WEST LIBERTY, W.Va. — West Liberty came up just short Monday night, dropping a hard-fought Mountain East Conference contest to West Virginia State, 77–74, inside the ASRC.
The Hilltoppers (5-11, 2-7 MEC) carried a six-point advantage into the fourth quarter, but the Yellow Jackets (7-8, 4-5 MEC) erupted for 28 points over the final 10 minutes to pull out the road win. West Liberty controlled the paint with 42 points inside and forced nine steals, but West Virginia State capitalized at the foul line, converting 32 free throws and scoring 19 points off turnovers to swing the outcome.
West Liberty set the tone early with a strong defensive effort, recording two first-quarter blocks and establishing a presence in the paint. Reagan Vinskovich opened the scoring with a layup at the 9:12 mark, assisted by Katie Lucarelli. Olivia Baker provided a spark from beyond the arc, knocking down three 3-pointers in the opening period, including a fast-break triple that tied the game at 13–13. Ana-Isabel Andersson capped the quarter with consecutive layups, giving the Hilltoppers a 17–15 lead after one.
Momentum stayed with West Liberty in the second quarter as Baker connected on a go-ahead 3-pointer at 8:05, followed by another triple less than a minute later. Lucarelli added a fast-break layup midway through the period, and the Hilltoppers continued to attack inside while maintaining defensive pressure. Despite a late push by the visitors, West Liberty held a 34–31 halftime advantage.
The Hilltoppers came out firing in the third quarter, with Vinskovich scoring just 10 seconds in and Lucarelli drilling a 3-pointer at the 8:30 mark to extend the lead to 40–33. West Liberty made the most of turnovers and defensive rebounds, converting key free throws and maintaining control throughout the period. Vinskovich added crucial points in the paint as the Hilltoppers carried a 55–49 edge into the final quarter.
West Virginia State seized momentum early in the fourth, opening the frame with a layup and three-point play to quickly close the gap. Foul trouble and turnovers began to mount for the Hilltoppers, allowing the Yellow Jackets to live at the free-throw line and eventually take the lead. Vinskovich's layup with 3:51 remaining trimmed the deficit to three, and Lucarelli scored on consecutive possessions late to keep West Liberty within striking distance, but the visitors held on in the closing seconds to secure the 77–74 victory.
Anna Lucarelli led the Hilltoppers with a double-double, finishing with 15 points, 10 rebounds, five assists, and two steals. Vinskovich matched her with 15 points while shooting 6-of-10 from the floor. Baker added 15 points on five 3-pointers and chipped in two steals in the loss.
West Liberty returns to action on Wednesday when the Hilltoppers travel to Pittsburgh to take on Point Park.
West Liberty University blends a small-town environment with a comprehensive college experience, fostering students' aspirations through hands-on learning, personalized support, and unique academic programs at both undergraduate and graduate levels. Learn more at westliberty.edu.
