiki Simpson free throws with 12:48 showing but couldn't come up with enough defensive stops to stay with Virginia Union. Brown's 3-pointer with 5:45 to play produced the largest lead of the night, 78-64, and the Hilltoppers couldn't get the margin under 8 points the rest of the way.
Simpson, a 5-11 sophomore center, had a big game in a losing cause with 20 points and 13 rebounds – both career-highs – before fouling out down the stretch. Jenn Mohney tossed in 16 of her 18 points in the first half while Liz Flowers added 13 points, 6 assists and 6 rebounds.
Freshman Emily Bucon came off the bench with 12 points and 6 rebounds in her first extended action while Kailee Howe chipped in with 10 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists.
The West Liberty women return to action on Friday when they take on Millersville (Pa.) in the first round of the Clarion (Pa.) Invitational. Tipoff is set for 4 p.m.
