Athens, W.Va. – The West Liberty women's basketball team led by as many as 13 points in the first and third quarters of Wednesday night's MEC match-up, however they were unable to hold off the fourth quarter rally of Concord and fell 92-86. The Hilltoppers held a nine point advantage entering the fourth quarter and led for nearly 32 minutes of game time, but the Mountain Lions pushed ahead with a 37-point period and outscored WLU by 15 points in the final stanza.
 
QUICK DETAILS
Final Score: West Liberty 86, Concord 92
Team Records: West Liberty 6-9 (4-4 MEC), Concord 8-6 (5-3 MEC)
Attendance: 388
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• Starting with an and-one play on the first possession of the game for Karly McCutcheon, West Liberty opened the game on an 11-0 scoring run. It wasn't until after a Concord timeout that the Mountain Lions made their first basket of the game with 7:41 left in the quarter. McCutcheon connected on her first 3-pointer of the game with 6:47 remaining in the first to give the Hilltoppers their largest lead of the game at 17-4, however CU responded with a 12-2 scoring run of their own to cut the lead to three points with just under three minutes remaining. WLU held the lead the entirety of the opening ten minutes of playing time and led 23-22 entering the second quarter.
• McCutcheon opened the second quarter with her second 3-pointer of the game less than 30 seconds into the period to keep West Liberty in the lead. As both teams entered a shooting slump midway through the quarter, the teams entered the under five media timeout on nearly two and a half minute scoring droughts which was then ended by Concord following the timeout with a layup with 4:31 left in the half. It wasn't until the 3:48 mark that Paige Julian ended the nearly four minute scoring drought for WLU with the team's lone bench points of the night to give them a 32-28 advantage. The Mountain Lions were able to cut the lead down to one once again with 1:05 left till the break, however Jenna Riccardo ended the first half scoring with an and-one to give the Hilltoppers a 38-34 lead at halftime.
• West Liberty held a narrow lead of no more than five points in the first four minutes of the second half until Concord tied the game for the first time at 47 apiece with 6:18 left in the third quarter. Powered by a pair of 3-pointers from Bailey Beckstedt, the Hilltoppers proceeded to break the tie and regain the lead with a 13-0 scoring run to match their largest lead of the game with 2:30 left in the period. The Mountain Lions were able to stabilize the momentum and remain within striking distance entering the final ten minutes as WLU led 64-55.
• Concord opened the fourth quarter on a 7-0 scoring run to tie the game once again at 64 apiece with 8:27 remaining in the game before Riccardo halted the run with her second 3-pointer of the season to keep the Hilltoppers in front. The Mountain Lions extended the scoring run to 12-2 and took their first lead of the game with 7:44 left on the clock. WLU tied the game twice at 69 and 73, however they were never able to regain the lead following that point. CU led by as many as seven points on two occasions in the final minute and outscored WLU 37-22 in the fourth quarter.
• West Liberty shot 26-of-55 (47.3%) from the field, 11-of-24 (45.8%) from 3-point range, and 23-of-27 (85.2%) from the free throw line compared to 31-of-79 (39.2%) from the field, 4-of-15 (26.7%) from 3-point range, and 26-of-32 (81.3%) from the free throw line for Concord.
• The Mountain Lions held the advantage in points in the paint (48-28), points off turnovers (34-11), second chance points (8-2), fast break points (11-4), and bench points (26-2).
• The Hilltopper starters combined for 84 of the team's 86 points on the night, with four players scoring in double figures. As Smith scored a season-high of 25 points, and McCutcheon, Thomas, and Riccardo each scored 17 points, it was the first time this season that more than three players scored 15 or more points in the same game. It had occurred twice this season, against Frostburg State and Notre Dame, that three players scored 15 or more in the game.
• Tied for a game-high with nine rebounds, Riccardo was one board shy of her second double-double in a week's time. It marked her eighth game of the season with seven or more rebounds.
• Five WLU players connected on a 3-pointer in the game as Smith knocked down a game-high four shots from beyond the arc while Thomas, McCutcheon, and Beckstedt each added a pair from deep.

WEST LIBERTY STATISTICAL LEADERS
Bailee Smith: 25 points, 4-of-7 3-pointers, 6 assists, 4 rebounds, 1 steal
Karly McCutcheon: 17 points, 6-of-9 field goals, 6 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 blocks, 1 steal
Corinne Thomas: 17 points, 5-of-5 free throws, 8 rebounds, 6 assists, 1 steal
Jenna Riccardo: 17 points, 8-of-9 free throws, 9 rebounds, 1 assist
 
UP NEXT
West Liberty will return home to the hilltop on Saturday, January 20, when they host (RV) Glenville State. The Hilltoppers and Pioneers are set for a 2 p.m. tip-off inside the ASRC.