WHEELING, W.Va. — The West Liberty University women's basketball team battled until the final possession Saturday afternoon but came up just short in a 79-76 setback to Wheeling University inside the McDonough Center.
West Liberty (10-18, 6-14 MEC) and Wheeling (17-11, 12-8 MEC) combined for 13 ties and 20 lead changes in a game that was tightly contested from start to finish. The Hilltoppers dominated inside, scoring 44 points in the paint and converting 15-of-19 free throws, but the Cardinals' 7-of-13 shooting from beyond the arc proved to be the difference.
The Hilltoppers established their presence early with 12 first-quarter points in the paint. Anna Lucarelli pushed West Liberty in front, 12-10, with a fastbreak layup at the 3:07 mark. Despite a few early turnovers, the Black and Gold remained within striking distance, trailing just 17-15 after Reagan Vinskovich knocked down a pair of free throws in the final 36 seconds of the opening frame.
West Liberty continued to attack the rim in the second quarter as Vinskovich scored back-to-back layups, assisted by Anna and Katie Lucarelli, to tie the game at 19. Katie Lucarelli later drilled a key three-pointer at the 5:20 mark to knot the score again. Jameka Brungard's offensive tip-in in the closing seconds trimmed the deficit to one, sending the Hilltoppers into halftime trailing just 30-28.
The back-and-forth battle carried into the third quarter. Vinskovich opened the half with a layup and free throw to even the score, and Anna Lucarelli later assisted on another Vinskovich bucket to give West Liberty a narrow 43-42 advantage with 2:53 to play in the period. The Cardinals answered late at the foul line, taking a 53-50 edge into the fourth.
Olivia Baker wasted no time in the final quarter, burying a three-pointer at the 9:39 mark to tie the game at 53. Ana-Isabel Andersson helped fuel the offense with key assists and a go-ahead layup midway through the period. The teams continued to trade blows down the stretch, with Baker connecting on another three-pointer to cut the deficit to 73-72 in the closing minutes.
Vinskovich and Lucarelli added late layups to keep the Hilltoppers within one possession, but Wheeling converted at the line in the final seconds to secure the 79-76 decision. Both teams scored 26 points in a high-scoring fourth quarter.
Vinskovich led all scorers with 28 points on 10-of-13 shooting while adding eight rebounds. Lucarelli recorded a double-double with 20 points and 11 rebounds, along with four assists. With those four assists Saturday, Lucarelli increased her career total to 301. Andersson finished with 11 points and four assists, while Baker added nine points on three made three-pointers and grabbed four rebounds.
West Liberty will now turn its attention to the Mountain East Conference Tournament, set to begin Wednesday at WesBanco Arena in Wheeling.
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.
