BUCKHANNON – In a game featuring nine lead changes and seven ties, the West Wesleyan College women’s basketball team delivered a dominant fourth-quarter performance to defeat Charleston, 76-73, Wednesday evening inside the Rockefeller Center.
The victory improves Wesleyan to 16-5 overall and 13-4 in Mountain East Conference play, strengthening its second-place position in the MEC standings.
Charleston came out sharp, shooting 50 percent in the opening quarter and building an early lead. Wesleyan countered behind senior guard Ana Young, who consistently attacked the rim, and junior forward Kilah Dandridge, who was nearly perfect from the field all night.
After trailing 18-15 at the end of the first quarter, the Bobcats found rhythm in the second and the teams entered halftime tied at 33-33, setting up a thrilling second half.
The third quarter saw Wesleyan build its largest cushion of the night. A 10-point run midway through the period — fueled by Dandridge in transition and timely perimeter shooting — gave the Lady Bobcats a 45-35 advantage. However, Charleston responded behind Bridget Womber and Natalie Smith to close the gap heading into the fourth.
With the game hanging in the balance, Wesleyan delivered its most efficient stretch of the night. The Lady Bobcats shot a blistering 64.3 percent from the field and 75 percent from three-point range in the final frame.
Young knocked down a key triple and finished with a game-high 19 points on 8-of-13 shooting. Dandridge matched her with 19 points on an ultra-efficient 8-of-9 effort from the floor. Witt added 18 points and nine rebounds, while converting 6-of-7 free throws, helping Wesleyan seal the game at the line. Baird added 12 points, six assists, and three steals, as the league leader in assist-to-turnover ratio (2.5).
Charleston was led by Bridget Womber’s 18 points and nine rebounds, while Natalie Smith added 16 points. Livia O’Dea contributed 14 points and Ksenija Mitric dished out 10 assists to go along with nine points. The Golden Eagles shot 52.6 percent from the field and scored 40 points in the paint
Wesleyan returns to action this weekend as the Bobcats travel to West Virginia State University on Saturday, Feb. 21 for a 2 p.m. tip.
