Women's Basketball | 1/6/2018 4:58:00 PM

Box Score

    WEST LIBERTY, W.Va. – The West Liberty University women's basketball team took control down the stretch here Saturday and pulled away to an 84-76 victory against the University of Charleston in Mountain East Conference action at the ASRC.
    Coach Kyle Cooper's Lady Hilltoppers (5-9, 4-4) shot better than 50 percent from the floor and led by as many as 13 points down the stretch in taking down the Golden Eagles (7-6, 4-4).
    "The last three quarters of today's game was probably the best extended stretch of offensive execution we've had this season," Cooper said. "In order for us to be successful, we need to be playing together as a unit at both ends of the floor and I think you saw that today."
    A see-saw third quarter featuring 6 ties and 7 lead changes ended with West Liberty on top, 55-54, after a three-point play from Olivia Belknap just ahead of the buzzer and WLU never looked back.
    After pair of Belknap free throws pushed the count to 66-58 midway through the frame, UC made one last surge.
    Anna Hayton pushed home a follow shot to close the gap to 66-64 but WLU's Johnie Olkosky answered with a clutch 3-pointer to restore a 69-64 margin as the clock ticked past 4 minutes.
    Hayton scored again at the other end but junior post Marissa Brown bookended a pair of power post moves around a Brandi Beader layup and another Olkosky bonus bomb to put the game out of reach, 78-66, with less than 2 minutes to play.
    The 6-3 Brown went 12-for-14 from the floor and led all scorers with 26 points despite missing most of the second half with foul problems. Olkosky added 19 points and a game-high 9 rebounds while draining six 3-pointers.
    Octavia Loll paced Charleston with 22 points while Hayton and Ambrea Williams added 14 and 12 points, respectively.
    "I'm not sure there's a better post player in the country than Marissa," Cooper said. "Her numbers are just off the chart and with her presence inside, it really opens things up for our shooters on the perimeter."
    Cooper also had high praise for Olkosky, a junior guard and the Hilltoppers' lone 3-year starter, for her efforts during Brown's extended stay on the bench with foul trouble.
    "What you saw with Johnie today was a veteran player being a veteran," Cooper said. "Johnie is one of the few pieces we have with multiple years of experience and does so many things that go unnoticed. It was good to see her rewarded today."
    Olkosky said her numbers and opportunities were the product of a group effort.
    "Between Marissa working inside and Audrey (Tingle) hitting gaps and kicking the ball back out, I got some great looks today," Olkosky said. "My teammates really made it happen."
    West Liberty travels to UVa-Wise on Thursday for a 5:30 p.m. tipoff.