BUCKHANNON, W.Va. – The Concord University women's basketball team lost to West Virginia Wesleyan 70-58 Wednesday night in a Mountain East Conference game at the Rockefeller Center.
The Mountain Lions (4-9, 2-7 MEC) scored 25 points in the third quarter to erase a five-point halftime deficit, but West Virginia Wesleyan (2-10, 1-8 MEC) kept pace as it shot a blistering 76.9 percent (10-for-13) in the third period.
Down 26-21 at the break, CU tied the game for the first time with seven minutes remaining in the third, 30-30. The Maroon and Gray used an offensive stick back from senior forward
Lauryn Avery to take their first lead at the 4:53 mark, 35-34.
Concord grabbed a 42-40 edge after a three-pointer from junior guard
Maddie Ratcliff at the 3:05 mark. However, the Bobcats scored the next nine points to take a lead it would not relinquish. Freshman forward
Abbie Smith drew CU to within 56-53 after two of her 21 points with 5:55 remaining in regulation. But, a three-pointer on the next West Virginia Wesleyan trip pushed the edge back to two possessions.
After a slow start—shooting 25 percent and scoring eight points—in the first quarter, the Mountain Lions found their footing in the second as they shot 60 percent (6-of-10). But, WVWC did enough work on the offensive glass to lead by five at halftime. Â
Two well-rounded halves allowed A. Smith to score 21 points (10 in the first half, 11 in the second). She shot 9-for-11 from the field. Graduate guard
Maggie Guynn finished with 10 points. Avery gave the Mountain Lions a boost off the bench with eight points. Ratcliff dished out a team-best five assists.
Concord forced 17 turnovers in the game, including nine live-ball turnovers. Junior guard
Jaisah Smith recorded four steals. The Mountain Lions scored 36 points in the paint.
CU returns to the Carter Center to oppose Davis & Elkins 2:00 p.m. Saturday.
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