BUCKHANNON —West Virginia Wesleyan’s women’s basketball delivered a clutch performance Wednesday evening at the Rockefeller Center, holding off Concord University for an 81–79 Mountain East Conference. The win pushed the Bobcats to 7–2 overall and 5–1 in MEC play, while Concord slipped to 8–5 (4–2 MEC).
Wesleyan built early momentum, shooting efficiently in the first half and carrying a 43–33 advantage into the locker room. The Lady Bobcats connected on 18-of-32 shots over the opening 20 minutes and used balanced scoring and strong interior play to control the pace. Concord made a strong push late, outscoring Wesleyan 34–23 in the fourth quarter, but the Lady Bobcats’ composure at the free-throw line proved decisive.
Senior Emma Witt turned in a dominant all-around effort, leading all scorers with 27 points on 11-of-18 shooting while adding 10 rebounds for her third consecutive double-double. Witt also knocked down critical free throws in the final seconds to preserve the lead.
Kilah Dandridge followed with 20 points, shooting 6-of-11 from the floor and 7-of-8 at the line, while also contributing defensively in key moments.
Sydney Baird orchestrated the offense with seven assists to go along with 12 points, and Allie Daniels was a force on the glass, pulling down 11 rebounds while scoring nine points. Ana Young added nine points and provided energy in transition, as Wesleyan finished with 14 fast-break points compared to Concord’s six.
As a team, the Lady Bobcats shot an efficient 53.8 percent from the field (28-of-52) and 88.5 percent from the free-throw line (23-of-26). Wesleyan also won the rebounding battle 27–21 and scored 38 points in the paint, countering Concord’s strong inside presence.
The Mountain Lions placed four players in double figures, led by Abbie Smith’s team-high 24 points on an efficient 9-of-15 shooting night, while Olivia Ziolkowski added 20 points and Alexis Frazee chipped in 11 off the bench. Concord was especially effective attacking the paint, scoring 44 points inside, and turned in its strongest stretch in the fourth quarter, where it outscored West Virginia Wesleyan 34–23 and shot 62.5 percent from the floor. Kenyah Stubbs contributed 22 points and five assists and the Mountain Lions converted 18-of-25 free throws to stay within striking distance until the final horn.
The win pushes the Lady Bobcats into second place in the Mountain East Conference. First place Glenville State College is next on the menu when Wesleyan travels to the Pioneers on Saturday, Jan. 10 for a 2 p.m. tip.
