WBB: BUZZER BEATER

BROWN'S BASKET FOILS FALCONS

Andrea Bertrand Drive (JL)
The Concord women's basketball team figured it would get a playoff-like test in their visit to Fairmont State on Saturday afternoon, and that the outcome might not be decided until the end.

Both teams went into the matchup in the top five in the WVIAC standings, with each entertaining hopes of a conference championship.

Saturday's game indeed went down to the very end, and CU passed the test.

Jolysa Brown's putback of missed shot barely beat the buzzer, lifting the Lady Lions to a thrilling 79-78 victory that solidified CU's hold on 3rd place and snapped FSU's seven-game winning streak.

The last-second stunner capped a hectic final minute in which Concord let slip a three-point lead and missed on three chances to move back in front before Brown's buzzer-beater.

The Lady Lions sputtered at the start, falling behind by as many as 15 points, at 48-33, with 2:52 in the first half.  But they regrouped with 12-2 run before the break -- capped by a layup from Andrea Bertrand with :24 left and a three-point shot from Camisha Alexander with :05 to go – to close within 50-45.

Concord dictated the tempo in the 2nd half and took its first lead at 60-59 on two free throws from Brown with 12:10 remaining.  From there, the lead changed hands seven times before Brown's game-winner.

Concord held a 77-74 lead after a putback by Brown with :53 left.  But Emily Lohr converted a four-point play on Fairmont State's next possession, giving FSU a 78-77 edge with :32 to go.

Jolysa Brown, rebound in traffic (JL)
CU misfired on its next trip.  But Kelsi Wright missed the front end of the bonus with :12 left, keeping the deficit at a single point. 
FSU's Hailey Garrett blocked Camisha Alexander's short jump shot out of bounds with :02 left. 
After the inbounds pass, Alexander's shot bounced off the front of the rim and into the hands of Brown, whose putback shot went through less than a second before the final buzzer sounded.

Brown topped Concord with 24 points and 11 rebounds – her 16th double-double of the season and the 43rd of her career.  Bertrand (above left) added 23 points, seven rebounds, three assists and two steals.  Alexander finished with 12 points.

Lohr led Fairmont State (17-8, 14-7) with 27 points.
BOXSCORE / PLAY-BY-PLAY
(courtesy Fairmont State Sports Information)

Up next for Concord (18-6, 15-5) is a return to the Carter Center for a matchup against the University of Charleson in a WVIAC rivalry game on Wednesday, February 22.  Tip-off is scheduled for 5:30 pm.

The game will be broadcast on News/Talk AM 620/101.1 FM WWNR starting with the “Mountain Lions Preview Show” at 5:10.

Links to Live Stats, streaming video and WWNR's webcast can be found in the navigation bar near the top of the women's basketball homepage here on www.cumountainlions.com.


(photos by Jennifer Logan)


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