SHEPHERDSTOWN, W.Va- The Concord University women's basketball team earned its second conference win of the season against Shepherd on the road in Mountain East Conference basketball action on Saturday afternoon, 67-58.
Concord improves to 3-15 (2-12 MEC), while Shepherd drops to 9-13 overall (6-8 MEC).
A 13-4 run to start the game from Shepherd threatened to open the game but Concord responded well afterwards, going on an 8-0 run over the next two minutes to reduce the deficit to one, 13-12, with 2:36 left in the first quarter.
The two teams continued to exchange shots in the second quarter, with Concord remaining within five of Shepherd until a three-pointer from Shepherd's Kristina Prange opened a 32-25 lead with 3:24 left in the half.
However, Concord ended the half with a bit of momentum, holding Shepherd scoreless over the final three and a half minutes of the first half, and scoring the final four points of the half courtesy of layups by junior forward
Heather Chapman and junior guard
Lindsey Overbey.
Shepherd led 32-29 going into the intermission.
The momentum continued to start the second half, as Concord opened the period on a 7-2 run highlighted by two baskets from Chapman and a three-pointer from Overbey.
The run helped CU take its first lead of the game, 36-34, with 7:14 left in the third.
The third quarter remained close, with two more lead changes between the teams to end the period, and the biggest lead by either team being just five.
Concord held Shepherd to just 11 points in the quarter, taking a slim 46-43 lead entering the fourth quarter.
Shepherd tied the game with 8:45 left in the fourth quarter at 48 after Kayla Tibbs drained a three-pointer.
However, that was the closest the Rams came to taking back the lead, with freshman forward
Madison May responding with a jumper just 15 seconds later to give Concord the lead for good.
Shepherd closed the gap to two twice over the next six minutes, but Concord continually scored points off of free throws on subsequent possessions to respond to the Shepherd rally.
Shepherd made one final push when it cut the Concord lead to one with 1:49 left.
Overbey stepped up on the following possession, sinking a three-point shot on an assist by senior guard
Olivia Morgan to give CU a four-point lead, 60-56 with 1:10 left in the game.
Sophomore guard
Emily Boothe and junior center
Alley Odell combined to go 7-for-8 from the free throw line down the stretch to help secure a nine-point victory for CU.
Overbey scored 20 points, just two short of her career-high of 22 points that came against Shepherd almost one year ago today. The Gate City, Virginia native also tied a career-high of nine rebounds, finishing just one board shy of her first career double-double.
Chapman added 16 points. Boothe contributed 14 points, her fifth consecutive game in double figures.
Concord's defensive effort proved to be critical in a close game, outscoring the Rams 17-12 in points off of turnovers, and outrebounding SU 47-38.
CU also held Shepherd to 25 percent shooting in the second half.
The Mountain Lions return home on Monday evening for a 6 P.M. tip against Bluefield State.
