Women's Basketball | 1/10/2017 7:41:00 PM

Box Score BUCKHANNON, W.Va. – The West Liberty University women's basketball team took control midway through the third quarter here Tuesday night and ran away to an 86-66 win against West Virginia Wesleyan at Rockefeller Arena.
Coach Lynn Ullom's Lady Hilltoppers (4-10, 3-6) had opened up an 11-point lead early in the second quarter and carried a 45-37 advantage into halftime only to see the Bobcats (4-7, 4-4) battle back when play resumed in the third quarter.
A steal and layup by Wesleyan's Mari Stewart pulled the hosts within four points, 50-46, with 6:34showing on the third quarter clock but the Bobcats would come no closer.
Marissa Brown answered with a power post move at the other end and followed that up with a conventional 3-point play for a 55-46 Hilltopper lead.
Lana Long tried to stop the bleeding for Wesleyan by making 1-of-2 free throws but Brandi Beader drained a 3-pointer to make it 58-47 West Liberty as the clock ticked past the 4-minute mark and the Hilltoppers never looked back.
West Liberty opened the fourth quarter with three straight 3-pointers from Lindsey Fenwick, McKenna Shives and Beader to push the lead to 20 points at 76-56 and coasted the rest of the way.
Brown had a huge night with 25 points and 9 rebounds – both game-highs – while Shives poured in 19 of her 22 points in the first half to get WLU off to a fast start and Beader knocked down 12 of her 15 points after intermission.
Johnie Olkosky turned in another strong floor game with 7 points and 5 assists to go along with 9 rebounds. Freshman point guard Grace Fodor also impressed with 5 points, a game-high 6 assists and 7 rebounds.
Mari Stewart led four double-figure scorers for Wesleyan with 19 points.
The Hilltoppers return home to host UVa-Wise on Saturday. Tipoff is set for 2 p.m. at the ASRC.