WHEELING, W.Va. – The Concord University women's basketball team had its season ended by Wheeling in overtime, 77-72, Thursday night in the Mountain East Conference Tournament Quarterfinals at WesBanco Arena.
The Mountain Lions (9-7) let a 17-point fourth quarter lead slip away as Wheeling (9-8) advances to play Charleston in Saturday's MEC Semifinals.
With the game tied, 35-35, at halftime, CU ran out to a 44-35 lead at the 7:14 mark of the third quarter, After Wheeling answered with a small run to get margin back to 45-41, the Mountain Lions scored 15 of the next 17 points to open up a 60-43 lead at the 7:00 mark of the fourth quarter.
Senior guard
Keely Lundy had the first three points and the final three points of the run with two triples as part of her 12 points on the night. Down 17, Wheeling slowly started chipping away at the Concord lead, and whittled the CU margin down to 64-59 with 2:02 left.
After junior guard
Maggie Guynn made 1-of-2 foul shots with 17 seconds left, Wheeling's Lilly Ritz sank a three-pointer to force overtime.
With the score tied at 70-70, Wheeling hit two foul shots with the 53 seconds left in overtime, and CU was unable to answer the Cardinals' score.
The Mountain Lions were forced to dig out of an early hole themselves as they trailed 17-6 eight minutes into the game. CU climbed back into the game, and freshman guard
Maddie Ratcliff scored the final six Concord points of the first half to tie the score at halftime.
Senior forward
Riley Fitzwater and Guynn each finished with 14 points as Fitzwater added 13 rebounds. Lundy rounded out the double-figure scorers with her 12 points on 4-for-6 from three-point range.
Ratcliff finished with nine points.
Thursday night was the final time for senior guard Abby Gwinn and senior forward
Morgan Thomas in a CU uniform. Concord's other three seniors—Fitzwater, Lundy and forward
Tamra Scott—plan to return for the 2021-22 season under the NCAA's ruling on winter sport athletes receiving an extra year of eligibility.
Â
