Concord Downs West Virginia State in Overtime, 101-95

INSTITUTE, W.Va. – The Concord University women's basketball team outlasted West Virginia State in overtime, 101-95, Wednesday night in a Mountain East Conference contest at the Walker Convocation Center.

Concord (20-9, 13-8 MEC) led 85-79 with 54 seconds remaining in regulation after fifth-year senior forward Riley Fitzwater went 1-of-2 at the foul line. However, it would be the last time CU scored in the fourth quarter as West Virginia State tied the game with 11 seconds left.

The Mountain Lions held WVSU to three points over the first half of the extra segment as it led 92-89 with 2:30 remaining. The next four points went points went to Concord on a jumper from sophomore guard Jaisah Smith and a pair of free throws from senior guard Gracie Robinson.

Including Robinson's two free throws with 47 seconds left, the Mountain Lions went 7-of-8 at the foul line to close the game for the six-point win.
West Virginia State led by as much as 11 points in the first half as the Mountain Lions never had an advantage in the opening 20 minutes.

WVSU led 49-43 at the intermission.

But, CU made its final four shots of the first half and opened the second half by nailing 11 of its first 12 shots to take a 57-55 edge with 5:24 remaining in the third. After West Virginia State tied the game at 61-61, the Mountain Lions ripped off the final nine points of the third quarter to grab its largest lead of the game.

WVSU chipped away at the deficit as Concord held off the Yellow Jackets until they tied the game at 76-76.

After shooting 57.6 percent in the first half, the Maroon and Gray heated up even more to shoot 66.7 percent after halftime. Concord shot 62.1 percent (41-for-66) for the game which was a season best.

Fitzwater paced six players in double figures as she went for 24 points and 13 rebounds. Smith just missed the 20-point mark with 19 points and a career-high tying seven assists.
Senior guard Maggie Guynn tossed in 10 of her 16 points after halftime as she added eight boards.

Junior guard Jazz Blankenship was a key spark to Concord's third-quarter surge as she dumped in eight of her 13 points in the period. Robinson netted 12 points and sophomore guard Maddie Ratcliff came off the bench with 11 points and a career-best three blocks.

Defensively, CU held West Virginia State to 36.1 percent shooting.

The Mountain Lions play their final regular season game when they visit undefeated and nationally-ranked number one Glenville State 2:00 p.m. Saturday.