Concord Rides Momentum Into MEC Quarterfinals Against West Virginia State

Concord Stats - West Virginia State Stats - Live Stats - Live Video - Complete Game Notes

WHEELING, W.Va. - After a 78-67 win over Notre Dame in the Mountain East Conference Tournament First Round, the Concord University women's basketball sets its sights on the MEC Quarterfinals versus West Virginia State 12:00 p.m. Thursday inside WesBanco Arena in Wheeling, West Virginia.

LIVE COVERAGE
The Mountain East Conference will have live statistics of the game. WVMetroNews provides live streaming of the tournament in its entirety. 

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SERIES HISTORY: Concord leads 35-21

LAST FIVE MEETINGS
February 22, 2023: Concord 82 - West Virginia State 71 (Athens, W.Va.)
November 22, 2022: West Virginia State 95 - Concord 70 (Institute, W.Va.)
February 23, 2022: Concord 101 - West Virginia State 95 (OT) (Institute, W.Va.)
November 23, 2021: Concord 75 - West Virginia State 69 (Athens, W.Va.)
February 17, 2021: Concord 104 - West Virginia State 94 (Institute, W.Va.)

CONCORD AT A GLANCE
Overall Record: 13-16
Home Record: 7-6
Away Record: 4-9
Neutral Record: 2-1

RALLY CATS
Wednesday marked the second time this season that Concord won after trailing at halftime as CU trailed 32-29 through 20 minutes of action. The other instance came all the way back in December when the Mountain Lions overcame a seven-point halftime deficit in an overtime win at Frostburg State. The rally was sparked by the Maroon and Gray shooting 69.5 percent in the second half of Wednesday's game. It was the best shooting half of the season for the Mountain Lions. Junior guard Jaisah Smith led CU in scoring with 18 points. Fellow junior guard Nakaila Gray tossed in a career-best 16 points. The duo combined to go 10-for-17 from the floor.

UNSUSPECTING SUSPECTS
Notre Dame's lead ballooned to eight points in the third quarter of Wednesday's game, but two Mountain Lions in particular helped lead the comeback—Gray and senior guard Ashton Funderburg. Of the 24 points scored by CU in the third quarter, 14 came from Funderburg and Gray who combine for just 8.8 points per game. Funderburg netted eight points in the game with seven coming in the third quarter. Additionally, Funderburg hit CU's only three-pointer of the game—just her third made triple of the season. It was also the first made three-pointer of the season for Funderburg that wasn't against Frostburg State. Along with going 5-for-7 from the floor, Gray made a season-best six free throws as she did not miss from the charity stripe.

STEP UP, KNOCK DOWN
Gray was one of the reasons why Concord made a season-best 27 free throws while shooting 71.1 percent from the foul line (27-for-38). J. Smith stepped up and made 8-for-11 at the free-throw stripe while graduate guard Maggie Guynn was 5-for-5 at the charity line. CU's previous season high in made foul shots came last week when it connected on 24 in an upset 82-71 win over West Virginia State at the Carter Center. Concord attempts the fifth-most free throws in the MEC (21.1) while West Virginia State is fourth in attempted foul shots (22.2). Guynn is second in the MEC in free throw percentage (81.8) while J. Smith is fourth (78.8). Both Concord (73.3) and West Virginia State (73.9) shoot 73 percent at the foul line.

100 CLUB
By suiting up on Thursday, Guynn will set the Concord women's basketball program record for games played with 133—she's currently in a tie with former teammate Riley Fitzwater for games played. The Pearisburg, West Virginia native is one of three CU players that have played at least 100 games in the Maroon and Gray. Senior guard Jazz Blankenship has appeared in 106 games while Funderburg played in career game 101 on Wednesday. The trio of players are the most experienced in the MEC. In fact, the only other MEC players that have appeared in 100 or more games are Charleston teammates Dakota Reeves (109) and Trinity Palacio (107) as well as Fairmont State's Katy Darnell (101) and West Liberty's Grace Faulk (101). The most experienced West Virginia State player is Destiny Fields who has played in 96 career games.

QUICK TURNAROUND
Only eight days will have gone by between Concord defeating West Virginia State at home and Thursday's matchup. The 82-71 victory of the Yellow Jackets was the biggest win of the season for the Mountain Lions. CU held West Virginia State more than 20 points below its season average in scoring of 91.8. Furthermore, Concord outrebounded West Virginia State 55-45 which was a season high in rebounding for the Maroon and Gray. Five different players finished in double figures for just the third time this season. Guynn poured in 18 points. Junior guard Maddie Ratcliff scored 17 points on 4-for-8 shooting. Gray had her first career-double of 15 points and 11 rebounds. J. Smith scored the same total off the bench while freshman forward Abbie Smith tallied 13 points. WVSU won on its home floor 95-70 over Concord in November.

GLASS BATTLE
Thursday will be a matchup of the top two rebounding teams in the MEC in West Virginia State and Concord. WVSU leads the conference in rebounding margin (+6.4) while Concord's +4.3 margin is second. Gray led the rebounding effort in Athens last Wednesday. However, senior forward Lauryn Avery was big off the bench with six boards in 10 minutes. A. Smith added six rebounds. The game featured 45 offensive rebounds with West Virginia State holding a 25-20 edge. The Yellow Jackets average 24 offensive rebounds per game, first in Division II. CU is top 40 in Division II in offensive rebounds per game (13.9). WVSU's Emyah Fortenberry (4.4) and Destiny Fields (3.6) combine for eight offensive rebounds per game. Abbie Smith is sixth in the MEC in offensive rebounds with 3.2 per game.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS
30.6- Percentage that Concord held West Virginia State to in last week's win—the lowest shooting number of the year for WVSU.

36- It had been 36 games since CU made one or two three-pointers and still won, dating back to last year's win versus West Liberty.

46- Points in the paint for Concord in its win over Notre Dame Wednesday.

WEST VIRGINIA STATE AT A GLANCE
Overall Record: 22-5
MEC Record: 17-5
Home Record: 13-2
Away Record: 9-3
Neutral Record: 0-0

SCOUTING THE YELLOW JACKETS
West Virginia State starts the MEC Tournament seeking to lock up an NCAA Tournament appearance as it sits fifth in the Atlantic Regional Rankings—the top eight teams advance. Along with being one of the best rebounding teams in the nation, WVSU has the highest scoring offense in Division II. Anysa Jordan, who was a First Team All-MEC selection scored 23 points in CU's win last week. Fields and Shelby Harmeyer were All-MEC Second Team performers.