WOMEN'S BASKETBALL: STRUCK DOWN BY STREAK SHOOTER

MALERNEE'S LONG-RANGE ACCURACY LEADS TO LADY LIONS DEFEAT

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When a streak shooter gets on a hot streak, sometimes all you can do is hope that she's on your team.

Laura Malernee is one such streak shooter. Unfortunately, she doesn't play for Concord.

The West Liberty senior cemented her reputation as one of the WVIAC's best three-point shooters in leading WLU to a 97-62 victory over the Lady Lions in a rare Monday afternoon game at the Carter

Center.

Malernee was 8-14 from beyond the arc, including a sizzling 7-9 in the 2nd half, and finished with a game-high 26 points. Her hot hand helped West Liberty outscore CU 57-26 after halftime.

The Lady 'Toppers, playing their first game since December 11, bolted out to an 11-1 lead barely three and a half minutes after tipoff.
They still led by double figures, 28-18, before Concord found a rhythm. Sparked by three-point shots from Kristin Kidd and Annamarie Truckley, the Lady Lions went on an 18-3 run to take a 34-31 lead with 3:50 left in the 1st half.

But WLU closed out the half with a 9-2 spurt (including a key three-pointer from Malernee that gave the 'Toppers the lead for good) to lead 40-36 at the break.

After that, it was all West Liberty. The 'Toppers opened up a 66-46 lead just 7:43 into the 2nd half and essentially determined the game's outcome.

WLU finished 17-36 (.472) from three-point range. On top of Malernee's performance, Jenni Robbins – who was .339 from the arc in her first nine games – was a remarkable 6-7 Monday afternoon.

Plus, the Lady 'Toppers outrebounded Concord 30-11 in the 2nd half.

Kristin Kidd led Concord with 15 points. Sidney Lindsey, who missed last Friday's win over Clarion with an injury, returned to the starting lineup and contributed 13 points and six rebounds.

WLU's Tori Hansen, the WVIAC's leading scorer, finished with 24 points.

West Liberty had 27 assists on its 35 made field goals, offset by just 13 turnovers.

BOXSCORE/PLAY-BY-PLAY

Up next for Concord is a visit to defending WVIAC champion Fairmont State on Saturday, January 8. Tip-off is scheduled for 2:00 pm at the Joe Retton Arena in Fairmont, WV.

The game is part of a doubleheader with Concord's men's team. Both games will be broadcast on ESPN Radio 102.3 The Ticket (WMTD, Hinton/Princeton/Beckley), starting with the “Mountain Lion Preview Show” at 1:30. A link to The Ticket's live audio webcast can be found on the Women's Basketball homepage at www.cumountainlions.com.

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