Jenni Robbins' three-point shot with :23.4 left in regulation propelled the West Liberty State Lady Toppers past Concord 67-65 in a key mid-season WVIAC matchup at the ASRC in West Liberty, WV.
The long shot from the freshman snapped a 63-63 tie in a closely-contested game. It was just her second field goal of the day and her first in a span of 32:38. Robbins finished with five points.
The loss was the Lady Lions' second straight, dropping their record to 10-5, 7-3 in the WVIAC. The win was the fifth straight and the eighth in nine games for West Liberty, the pre-season WVIAC favorites, improving them to 10-5, 6-4.
It was the Lady Toppers' 20th consecutive victory over Concord, a winning streak dating back to January 15, 1993.
The Lady Lions took an early lead were up 16-13 when West Liberty scored ten unanswered points to go ahead 23-16. The Toppers would never trail after that.
West Liberty led by as many as seven points, at 52-45, with 9:20 remaining in the game. Concord then went on 7-2 mini-run -- with a jumper from Jolysa Brown, two free throws from Camisha Alexander and a three-pointer from Holly Bibb -- to move within 54-52 with 7:21 left.
But the Lady Lions turned over the ball on their next two possessions, and twice West Liberty converted the giveaways into jump shots to lead 58-52.
The Toppers were again up seven, at 61-54 with 5:26 remaining when Concord staged its final rally. Brown and Alexander again sank jumpers, and when freshman Emily Blevins swished a clutch three-pointer (just her third of the season) the Lady Lions had tied the game at 61-61 with 3:09 left.
West Liberty's Andy Winney made two free throws with 2:51 left, and Alexander answered with two of her own to square matters at 63-63 with 2:40 left.
The tie held until Robbins' hero shot with :23.4 left. Concord got a good look for an Alexander three-point attempt with :07 to go, but the shot was just wide. Two free throws by the Toppers' Erica Hersberger and a jumper from Blevins at the buzzer closed out the scoring.
Alexander was the mainstay of Concord's offense on Saturday. The sophomore from Beckley led all scorers with 21 points, 17 in the second half. Alexander was 9-10 from the free throw and added three rebounds and three assists with no turnovers.
Jolysa Brown contributed yet another double-double, with 14 points and 10 rebounds. Kritstin Kidd, making her third start, scored 13 points, with Blevins chipping in 12.
Winney and Meghan Wiseman each led West Liberty with 16 points.
Concord outrebounded the Toppers 42-30, but the main difference was turnovers. The Lady Lions gave away the basketball 20 times, compared to just five by West Liberty. What's more, the Toppers had 18 assists, to only seven for Concord.
Concord was once again without starting forward Sidney Lindsey and forwards Meghan Cole and Stephanie Wallace, each out with injuries.
BOXSCORE/PLAY-BY-PLAY: www.hilltoppersports.com/content/TAS/WBB/2009-2010/cu1-23w.htm
Concord ends its rugged three-game road trip with a visit to West Virginia State on Monday, January 25. The game was originally scheduled for December 20 but was re-scheduled due to this historic blizzard that struck southern West Virginia that weekend.
Monday's game will be broadcast on Classic Rock 102 The River (WMTD 102.3 FM) and webcast at www.theriver102.com beginning with the "Mountain Lion Preview Show" at 6:30 pm EST. Tip-off at Fleming Hall is scheduled for 7:00.
