Box Score  

 
WHEELING, W. Va. – The Wheeling Jesuit women's basketball team turned in one of the biggest upsets of the year on Thrusday, knocking off Glenville State, the #9 team in the country, in overtime at home.
 
The win over the Mountain East's #1 team gives the Cardinals a major boost of momentum as playoff time nears with an improved 13-11 overall record (10-10 MEC).
 
The victory also does the Cardinals a lot of favors as they try to secure a top-eight conference finish and home court advantage in the first round of the playoffs, putting some distance between them and Concord.
 
Leading the way for WJU was Jaila Bryant who was all over the place, and led all scorers with 26 points, five rebounds, and 6 assists. Breanna Butler had a big night as well for WJU, netting 21 points and seven boards."
 
"I feel awesome. We just beat the #9 team in the country," said Butler. "We played a good team, and we came together, played hard, played as a team, and got the upset win."
  "That was the most gutsy team performance I have been a part of," said WJU head coach Debbie Buff. "The kids practiced well all week and executed the game plan, but in my 20-plus years of coaching I think that was the most gutsy performance I've seen."
 
The Cardinal defense benefited from a dismal shooting performance from the Pioneers. GSC only managed to shoot 31-percent from the floor, and 19-percent from the three-point line.
 
WJU managed to out-rebound the taller and much more physical Pioneers 51-49 in the end however. That, along with solid ball control and a game plan designed to slow the game down played gave the Cardinals enough possession in the first half to take a 31-25 lead at the break.
 
The second half was back and forth with both teams battling to break the defensive stranglehold. It was a stranglehold that lasted the entire 20-minute half, and resulted in the game ending in a 61-61 draw.
 
In overtime, the dangerous pioneers started warming up, shooting 50% from the three on 2-4.
 
There was no bigger three however, than that which came from senior Taneka Lewis. Glenville had tied the game with a three of their own at 69-69. On the Cardinals next possession, Lewis drained a long-range three with 1:40 left to put the Cards up for good, 71-69. Then, with 20 seconds remaining, Taylor Lubinsky sealed the deal with a steal, and WJU walked away with a big victory.
 
The Cardinals return to the court on Saturday on the road when they visit West Virginia Wesleyan in Buckhannon. The regular season commences next Thursday against old foe, West Liberty.