ATHENS, W.Va- The Concord University women's basketball team used a strong second quarter to pull away from West Liberty 81-54 in women's basketball action on Thursday evening.
Concord improves to 6-16 on the year (4-13 MEC), while West Liberty drops to 7-16 overall (6-11 MEC)
After a close affair in the first quarter in which Concord held onto a 19-18 lead, the Mountain Lions used a 24-8 run throughout the second period to create separation from the Hilltoppers. The Mountain Lions had five players score four points or more in the quarter, including junior guard
Danielle Catron, who notched six of her game-high 20 points during the period.
Concord as a team shot 62.5 percent in the second quarter, while limiting the Hilltoppers to just 2-of-10 shooting from the field to take a 43-26 lead at halftime.
A strong push from the Mountain Lions to start the third quarter effectively sealed the game for CU, outscoring the Hilltoppers 18-8 in the third period to take a 61-34 lead entering the fourth.
Concord held on for an 81-54 win to surpass the wins mark for the team last season.
Catron notched her fourth 20-point game of the season, leading all scorers. Also scoring in double figures for the Mountain Lions were senior guard
Alexis Lowery (15), junior forward
Heather Chapman, (12), and junior guard
Lindsey Overbey (10). In addition to the 10 points, Overbey finished with a game-high eight rebounds.
Concord's defensive effort helped stifle the Hilltoppers, who shot just 32.7 percent from the field while making just 24 percent of its shots from downtown. The 54 points allowed by Concord was the lowest mark for a Concord opponent all season.
Additionally, the Mountain Lions forced 24 turnovers, outscoring the Hilltoppers 29-9 on points off turnovers.
Of the 24 forced turnovers, 13 of them were straight steals by Concord. Lowery nabbed five steals while senior guard
Olivia Morgan notched four steals.
Concord continues its homestand on Saturday afternoon with a 1 p.m. tip against MEC leader Wheeling Jesuit.
