INSTITUTE, W.Va. — West Virginia State women's basketball dropped a hard-fought game against West Liberty, 80-78, on Saturday evening at the Walker Convocation Center. The Yellow Jackets (5-4, 2-4 MEC) couldn't complete a late comeback, falling to the Hilltoppers (6-6, 4-2 MEC) in Mountain East Conference action. The loss extends WVSU's skid to four straight after a 5-0 start to the season.
Zakorrah "ZZ" Russell led WVSU with 18 points, including two three-pointers, bringing her career total to 1,001 points. Russell became the latest Yellow Jacket to reach the milestone after entering the contest with 983 points.
West Liberty struck first, hitting four three-pointers in the opening frame to score 19 points. WVSU kept pace with 17 points, relying on aggressive drives to the basket and their post play to stay within reach. Hallie Bailey contributed five points early to lead the charge for the Yellow Jackets, while the defense forced seven turnovers to keep the Hilltoppers from pulling away.
Both teams continued to trade baskets in a closely contested quarter that ended 17-17. WVSU found success in the paint, scoring eight points inside, while West Liberty capitalized on second-chance opportunities. Despite several lead changes, neither team could gain significant momentum heading into the break, with the Hilltoppers clinging to a 36-34 advantage.
The Yellow Jackets came alive in the third, outscoring West Liberty 27-25 to tie the game at 61-61 heading into the final frame. WVSU's offense was firing on all cylinders, with Bailey scoring eight points and Emyah Fortenberry adding six. Russell hit a pair of key three-pointers during the run, and the team showcased its defensive intensity, forcing several turnovers to fuel transition opportunities.
In a tense and dramatic finish, West Liberty's outside shooting made the difference. The Hilltoppers knocked down three critical three-pointers to maintain their edge, while WVSU struggled to capitalize on opportunities in the final minutes. Despite strong defensive plays and late scoring attempts, the Yellow Jackets couldn't close the gap, coming up just short in the two-point loss.
Russell led all WVSU scorers with 18 points, while Hallie Bailey added 15 points, five rebounds, and two assists. Emyah Fortenberry provided consistent scoring in the post with 16 points and seven rebounds. On defense, the Yellow Jackets forced 30 turnovers, converting them into 34 points, but they struggled to contain West Liberty's three-point shooting, with the Hilltoppers connecting on 16 of 32 attempts from beyond the arc.
The Yellow Jackets will look to regroup during the holiday break before returning to action on Tuesday, Jan. 2, at home against Pitt-Johnstown. Tip-off is set for 2 PM.
