FAIRMONT, W.Va. – The Concord University women's basketball team held off a late charge from Seton Hill to win 81-73 Saturday afternoon inside Joe Retton Arena at the MEC-PSAC Challenge.
The contest had just three lead changes as the Mountain Lions took command of the game in the middle stages of the second quarter. Down 19-18 after one quarter, CU (1-1) watched Seton Hill (1-1) grow its lead to as much as nine points, 30-21, after a three-pointer at the 8:21 mark of the second period.
However, Concord scored 12 of the next 14 points to grab a 33-32 lead at the 4:22 mark. Senior guard
Emily Boothe and freshman forward
Maggie Guynn started the run as each knocked in a three-pointer, then sophomore forward
Riley Fitzwater and junior forward
Madison May combined to score the next six points in the run.
CU expanded its first half lead to as much as six points before two buckets by the Griffins left Concord with a 40-38 halftime edge.
Senior guard
Andreanna Pool began the second half by draining her own three-pointer, and the Mountain Lions only let SHU get the score back to two possessions for the remainder of the quarter. Pool concluded the period by hitting a jump shot to give CU a 13-point advantage, 62-49 going to the fourth quarter.
With less than three minutes left in the contest, Concord was still up 12 points, 76-64, after a May jumper. Seton Hill, however, had one last run in it as it scored nine straight points in 2:07 to cut the CU lead to 76-73 with 38 seconds left.
The Mountain Lions got a crucial defensive stop with under 30 seconds left, and May hit 3-of-4 free throws down the stretch while Boothe added two makes from the charity stripe to seal the win for Concord.
May led four scorers in double figures for CU as she netted 21 points and added seven rebounds. Pool went for 18 points on 8-for-16 shooting and also handed out five assists. Boothe did a little bit of everything for the Maroon and Gray as she scored 11 points, grabbed eight rebounds and recorded three steals.
Fitzwater notched her second straight double-double as she recorded 13 points, 18 rebounds and also added five blocks.
Concord shot 48.3 percent (29-for-60) from the floor while holding Seton Hill to 34.9 percent (29-for-83).
CU faces Mercer County rival Bluefield State on the road 6:00 p.m. Tuesday.
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