West Liberty’s Reagan Vinskovich, pictured during the Hilltoppers’ game against Davis & Elkins on Wednesday.

WEST LIBERTY — The West Liberty Hilltoppers used a strong overtime surge to edge the Davis & Elkins Senators, 66-61, on Wednesday evening at the ASRC in a contest celebrating National Girls and Women in Sports Day.

West Liberty (7-14, 4-10 MEC) pulled away with an 11-6 run in the extra period, capitalizing on 18 Davis & Elkins turnovers that led to 20 Hilltopper points. The hosts were especially effective in transition, outscoring the Senators 17-2 on fast breaks.

The Hilltoppers opened the game with confident play, jumping out to an early lead behind a 3-pointer from Ana-Isabel Andersson Rodriguez and a tip-in from Reagan Vinskovich. West Liberty maintained control throughout the first quarter and carried a 14-9 advantage into the second.

Momentum swung further in the Hilltoppers’ favor midway through the second quarter as Olivia Baker knocked down a fast-break 3-pointer, followed shortly by another triple from Dria Parker. Jillian Huffman added a fast-break layup off a steal before drilling a jumper at the buzzer to give West Liberty a 31-23 halftime lead.

West Liberty came out strong after the break, opening the third quarter with a 5-0 run. Baker continued her hot shooting from long range, while Andersson Rodriguez added a key layup late in the period to help the Hilltoppers maintain a 51-45 edge entering the fourth quarter.

The final regulation period saw West Liberty cling to a narrow lead despite several missed opportunities to extend it. Vinskovich scored inside with just over two minutes remaining, but Davis & Elkins forced overtime when Jahniya Marion converted a tying layup at the buzzer, sending the game into extra time knotted at 55-55.

In overtime, Katie Lucarelli sparked the decisive run with a clutch 3-pointer. Vinskovich followed with a layup and a free throw to stretch the lead, and after a late Senators basket, Andersson Rodriguez sealed the win with two fast-break free throws.

Vinskovich turned in a dominant performance, posting a double-double with 18 points and a career-high 20 rebounds, including eight on the offensive glass. Baker finished with 15 points on four 3-pointers, while Lucarelli added 11 points and three assists. Andersson Rodriguez chipped in 10 points, five assists, and two steals.

West Liberty returns to action Saturday, traveling to West Virginia Wesleyan Bobcats for a 2 p.m. Mountain East Conference matchup.

West Liberty Men Roll Past Davis & Elkins

WEST LIBERTY — The No.8 West Liberty Hilltoppers continued their dominant Mountain East Conference run with a convincing 111-74 victory over the Davis & Elkins Senators on Wednesday night at the ASRC.

West Liberty (18-3, 13-1 MEC) forced 25 Davis & Elkins turnovers and converted them into 26 points, while controlling the interior with 66 points in the paint. The Hilltoppers never trailed, using constant pressure and an up-tempo attack to steadily build their lead.

The hosts wasted no time taking control, opening the game with a 7-0 run. Aiden Davis scored just three seconds into the contest on a layup assisted by Hayden Abdullah, setting the tone for the night. West Liberty consistently pushed the pace in the opening half, outscoring the Senators 28-14 in the paint and 18-2 on fast breaks. Cameron Williams added a fast-break layup and free throw during the surge, as the Hilltoppers took a commanding 45-29 lead into halftime.

Momentum carried over into the second half as Abdullah opened the scoring with a layup in the opening minute. A 3-pointer from Max Hurray midway through the half, followed by a steal and fast-break layup from Myles Montgomery, further stretched the advantage. Davis & Elkins struggled to find rhythm against West Liberty’s defensive pressure, and the Hilltoppers capitalized with efficient shooting and ball movement down the stretch. Jamie Muldowney contributed multiple baskets, including a 3-pointer, as West Liberty closed out the win in emphatic fashion.

Abdullah led the Hilltoppers with 17 points on 8-of-9 shooting and added two blocks. Hurray finished with 15 points and five rebounds, while Montgomery chipped in 13 points and recorded six steals. Landon Butler also made his presence felt defensively with two steals and two blocks.

West Liberty returns to action Saturday with a road trip to West Virginia Wesleyan Bobcats for a Mountain East Conference matchup in Buckhannon.