Concord Storms Past West Virginia Wesleyan with Strong Fourth Quarter, 61-50

ATHENS, W.Va. – The Concord University women's basketball team erased a five-point halftime deficit to defeat West Virginia Wesleyan 61-50 in a Mountain East Conference contest Wednesday evening at the Carter Center.
 
Finding themselves tied at 41-41 heading into the fourth quarter, the Mountain Lions (13-10, 8-7 MEC) fueled a 20-9 scoring surge. After junior guard Skylar Davidson split a pair of free throws, graduate guard Alexis Phillips scored seven straight points to give CU a six-point edge, 49-43, at the 7:45 mark—the largest lead to that point for CU.
 
Then, graduate guard Nakaila Gray took a steal coast-to-coast to extend the lead to eight, 51-43. After forcing another WVWC (7-13, 4-11 MEC) turnover, graduate gaurd Jazz Blankenship knocked down a jumper to extend Concord's lead to double digits for the first time, 53-43, with 6:59 remaining in the game.
 
Later in the quarter, senior guard Maddie Ratcliff made a pair of free throws to give the Maroon and Gray its biggest lead of the evening, 56-45, with just under five minutes to play. Phillips scored nine of her team-leading 13 points in the fourth quarter.
 
After shooting an even 50 percent (13-for-26) in the first half, Concord held WVWC to just 30 percent (9-for-30) from the field in the third and fourth quarters. The Mountain Lions held the Bobcats scoreless across the final 3:18 to clinch an MEC home win, 61-50.
 
Concord outscored WVWC 37-21 in the second half, improving its second half scoring margin to +90 on the season. The Mountain Lions forced 23 Bobcats turnovers on 10 steals, the sixth-straight game with double-digit steals for CU.
 
The first quarter was back-and-forth, as no team gained control by more than three points. Junior guard/forward Deja Atkinson scored four of her six points in the opening quarter.
 
Ratcliff connected on a jumper at the six-minute mark of the second quarter to give CU its first lead since the 5:17 mark of the opening frame, 18-16. Smith knotted the game at 22-22, but a late Bobcats run saw West Virginia Wesleyan grab a 29-24 lead heading into halftime.
 
 Davidson drilled a three-pointer to open up the second half and give Concord the lead back, 30-29. CU extended its lead to four, 37-33, after a layup from sophomore guard Kennedy Scales and a transition three-pointer from freshman guard Ana Young.
 
Phillips finished two rebounds shy of a double-double, scoring 13 points and grabbing eight rebounds. Sophomore forward Abbie Smith scored nine points, grabbed seven boards, and recorded one block. Atkinson did a little bit of everything as she scored six points, tied her career-high in assists with six, and grabbed five rebounds. Gray tied her career-high in steals, coming away with six.
 
It was a balanced effort on the glass, as CU had four players grab at least five rebounds. Concord also had 24 offensive rebounds, the second-highest mark this season.
 
The Mountain Lions travel to face MEC foe Davis & Elkins Saturday at 2:00 p.m.