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West Virginia State University Athletics

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Photo: Todd Griffith
85
Winner West Virginia St. WVSt 22-5,17-5 MEC
82
Charleston (WV) UCM 21-7,16-6 MEC
Winner
West Virginia St. WVSt
22-5,17-5 MEC
85
Final
82
Charleston (WV) UCM
21-7,16-6 MEC
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 F
West Virginia St. WVSt 23 20 18 24 85
Charleston (WV) UCM 19 25 16 22 82

Game Recap: Women's Basketball | | James Garcia, Sports Information Director

No. 20 West Virginia State ties school record for wins at Charleston

CHARLESTON, W.Va. – The No. 20 West Virginia State University women's basketball team (22-5, 17-5 MEC) wrapped up the regular season with an 85-82 victory over Charleston (21-7, 16-6 MEC) on Saturday afternoon at the Wehrle Innovation Center. State tied the school record for wins in a season (22) that was set in 2003-04 by knocking off their biggest rivals.

The Yellow Jackets also swept UC in the regular season for the first time since 2017-18 with the win. In doing so, they secured the No. 2 seed in the MEC Tournament and a first-round bye.

Five Yellow Jackets scored in double-figures to lead WVSU to victory. Forward Anysa Jordan was State's leading scorer with 20 points. Guard Hannah Shriver was not far behind with 15 points. Both players spent less than 20 minutes on the hardwood. ZZ Russell (12 points), Destiny Fields (11 points) and Shelby Harmeyer (11 points) were the other Yellow Jackets that reached double-digits in scoring.

The heated rivalry game was close throughout with 14 lead changes and six ties. West Virginia State was the first team to pull in front, 11-4, after Harmeyer knocked down a three with 6:43 to go in the first quarter.

The Yellow Jackets then spent the rest of the opening period trying to fend off the Golden Eagles. WVSU was mostly successful with UC only outscoring State 15-12 in the remaining six minutes. Going into the second quarter, the Yellow Jackets clung to a slim four-point lead, 23-19.

Charleston opened the second period on a 16-8 run to go in front.With four-and-a-half minutes until halftime, UC was suddenly up by four, 35-31.

WVSU quickly reversed fortunes with an 8-2 spurt. Russell and Harmeyer hit back-to-back treys to put their team back on top, 39-37.

The Golden Eagles responded with a 7-2 spurt to go up by three, 44-41, before Hannah Shriver banked a layup in the closing seconds. Her clutch shot left a one-point deficit, 44-43, for State at the break.

The third quarter was incredibly tight with neither team able to go up by more than three points. UC went up by three, 46-43, in the first minute before WVSU seized a three-point advantage, 59-56, with a minute and 30 seconds left.

After jumpers were traded, a pair of free throws made by Charleston left State with a one-point lead, 61-60, going into the fourth quarter.

The Yellow Jackets ultimately prevailed in the final period of play. The Golden Eagles briefly regained the lead, 62-61, by hitting a shot in the opening 30 seconds. An 8-1 surge by WVSU followed, including a pair of three-point buckets from Russell and Caroline Scott, to change the lead for the last time in the contest.
In the game's final seconds, Charleston's Trinity Palacio made a shot from behind the arc to cut State's lead to two points, 84-82, for a brief scare. She then sent Russell to the charity stripe. Russell made 1-of-2 shots before Palacio chucked up a last-ditch three-pointer that fell short of the mark.

A total of 56 personal fouls were called in the game. WVSU shot slightly better from the floor at a 45 percent rate compared to 42 percent by UC.

The nationally- and regionally-ranked Yellow Jackets will prepare for the MEC Tournament next. They will play at noon in the quarterfinals on Thursday, March 2 against the winner of Concord and Notre Dame College. Visit the MEC Tournament Central for more information. Tickets for all games to be played at the WesBanco Arena in Wheeling, W.Va. can be purchased here.

 
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