WOMEN'S BASKETBALL: UNEXPECTED HERO

BLEVINS' CLUTCH FREE THROWS LIFT LADY LIONS TO DOUBLE-OVERTIME VICTORY

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The Concord Women's Basketball team features a “Big Three” – Camisha Alexander, Jolysa Brown and Sidney Lindsey – that combine to average more than 54 points a game, or roughly two-third of the Lady Lions' offense.

That trio was productive again in Thursday night's WVIAC meeting against Charleston, joining together to score 63 points.

But when the Lady Lions needed points the most, with time almost expired in the second overtime, it was a player whose main role is to set up the “Big Three” that came up the biggest.

Point guard Sarah Blevins (left) sank four three throws in the final :26 of the second extra session – including the game-winning pair with :02.7 left -- to lift Concord to a dramatic 94-93 victory over the Golden Eagles at the Carter Center.

The win snapped CU's two game losing streak and improved their record to 3-3, 2-3. UC left Athens at 4-3, 2-2.

Concord, trying to shake off the residue of last Saturday's vexing loss to Seton Hill and Tuesday's controversial setback at Glenville State, started slowly and trailed by as many as 12 points, 37-25, with 8:22 left before halftime. But the Lady Lions would close to within 49-46 at halftime and took a 52-51 lead early in the second half.

Charleston countered with a 25-10 rally to go ahead 76-62 with 7:39 left in regulation and held a 78-66 lead with 5:09 to go. But Concord closed the 2nd half with a 12-0 run, capped by a Lindsey layup with :32 left, to send the game to overtime.

In the first overtime, each team twice took a two-point lead. A three-point shot by UC's Lindsey Kentner put the Golden Eagles ahead 86-84 with :25 remaining, but Brown drained two free throws with :11 to go, and it was on to the second extra period.

Alexander scored four straight points to put Concord up 90-86 with 1:49 left, but Charleston answered with another three-pointer by Kentner and two free throws from Ali Tobias to take a 91-90 lead just :43 later.

On Concord's next possession, Brown missed a short shot in the lane, but Tianni Kelly fouled Blevins and she made two free throws to get CU back in front.

Charleston moved ahead 93-92 on Tarena Dixon's baseline jumper with :10 to go. Both teams were out of timeouts.

Concord inbounded to Blevins, who drove down the right side of the lane and drew a foul on Moneka Slaughter. With less than three seconds left, Blevins calmly converted the game-winning free throws.

Kentner's desperation half-court heave came up short, touching off a wild Lady Lion celebration.

Blevins' free throws put an exclamation point on a quietly productive game. The senior from Hinton, WV, scored eight points, grabbed three rebounds, handed out eight assists with only one turnover, and added a blocked shot and a steal.

Alexander topped Concord with 23 points, including a 3-6 showing from three-point range. Brown posted another double-double of 22 points and 11 rebounds, including six offensive rebounds. She also blocked four shots. Lindsey finished with 18 points and seven rebounds.

Dixon led Charleston with 26 points and 18 rebounds. Kenter added 25 points on 10-23 field goal shooting. Tobias had 16 points.

Both teams shot well through regulation time, Concord at .553 (31-56) and Charleston at .447 (34-76). But they both cooled off after that -- Concord shot .154 (2-13) and Charleston .357 (5-14) in the extra sessions.

Charleston outrebounded Concord 55-38, with a 23-11 advantage in offensive rebounds, and wound up attempting 21 more field goals than CU (90-69).
But the difference came at the free throw line. CU went 22-31 (.710) compared to Charleston's 6-12. Moreover, in the overtimes Concord was 12-14 from the line while UC went 2-6.

BOXSCORE

Up next for Concord is a non-conference contest against Edinboro University (PA) Saturday, December 11, at the Carter Center. Tip-off is scheduled for 1:00 pm. Edinboro hosted Concord last season and decisively defeated the Lady Lions 90-37 on January 6, 2010.

Saturday's game will be broadcast on ESPN Radio 102.3 The Ticket, starting with the “Mountain Lion Preview Show” at 12:30.
Links to The Ticket's audio webcast, Live Stats, and live streaming video can be found on the Women's Basketball homepage at www.cumountainlions.com.

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