Women's Basketball | 12/7/2019 4:10:00 PM

Box Score     ELKINS, W.Va. – The West Liberty University women's basketball team rolled to its second straight win here Saturday, cruising to an 86-78 victory over Davis & Elkins in Mountain East Conference action at the McDonnell Center.
    A balanced attack provided the winning formula for Coach Kyle Cooper's Hilltoppers (5-3, 2-2), who never trailed after opening up a double-digit lead in the second quarter.
    The Senators (1-7, 1-3) battled West Liberty to a 21-21 tie after one quarter but the visitors shot nearly 60 percent from the floor in the second frame to take the lead for good.
    The margin hit double-figures, 41-29, for the first time on a Corinne Thomas 3-pointer at 4:29 of the second quarter and the Hilltoppers eased to a 49-35 lead at the half.
    West Liberty carried a 66-56 advantage into the fourth quarter only to see Davis & Elkins put together one final surge.
    A strong post move by Jahmiyah Johnson cut the WLU lead to 76-74 with 3:34 still to play but the Hilltoppers never even blinked.
    Taylor Johnson answered with a clutch 3-pointer and added a driving layup following a D&E turnover in a 20-second span for an 81-74 West Liberty lead that effectively put the game out of reach.
    The Hilltoppers' Johnson led five double-figure scorers for the winners with 20 points and 8 rebounds. Freshman Corinne Thomas came up big off the bench with 16 points and 5 3-pointers – both career-highs – while Morgan Brunner went 8-for-8 from the foul line and finished with 13 points.
    Jackie Kitts also chipped in with 13 points while Olivia Belknap stuffed the stat sheet with a dozen points, 6 rebounds and 3 assists.
    Jamiyah Johnson had a huge game for D&E with 31 points and 15 rebounds in a losing cause.
    The West Liberty women return to action on Wednesday with a trip to Charleston. Tipoff is set for 5:30 p.m. at the Wehrle Center.