ATHENS, W.Va. – The Concord University women's basketball team surged past Point Park, 71-56, Saturday afternoon in a Mountain East Conference game at the Carter Center.
After 10 lead changes and eight ties in the first half, it was Concord (14-7, 9-4 MEC) that took a 31-29 edge into halftime. However, out of the locker room the Mountain Lions outscored Point Park (6-14, 3-12 MEC) 25-11 in the third quarter.
PPU took a brief 32-31 lead at the 8:24 mark of the third quarter, but the Mountain Lions responded with an 8-0 run over the next 3:22 game. Sophomore guard
Kenyah Stubbs scored six of the eight points as the run was extended to 13-2 after a bucket from sophomore forward
Trinity Henderson.
At the 3:55 mark of the third quarter, the Mountain Lions were up 44-34.
Point Park was able to get the margin back to eight points, but CU erupted again as senior forward
Abbie Smith and Stubbs combined for back-to-back buckets to cap a 10-2 over the final 3:02 of the third period.
Leading 56-40 to start the fourth, Concord upped the advantage to a game-high 24 points, 64-40, with 7:43 remaining in the game.
Both defenses were in control over the first 20 minutes as only Point Park's second quarter produced a field-goal percentage of better than 40 percent for either team. The Pioneers had a 14-12 lead after 10 minutes.
Smith went to work and scored 10 of Concord's 19 points in the second quarter as part of her 16-point first half.
Defensively, Concord limited Point Park to 30.8 percent shooting on the day, including a 25.7 percent clip (9-for-35) in the second half. CU also forced 15 turnovers with nine by way of steals.
On Senior Day, Smith finished with 24 points, 12 rebounds and four blocks. Stubbs netted 16 points. Senior guard
Kennedy Scales scored nine of her 14 points during the explosive third quarter for the Mountain Lions.
Senior forward
Olivia Ziolkowski was a defensive force she tracked down 11 rebounds (nine defensive) to go with three blocks. She added six points.
CU finished with a rebounding edge of 48-45, and outscored the Pioneers 17-9 in second-chance points despite both teams having 14 offensive boards.
Concord tallied 44 points in the paint, and finished a perfect 14-for-14 at the foul line with Scales and Stubbs both going 6-for-6.
The Mountain Lions continue a three-game home stand 4:00 p.m. Monday as they welcome Fairmont State. Â
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