BUCKHANNON, W.Va. – The West Virginia Wesleyan (1-4, 0-4) women’s basketball team was lifted to victory over Salem University (3-6) as Daveona Hatchell last second shot found the bottom of the net on Monday (Dec. 5) night in the Rockefeller Center.
WVWC Leaders
Shelby Genes earned a new career-high and led all scorers with 20 points. M`laya Ainsworth chipped in with 17 points and a team-leading nine rebounds. Emma Witt was aggressive on the defensive end with a team-leading seven steals and brought down five rebounds. Courtney Wilfong passed a team-leading eight assists.
Inside the First Half
The Bobcats jumped out to a quick 6-2 lead after an old-fashioned three-point play from Electra Alembert and deep three from Witt. The Tigers answered with a three of their own and trailed 6-5. Back-to-back shots behind the arc from Courtney Wilfong and Shelby Genes extended the Bobcats lead to 12-5. Wesleyan began a run that would see them take 13 of the next 15 points and lead 25-7 with 1:16 left to play in the first quarter. Salem made two shots from behind the arc to end the first quarter and trailed 27-13..
Wesleyan started the second quarter hot taking the first five points of the frame and led 32-13. The Tigers went on a 12-2 run and trailed 35-25 with 4:53 remaining in the first half. M`laya Ainsworth drilled a three-pointer and the Bobcats led 38-25. Salem cut the deficit to five after scoring eight straight points and trailed 38-33. WVWC ended the first half on a 10-4 run and led 48-37 at the half.
Inside the Second Half
Salem began the second half on a 9-2 run and trailed 50-46. Wesleyan quickly answered after Ainsworth and Genes both drilled a three and Courtney Wilfong drove into the defense with a layup, the Bobcats extended their lead back to nine, 58-49 with 4:40 left to play in the third quarter. After exchanging the next six scoring possessions, Emma Witt sunk a layup and the Lady Bobcats led 65-55 to end the third period.
The Tigers went on an 8-4 scoring run to begin the fourth period and trailed 69-63. After a missed free throw from Witt, Hatchell grabbed the offensive board and found Ainsworth who drilled a three-point shot and the Lady Bobcats led 72-63. Salem scored the next nine points of the game and tie the game for the first time since the score was 2-2 at 72-72. Allembert put up a shot from behind the arc that hit the rim and bounced right into the hands of Hatchell whose put back layup found the bottom of the net as time expired and the Lady Bobcats won, 74-72.
Up Next
The Lady Bobcats will welcome Alderson Broaddus into the Rockefeller Center on Wednesday (Dec. 7) for a MEC matchup, tip-off is set for 5:30 p.m.
