ATHENS, W.Va. – Dressing seven players due to injuries and COVID-19 protocols, the West Virginia Wesleyan (2-7, 1-6) women's basketball team fell at Concord (11-4, 6-3) on Wednesday (Jan. 12) night at the Carter Center in Athens, W.Va.
 
WVWC Leaders
Sophomore Courtney Wilfong logged over 39 minutes of game time and dropped 12 points, eight rebounds and six assists. Malaika Kimmons returned to the floor for the Bobcats from an injury and scored 10 points. Cydney Lapczynski and Daveona Hatchell each contributed nine points. Cierra Tolbert powered her way to 12 rebounds on the glass.
 
Concord Leaders
Maggie Guynn was the Mountain Lion's leading scorer with 19 points. Riley Fitzwater also reached double-figures with 12 points. Fitzwater added seven rebounds and four blocks to her stat line. Jaisah Smith forced three steals.
 
Inside the First Half
Wilfong drilled a triple to give WVWC an early 3-2 lead. Tolbert converted a putback layup to extend the Bobcat lead to three. Kimmons hit a jumper with 4:25 left in the first frame and grew Wesleyan's lead, 9-4. A three-point basket from Laapczynski gave the 'Cats their largest lead of the evening at 12-4. The Mountain Lions scored nine consecutive points and took the lead with 1:13 remaining in the first quarter. Amira Layeni made a clutch triple as time expired and pushed WVWC ahead 15-13 at the end of one.
 
The Mountain Lions led by seven points at the midway point of the second quarter. Shelby Genes swished a three with 4:14 left in the first half to cut the deficit to four. The Bobcats closed out the half on a 4-0 run thanks to two free throws from Genes and a layup from Kimmons. The Bobcats trailed by two points at intermission.
 
Inside the Second Half
Concord ripped off 10 straight points to open play in the second half. A pair of Kimmons free throws cut the CU lead to eight points with 3:08 left in the third frame. Concord lead 43-34 at the end of the third quarter. Wesleyan fought back in the fourth quarter and ignited a seven-point scoring run. Hatchell scooped up an offensive rebound and converted a second-chance basket to put WVWC within two. The 'Cats trailed by four points three separate times down the final stretch. The home team sealed the victory, 65-53.
 
Up Next
West Virginia Wesleyan is scheduled to welcome #3 Glenville State to the Rockefeller Center on Saturday (Jan. 15) for a 2 p.m. tipoff.