Hilltoppers Fall In MEC Quarterfinal
Belknap joins 1,000-point club
Trending
WHEELING -- When it comes to a matchup between West Liberty and Glenville State in women's basketball, one thing is almost certain. It's going to be a game of runs. Thursday's Mountain East Conference quarterfinal matchup was no exception.
The Pioneers led by as many as 15 in the second quarter, only to see the Hilltoppers keep chipping at their deficit and eventually took a one-point lead.
It didn't last long as Glenville hit a 3-pointer on the next possession that sparked a run of their own en route to a 118-87 victory at WesBanco Arena.
Glenville State coach Kim Stephens wasn't surprised when West Liberty kept gaining ground.
"They were prepared for it and they just played through it," Stephens said. "They didn't bat an eye. But we've played them so many times, we're used to it. We knew it was going to happen."
Glenville State also controlled the offensive glass as it collected 27 rebounds and took 33 more shots than West Liberty.
With 7:18 left in the third quarter, Zakiyah Whitfield put the Pioneers back up by double digits, 55-45, but that's when the Hilltoppers made their move.
A Grace Faulk sparked a 14-3 run over about two and a half minutes. Karley McCutcheon drilled a 3-pointer with 4:51 left on the clock to give the Hilltoppers the lead, 59-58.
However, it was short-lived as Mashayla Cecil responded for Glenville with a 3-pointer of her own.
After Olivia Belknap tied the game, the Pioneers scored 14 of the next 19 points and never looked back.
"I thought we fought like crazy and we had our chances in the third quarter," West Liberty coach Kyle Cooper said. "One of the things that I was impressed with is I thought our first-shot defense was really good. To hold them to 48% shooting on the game when they had 27 (offensive) boards, that means we were doing some right there, we just did not finish up plays and that's indicative to their second chance points we gave up."
Belknap paced the Hilltoppers with 36 points going 14 of 22 from the field. In her final game in a Hilltopper uniform, she surpassed 1,000 points in her collegiate career.
"I'll be honest when I say this, there's no one that is tougher on Live than me and there's no one that's loved Liv like me at the same time," Cooper said. "I'm so proud that she's been rewarded with this senior year. She's played phenomenal.
"More importantly, I'm so proud of the woman she is. She's confident. She's powerful. It's going to be a big-time future for her."
Audrey Tingle was one rebound shy of a triple-double as she turned in 15 points, dished out 12 assists and had nine boards.
Her 12 assists tie a MEC Tournament record that was set by former Hilltopper Kailee Howe in 2015.
Faulk and Ariana Manzay added 12 and 11 points, respectively for the Hilltoppers.
"I just want to thank my teammates and coaches for always pushing me and keeping me up when I'm down," Belknap said. "I've just enjoyed my five years at West Lib more than anything."
Six Pioneers scored in double figures as Re'Shawna Stone netted 23 points while Winfield supplied a double-double with 20 point and 11 rebounds.
Abby Stoller had 18 points, Taychaun Hubbard supplied 13 and Deja Atkinson and Jada Mitchell each supplied 12.
Notre Dame,
Charleston Women Advance in MEC Tournament
WHEELING -- Notre Dame College scored the first 11 points of the game, raced out to a 24-6 first quarter lead and never looked back as it routed West Virginia Wesleyan, 80-33 during the quarterfinals of the Mountain East Conference Tournament Thursday afternoon at WesBanco Arena.
The Falcons, who claimed the MEC North Division title, will battle Glenville State in the semifinals on Saturday with a tipoff time slated for 2 p.m. It will be a rematch of last year's MEC women's championship game.
Sophomore Marina Adachi paced Notre Dame College with 25 points going 8 of 11 from the field and 6-for-7 from behind the 3-point arc.
Jada Marone and Amil Ali-Shakir both netted 10 points.
Summer Matlack paced West Virginia Wesleyan with nine points while Cierra Tolbert netted eight.
Charleston 73
Alderson Broaddus 50
WHEELING -- Despite only shooting 34.3% from the floor, Charleston secured a victory against Alderson Broaddus.
Erykah Russell paced the Golden Eagles with 26 points while MEC Women's Player of the Year supplied 16. Anastasiia Zakharova netted 10 points to round out the double figure scorers for Charleston.
Iyahnna Williams had a team-high 19 points for Alderson Broaddus.
The Golden Eagles - who went 22 of 24 from the foul line - will take Wheeling in the semifinals on Saturday with a tipoff of 11 a.m.