Box Score Wheeling, W.Va. – Concord University (6-14 • 6-10 MEC) came to the McDonough Center Saturday afternoon one game out of eighth place in the Mountain East Conference.  The Mountain Lions are searching for that last playoff spot in the Mountain East Conference.  Jesuit (12-7 • 9-6 MEC) entered the game fresh off an 85-56 pasting of UVA-Wise on Thursday night. 
 
In the first half, Jesuit went only 40% from the field and was outplayed by the visiting Mountain Lions.  Concord's Alley Odell pounded Jesuit's post players, while Melea Smith and Rachel Artrip hit shots from the outside.  Smith finished the first half hitting 4 of 4 from the field, tallying 9 points, and adding two steals and two assists.  Artrip finished with 8 points, six rebounds, and two blocked shots.
 
Junior guard Jaila Bryant led the Cardinals with 8 points and five rebounds in 15 minutes of play.
 
In the first 20 minutes of play, Jesuit had 7 turnovers to Concord's 3.  Junior guard Rachel Smetzler hit a three-pointer at the end of the first half to keep the Cardinals within striking distance.  Jesuit trailed the Mountain Lions 40-32 at the half.
 
Head Coach Debbie Buff's halftime speech must have been inspirational.  The Cardinals came out in the second half and scored the first five times they possessed the ball.  Jesuit tied the game at 43-43 with 17:20 left in the game.   The Cardinals would go on a 13-3 run to take the lead 45-43 with 14:54 left.
 
Both teams fought for control of the game as the lead changed five times.  Jesuit tied the game at 51-51 on a Breanna Butler steal and layup.  After a Mountain Lion field goal, Kylie Frizell tied the game again at 53-53 on a pair of foul shots. 
 
Jesuit gained the lead on a pair of spectacular plays.  Junior guard Taylor Lubinsky put the Cardinals ahead 64-61 on a clutch three-pointer.  Bryant made a slicing cut through the lane for a layup to put Jesuit up 66-63 after a Mountain Lion score on the other end of the court.     
 
Concord's Kylie Molisee would beat the Cardinal man-to-man defense down low to pull within one, 66-65.  The next trip down the court, Jaana Motton converted on a second attempt rebound in the paint for two points, pushing the Cardinal lead to 68-65. 
 
After the Mountain Lions scored on their next trip down the court to make it 68-67, Breanna Butler hit a 10 foot jumper with :54 left to put Jesuit back up 70-67.
 
Down the stretch, Frizell hit two foul shots to put Jesuit up by five, 72-67.  But Concord would make it interesting with Melea Smith hitting a three-pointer with 10.5 seconds to play.

On the inbounds, Jesuit's Breanna Butler was fouled with WJU ahead 72-70.  Butler made 1 of her 2 foul shot attempts to put Jesuit up 73-70. 
 
Concord's Melea Smith missed an off balance three-point attempt at the buzzer that would have tied the game and sent it to overtime.  Final score – Wheeling Jesuit 73 Concord 70.
 
Four Cardinal players finished in double digits.  Frizell finished the game with 15 points and six rebounds in 32 minutes of play.  Butler finished with 14 points, one assist, and one steal.  Bryant had 12 points, eight rebounds, and three assists.  Finally, Lubinsky added 10 points, five rebounds, and three steals in the Cardinal victory.
 
Jesuit shot 55.6% in the second half and outrebounded the Mountain Lions 39 to 24 for the game.  Concord cooled off, shooting only 42.9% in the second half, thanks to some strong Cardinal defense.
 
"At halftime we talked about our post players stepping up and committing to defense.  In our conference anyone can beat anyone and sometimes you have to grind out a win.  We dug hard and made the plays we needed to win the game," stated Head Coach Deb Buff. 
 
The victory improves the Jesuit Women's Basketball overall record to 13-7 and 10-6 in the Mountain East Conference.  The Cardinals return to action Thursday February 12^th when they travel to Fairmont State University to take on the Falcons.  Game time is set for 5:30 pm.