WEST LIBERTY, W.Va. – The West Liberty University women's basketball team scored eight straight points to start the game and never looked back on way to a convincing 88-47 win over West Virginia Wesleyan this evening inside the ASRC.
 
Arriana Manzay posted her third straight double-double with 28 points and 15 rebounds to lead the Hilltoppers, as they improved to 3-0 in conference action. Nine players scored in the win, including four in double digits. Grace Faulk hit four first-half three pointers and finished with 15 points. Natalija Sekulovska had her highest scoring game of her young career in the Black and Gold with 13, including three triples. Then, Karly McCutcheon kept her streak of six straight games in double figures to start the season going with 10 points.
 
The Hilltoppers scored 26 points in each of the first two quarters and mixed with stingy defense, they took a 52-22 lead into the break. Out of the locker room there was no let up, as West Liberty scored the first nine points of the second half. Manzay netted the first seven then pulled out her point guard skills and went coast-to-coast dishing out an assist to Halley Smith. The lead got to as high as 42 near the five-minute mark of the fourth quarter after a Faulk and-one and Manzay lay-in.
 
West Liberty forced 25 Wesleyan turnovers and converted them into 37 points, while committing a season-low 12 turnovers on the other end of the court. Sonia Sarda and Anna Lucarelli each had three steals to lead the team.
 
Seven of Manzay's 15 rebounds came on the offensive end. As a team, WLU doubled the Bobcats on the offensive glass with 16, leading to 24 second chance points, and held a +16 overall rebounding margin.
 
The scoring was done from all over the court for the 'Toppers, as they owned a 46-24 advantage in the paint and outshot the Bobcats 9-2 from beyond the arc.
 
West Liberty will travel to Davis and Elkins on Saturday for an MEC road matchup against the Senators. Tip off is scheduled for 2 pm.

Follow Hilltopper basketball all season online at HilltopperSports.com and on Twitter (@WLU_Hoops | @WLathletics), Instagram (@wlu_wbb | @wlu_athletics), and Facebook.

Postgame Interviews

Head Coach Kyle Cooper

Arriana Manzay & Grace Faulk