WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – The West Liberty University women's basketball team shot nearly 60 percent from the floor and drained 17 3-pointers here Wednesday to outgun Winston-Salem State, 107-101, in a non-conference game at the C.E. Gaines Center.
    Coach Kyle Cooper's Lady Hilltoppers (4-2) took control midway through the fourth quarter with a 3-point barrage before holding off the Rams (1-4) down the stretch for their fourth win in the last five games.
    West Liberty hit 7-of-11 3-pointers in the first quarter alone to take a 32-24 lead after the first 10 minutes but Winston-Salem State battled back in the second stanza to go up, 49-48, at the half.
    The Rams led for much of the third quarter but a Marissa Brown basket at the buzzer closed out a 9-2 Hilltopper run that sent the visitors into the fourth quarter leading 81-75.
    Three WLU starters – Brown, Taylor Johnson and Audrey Tingle – all went to the bench with their fourth personal fouls in the first few minutes of the quarter but the Hilltoppers were able to build on the lead with more hot shooting from the perimeter.
    Leading just 91-88 with more than 5 minutes left to play, Morgan Brunner, Brandi Beader and Johnie Olkosky knocked down consecutive 3-pointers to give the Black and Gold a little breathing room.
    A Brunner free throw produced the game's biggest lead for either team, 101-91, at the 3:24 mark and Johnson hit several clutch free throws down the stretch to seal the deal.
     Several Hilltoppers put up big numbers in the fast-paced contest.
    Beader buried a career-high 7 3-pointers and added 4 assists to lead the team with 25 points. Brown had another big game despite missing much of the fourth quarter with foul trouble, racking up 24 points, 13 rebounds, 4 blocks and a pair of assists.
    Johnson came up big down the stretch, scoring 14 of her 24 points in the fourth quarter, while also dishing out 6 assists and grabbing 5 rebounds. Brunner also had 6 assists to go along with 16 points on 5-of-9 shooting from the 3-point arc.
    Brionna Pate led all scorers for the Rams with 30 points and 15 rebounds while Johnson finished with 24 points. Amaya Tucker added 15 points off the bench.
    The Lady Hilltoppers will celebrate Thanksgiving on the road as they head south for another non-conference test against Embry-Riddle (Fla.). Tipoff is set for 2 p.m. Saturday in Daytona Beach, Fla.