Concord Tests Win Streak at West Liberty

Concord Stats – West Liberty Stats – Live Video – Live Stats – Complete Game Notes
 
ATHENS, W.Va. – The Concord University women's basketball team takes its four-game winning streak on the road, facing West Liberty in a Mountain East Conference matchup Saturday at 2:00 p.m. inside the ASRC.
 
LIVE COVERAGE
The West Liberty Sports Information Department will provide live video and statistics for Saturday's game.
 
LIVE VIDEO
 
LIVE STATS
 
SERIES HISTORY
West Liberty leads 31-11
 
LAST FIVE MEETINGS AGAINST WEST LIBERTY
January 17, 2024: Concord 92 – West Liberty 86 (Athens, W.Va.)
February 11, 2023: West Liberty 87 – Concord 70 (West Liberty, W.Va.)
January 4, 2023: West Liberty 87 – Concord 74 (Athens, W.Va.)
February 12, 2022: Concord 86 – West Liberty 75 (Athens, W.Va.)
January 5, 2022: Concord 88 – West Liberty 81 (West Liberty, W.Va.)
 
CONCORD AT A GLANCE
2023-24 Record: 15-10
MEC Record: 10-7
Home Record: 9-3
Away Record: 6-6
Neutral Record: 0-1
 
COMEBACK KIDS
CU extended its winning streak to four games, defeating Wheeling 74-71 Wednesday evening. After trailing by four points at halftime and by as much as 11 in the second half, the Mountain Lions pulled off the come-from-behind victory. In fact, Concord has managed to overcome a halftime deficit in three straight games. Although it is being outscored by 12 points in the first half of those four games, CU possesses an 8-point edge in the third quarter and a 26-point margin in the fourth. On the season, CU is -30 in scoring margin in the first half, but +108 in the second half. The Maroon and Gray are 7-1 when leading at the halftime, but own more wins (8) when trailing at the break.
 
STRONG FROM THE STRIPE
The four-game win streak isn't the only active streak for CU right now. Graduate forward Alexis Phillips has connected on 27 of her last 27 free throw attempts. The Pulaski, Va. native has made every attempted free throw since the second quarter at Notre Dame on February 7, including a career-high 10 made free throws at Davis & Elkins. Also, during the streak, Phillips is 8-for-8 at the line with under three minutes left on the clock. On the season, she is shooting 87.1 percent (61-for-70) from the line and is 15-for-16 (93.7 percent) from the charity stripe in the final three minutes of games. She started the season 18 for her first 18 free throws, with her first miss coming in the second quarter at UVa.-Wise on December 4.
 
PLENTY TO GO AROUND
In each of their last two outings, the Mountain Lions have had five scorers reach double figures. Three players have scored in double figures in both games: Phillips, freshman guard Ana Young, and graduate guard Nakaila Gray. Phillips logged a career-best 21 points against Davis & Elkins and grabbed 11 rebounds for her second double-double of the winter. Young scored 19 against Davis & Elkins and 11 against Wheeling, hitting multiple three-pointers in each game. Gray has also hit multiple three-pointers in each game, scoring 14 against Davis & Elkins and 12 against Wheeling. Sophomore forward Abbie Smith (14), junior guard/forward Deja Atkinson (12), graduate guard Jazz Blankenship (10), and junior guard Skylar Davidson (10) have also contributed double-digit scoring games.
 
FROM DOWNTOWN
One matchup to look at heading into Saturday's contest is West Liberty's three-point offense versus Concord's three-point defense. WLU owns the second-best three-point offense in the country, making 10.5 three-point baskets per game. Senior guard Corinne Thomas leads the country in made three's per game (3.4) and is shooting 36.9 percent from three-point range. Junior guard Karly McCutcheon (2.5) and sophomore guard Bailee Smith (2.1) are also contributing multiple three-pointers per game. On the flip side, CU is holding opponents to just 30.6 from long range and have allowed the fourth-lowest amount of three-pointers this season (147). WLU also sports the league's top three-point defense, only allowing teams to shoot 29.1 percent from three.
 
TURNOVER BATTLE
While the Hilltoppers offense is shooting north of 40 percent, they are turning the ball over 20.8 times per game. Concord has forced at least 20 turnovers in six straight games, scoring 23.1 points per game off of those turnovers. Additionally, the Mountain Lions have picked away at least 10 steals in eight straight games. Davidson (third, 2.8) and Gray (sixth, 2.6) fall inside the top 10 in the league in steals per game. Over her last eight games played, Gray has come away with a team-leading 29 steals. On Wednesday against Wheeling, senior guard Maddie Ratcliff led the charge with four steals. CU forced 22 Wheeling turnovers and totaled 11 steals in the game.
 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
15 – Fourth quarter scoring margin in CU's six-point win over WLU on January 17 (37-22)
48 – Points in the paint when Concord faced West Liberty in the Carter Center earlier this winter
65 – Percentage of CU's three-pointers coming in the second half during its four-game win streak (13-of-20)
 
WEST LIBERTY AT A GLANCE
2023-24 Record: 8-17
MEC Record: 5-12
Home Record: 6-7
Away Record: 2-10
Neutral Record: 0-0
 
SCOUTING THE HILLTOPPERS
B. Smith led the Hilltoppers in scoring the first time the two teams met this season with 25 points and shot 4-of-7 from three-point range. Thomas, McCutcheon, and senior forward Jenna Riccardo all contributed 17 points as well. As a team, West Liberty knocked down 11 three-pointers in the game, paired with 23 free throws. WLU outscored Concord in the first three quarters before a 15-point fourth quarter edge sealed a 92-86 victory for CU.