BUCKHANNON, W.Va. – The West Virginia Wesleyan women’s basketball team scored their lowest point total of the season against West Liberty on Saturday afternoon, losing 77-35 inside Rockefeller Center. The Bobcats shot 16-59 (27%) in the lopsided loss.
West Liberty’s Corinne Thomas started her hot first half off with a corner three to score the first points of the game. Emma Witt put the Lady Bobcats on the board a couple possessions later with a contested layup through the lane. WLU started the first four-plus minutes shooting 4-7 from behind the arc, forcing Brett Vincent to call a timeout with the Hilltoppers leading 12-2. The Lady Bobcats answered, only allowing two more points in the remaining 5:38 of the quarter. Going into to the second quarter West Liberty led 14-9.
The Hilltoppers came out firing once again, going on a 15-4 run halfway through the quarter. Corinne Thompson connected on her fourth three of the game right before the media timeout, giving her 14 points in the first half. A Grace Faulk three extended West Liberty’s lead to 20, their biggest lead of the game so far at 33-13. The Lady Bobcats only shot 4-14 from the field in the second quarter, allowing West Liberty to outscore WVWC 21-8 in the quarter and lead 35-17 at the break.
Courtney Wilfong and Witt opened the second half with consecutive buckets, hoping to be a spark in the Lady Bobcat offense. West Liberty continued to counter, building off the hot shooting of Thomas and consistent offense down low from Arriana Manzay. Cierra Tolbert came off the bench and gave Wesleyan good minutes while also hitting a pair of hook shots and mid-range jumpers. The Hilltoppers took a 52-29 advantage going into the closing quarter.
The fourth quarter was the most productive quarter for the Hilltoppers and the least productive for the Lady Bobcats. WLU scored 25 points to just Wesleyan’s six, while also shooting 57% from the field and WVWC only shooting 17%.
The Hilltoppers featured four double-digit scorers, led by Thomas’ 25 points on 7-9 shooting from three. Manzay had another double-double, scoring 13 points and pulling down 10 rebounds. Karly McCutcheon finished with 12 points and Grace Faulk ended with 11 points.
Witt led the way for the Lady Bobcats with 10 points and Tolbert finished with eight points.
Wesleyan will be back at home on Wednesday evening at 5:30 p.m. to take on Notre Dame College.
