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West Virginia State University Athletics

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WBB23 Russell
Photo: Todd Griffith
67
Bluefield St. BLU 8-4,2-2 CIAA
80
Winner West Virginia St. WVSt 6-6,3-3 MEC
Bluefield St. BLU
8-4,2-2 CIAA
67
Final
80
West Virginia St. WVSt
6-6,3-3 MEC
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 F
Bluefield St. BLU 24 12 13 18 67
West Virginia St. WVSt 24 23 12 21 80

Game Recap: Women's Basketball | | Bryan Shepherd, Assistant Sports Information Director

Women’s basketball snaps two-game skid with win over Bluefield State

INSTITUTE, W.Va. – West Virginia State took down visiting Bluefield State on Tuesday inside the Walker Convocation Center, 80-67. The Yellow Jackets shot 50 percent from the field in the first half to take the lead for good in the second quarter. 

West Virginia State advances to 6-6 on the season, 3-3 in the Mountain East while Bluefield State falls to 8-4, 2-2 in the CIAA.

ZZ Russell, Hallie Bailey and Imani Reid all scored double-figures for WVSU. Russell led with 17 points, followed by Bailey with 11 and Reid with 10. WVSU forced 11 of BSU's 21 turnovers, and shot 40 percent from the field for the game, including 55.5 percent from long range in the final quarter.

Bluefield State was led by Jayla Sample with 16 points. Alexyss Newman had the game's only double-double with 12 points and 12 rebounds for the Big Blue. 

Shanley Woods, Russell and Reid scored for State to build an 8-2 early lead. Bluefield State scored the next nine points for the game's first lead change at 11-8. WVSU then put together an 8-0 run of their own to re-take the lead 16-11 with Reid, Russell and Ashley Kerekes contributing points. Bluefield State answered with a 7-2 run for the third lead change of the game, 20-18. Destiny Fields drained a pair of foul shots to tie the game up followed by a Reid pull-up after an Emyah Fortenberry rebound. Bluefield State and WVSU traded lead changes to close the quarter and it was 24-all after 10 minutes. 

WVSU opened the second quarter with an 11-2 run for what would be the game's final lead change. Russell hit another trey just before the under-five timeout to swell the lead to 10, 40-30. State's hot shooting continued down the stretch, but could only gain one point on Bluefield State, taking a 47-36 halftime lead into the break.

The shooting went cold halfway through the third quarter with State holding onto a 57-43 lead at the 6:50 mark. State didn't hit a field goal for the rest of the quarter, only netting a pair of free throws. Bluefield State hit a jumper with 6:37 to play and didn't hit another one until there was three seconds left in the quarter. State led by 10 heading into the final frame, 59-49. 

WVSU ended up going almost a full ten minutes without a field goal when Kerekes drained a triple with 7:44 to play. Bluefield State got as close as six points at the 4:40 mark but spent six minutes of the fourth quarter without a field goal and couldn't get any closer. Meanwhile, WVSU hit three threes, a floater just outside the paint, and a layup to round-off the Yellow Jacket scoring, giving them the 80-67 victory.

WVSU resumes Mountain East play next Wednesday for a mid-week trip to South Euclid to take on the Notre Dame College Falcons. Tip-off is scheduled for 5:30 pm.
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