Technically, the Concord Women's Basketball team didn't lead for the entire 40 minutes in Thursday's victory at Salem International.
Twenty-four seconds elapsed before Sarah Blevins sank a three-pointer on the CU's first shot of the game.
The Lady Lions were looking to snap a stretch that's seen them lose three of their last four games, and efficiently took care of business against the improving but still winless Tigers. Concord opened early leads of 8-0 and 14-1 and got ahead by as many as 51 points in winning 67-33 at the Cecil Underwood Armory in Salem, WV.
The victory raised CU's record to 8-3, 5-1 in the WVIAC. SIU fell to 0-11, 0-6.
After Salem International pulled to within 21-9 with 10:05 left in the first half, the Lady Lions took command by scoring the game's next 39 points.
Meanwhile, Concord held the Tigers scoreless for 16:32, and without a field goal for 18:15. CU's lead topped out at 60-9 with 13:49 left in regulation.
Junior Meghan Cole helped fill the scoring void created by the ankle injury that's sidelined starting F Sidney Lindsey. Cole came off the bench to lead all scorers with 16 points, nine in a span of 6:22 in the first half as the Mountain Lions began to pull away. Cole finished the night 6-11 from the field and 3-6 from three-point range.
The Lady Lions return to the Carter Center to host Ohio Valley on Saturday, January 16, at 4:00 pm EST. The game will part of a doubleheader with the men's team, which rallied for a victory at Salem International later Thursday night (www.cumountainlions.com/news/2010/1/15/MBB_0115102705.aspx).
Saturday's twinbill with OVU will be broadcast on Classic Rock 102 The River and webcast at www.theriver102.com, beginning with the “Mountain Lion Preview” show at 3:30.
