West Liberty, W.Va. – The West Liberty University women's basketball team secured a regular-season sweep of West Virginia State with a 76-69 victory Wednesday night at the ASRC.
Slow Start, Strong Finish
West Liberty (7-12, 5-7 MEC) faced early struggles, shooting 0-for-8 from three in the first quarter while leading scorer Bailee Smith picked up three quick fouls. The Yellow Jackets (8-10, 4-8 MEC) capitalized, jumping out to a 16-7 lead after the first ten minutes.
The second quarter saw a momentum shift, as the Hilltoppers found their rhythm from beyond the arc. Olivia Baker caught fire, draining four three-pointers, leading a 22-10 WLU run that put the Toppers ahead 29-26 at halftime. Baker finished the half with 12 points.
West Liberty carried the hot shooting into the third quarter, opening on an 8-2 surge before an Anna Lucarelli three-pointer extended the lead to 40-28. The Hilltoppers continued to pour it on, outscoring WVSU 31-14 in the quarter to take a commanding 60-40 lead heading into the final frame.
Late Rally Fended Off
West Virginia State didn't go down quietly, rallying in the fourth quarter to cut the deficit to just three points (72-69) with 17.3 seconds remaining. However, clutch free throws from Bailee Smith and Bailey Beckstedt sealed the win for West Liberty.
Top Performers
Up Next
West Liberty heads back on the road for a matchup against Charleston on Saturday at 5:30 p.m.
Game Details
Final Score:
West Virginia State – 69
West Liberty – 76
ASRC
Attendance: 186
Records:
WVSU: 8-10 (4-8 MEC)
WLU: 7-12 (5-7 MEC)
