WISE, Va. – Brandi Beader scored her 1,000th career points and the West Liberty women won their fifth straight game, rallying past UVa-Wise, 69-64, Thursday night at the Prior Center.
    Coach Kyle Cooper's Hilltoppers (14-7, 11-4) reeled off 11 straight points down the stretch to storm back from a 6-point deficit and complete a season sweep of the series against the host Cavaliers (9-12, 7-8).
    West Liberty seemed in complete command when it took its largest lead of the night, 49-39, on a Morgan Brunner 3-pointer with 5:16 left in the third quarter but the Black and Gold made only one more shot the rest of the frame and UVa-Wise took full advantage.
    The Cavaliers outscored WLU, 13-2, over the final 5 minutes of the third quarter to take their first lead since the opening basket of the game, 53-52, heading into the final 10 minutes.
    The shoe was on the other foot in the fourth quarter as UVa-Wise took its largest lead of the night, 62-56, on a driving layup by Ada Cullen with 5:29 to play only to see the Hilltoppers answer with what proved to be the game-winning rally.
    Beader got things started with a pair of free throws at 4:59 – putting her at nine points for the night and exactly 1,000 for her career – and Brunner followed with a layup and a 3-point bomb to put WLU ahead to stay, 63-62, with 3:51 remaining.
    After two Taylor Johnson free throws, Marissa Brown capped the surge with a feed from Audrey Tingle for a 67-62 Hilltopper lead with 1:43 to play.
    Stanley finally broke the UVa-Wise scoring drought with a short jumper, making it a one-possession game, 67-64, with 42 seconds remaining.
    West Liberty turned it over at the other end but the Cavaliers missed a game-tying 3-point try and Brown drained both free throws after being fouled on the rebound with four seconds left to seal the deal.
    Brown finished with 26 points and 14 rebounds to pace the Black and Gold while Johnson and Brunner added 17 and 13 points, respectively. Johnie Olkosky failed to score but contributed with 14 rebounds.
    Stanley was the leading scorer for the Cavaliers with 20 points while Cynita Webb added 13 points and a game-high 15 rebounds.
    The Hilltoppers return to action on Saturday when they travel to Concord for a 1 p.m. tipoff.