Women's Basketball | 5/26/2020 8:11:00 AM

    NOTE: With the athletic world on hold, WLU Sports Information has joined forces with TopperStation to wake up a few echoes. We've dug up some of the original stories and, when available, full video replays of significant games and accomplishments from the not-so-distant past. We hope you enjoy these looks back and are able to stay safe until we see you again on the hilltop! #TopperNation #UnitedAsOne #GoWLU
 
TOPPERSTATION VIDEO LINK: #21 West Liberty 88, #5 California, Pa. 65 (November 15, 2015)
 
    WEST LIBERTY, W.Va. – All-America senior guard Kailee Howe scored 26 of her game-high 35 points in the second half Sunday afternoon as No. 21 West Liberty ran away from defending national champion and No. 5-ranked California (Pa.), 88-65, in the final game of the MEC/PSAC Crossover at the ASRC.
    Coach Lynn Ullom's Hilltoppers (2-0) held the Vulcans (1-1) to 24 percent shooting in the first half and led by as many as 29 points down the stretch in an early-season showdown of Top 25 Atlantic Region powers that didn't quite live up to its billing.
    "That was a quality win against a quality program that we have a ton of respect for," Ullom said. "I thought our team defense was phenomenal and I give the kids all the credit. They did a great job paying attention to the game plan and then went out and executed it about as well as they possibly could.
    "Of course, it helps when you have a player the caliber of a Kailee Howe having one of her special games."
    Howe led the nation with 300 assists last season – the fourth-highest total in NCAA Division II history – but also averaged better than 15 points a night. That ability to score on her own or create great scoring chances for her teammates was a problem California was unable to solve on Sunday.
    The teams battled to a 16-16 deadlock after one quarter but the Hilltopper defense clamped down in the second quarter, holding the Vulcans to just one field goal in the period while building a double-digit lead they would never relinquish.
    Howe capped a 13-2 Hilltopper run at the end of the quarter by driving down the middle of the lane to draw the defense into the paint only to whip a laser-like pass to freshman Brandi Beader in the left corner. Beader's dagger of a 3-pointer splashed through the twine at the buzzer for a 39-25 halftime lead.
    "One of the things I really liked about this weekend – along with the two wins, of course – was that we were able to get a lot of quality minutes for some of our younger kids," Ullom said. "You never know what to expect in those situations but I was very pleased with how they responded."
    Along with her 35 points, Howe stuffed the stat sheet with 7 assists, 6 rebounds and 4 steals. Fellow senior guard Liz Flowers, another preseason All-American, added 18 points and 6 rebounds while filling a key defensive role. Senior post Kiki Simpson finished with 10 points and 8 rebounds despite missing significant playing time due to foul problems.
    Preseason All-America guard Miki Glenn paced California with 23 points – including an 11-of-12 showing from the foul line – while Seairra Barrett had a double-double with 12 points and 12 rebounds. Precious Martin also scored 12 points in a losing cause.
    "This was a very good win but we have to remember it's only November," Ullom said. "There's a lot of basketball left to play. We'll enjoy this for about 20 hours and then we'll be back out on the practice court trying to get better."