ATHENS, W.Va. – The Concord University women's basketball team rallied from an 18-point first half deficit, but fell to West Liberty, 87-74, Wednesday night in a Mountain East Conference game at the Carter Center.
WLU (7-5, 5-2 MEC) opened up a 27-11 advantage through one quarter, and still led 43-30 at halftime.
However, Concord (4-7, 2-5 MEC) held the Hilltoppers to three points over the next 4:50 of the game—stretching into the third—to trim the deficit to 43-37. The Mountain Lions' surge continued as a three-pointer from senior guard
Jazz Blankenship got CU within 50-49 at the 1:55 mark of the third.
A jumper from graduate guard
Maggie Guynn right before the third-quarter buzzer got CU back within a point, 54-53. And on CU's first possession of the fourth quarter, a layup from junior guard
Jaisah Smith gave Concord its first lead of the contest.
The advantage was short lived, though, as WLU opened up a 63-57 edge with 7:46 remaining. The lead remained intact until six straight points from Smith over the next 90 seconds tied the game at 65-65. The sides traded scores with freshman forward
Abbie Smith sinking two foul shots to tie the contest at 69-69. But, West Liberty scored 11 straight points en route to the victory.
J. Smith scored 10 of her 15 points in the fourth quarter as she shot 5-of-10 from the field and 5-for-6 at the foul line. A. Smith notched her fourth double-double of the season with 10 points and 10 rebounds. Senior guard
Ashton Funderburg scored eight of her nine points in the first half. Junior guard
Nakaila Gray had eight points and eight rebounds (seven offensive).
CU had a 50-43 rebounding margin as it collected 27 offensive rebounds. West Liberty buried 13 three-pointers in the game, including six from Grace Faulk, to offset the offensive glass attack by Concord.
The Mountain Lions begin a two-game road trip 2:00 p.m. Saturday against Wheeling.
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