WTRF Video Highlights
RICHMOND, Va. – After outshooting the No. 5 seeded West Chester Golden Rams by nearly 20 percent on Friday night, the No. 4 Wheeling Jesuit Cardinals women's basketball team is headed to the second round of the 2016 NCAA Division II Atlantic Regional Basketball Tournament.

Chelsea Richardson (11), hits the floor while WJU teammates Jaana Motton (42) and Kylie Frizell (32) watch to see whether Richardson's shot will go in, with the game clock showing 9.8 seconds left.  The shot was good, putting WJU ahead by one point, 70-69.  Until that shot, It was Richardson's first points of the night. Motton was the  game's leading scorer with 19 points.  (Credit:  Ed Kelleher)

WJU held off a late West Chester rush and defeated the Golden Rams, 71-69. The Cardinals will play Atlantic Regional host Virginia Union on Saturday, March 12 at 7:30 p.m., with a spot in the Sweet-16 on the line.

"I am beyond proud of the way we battled through early foul trouble," WJU head coach Debbie Buff stated. "West Chester is a very talented and athletic team, and they gave it everything they had. We're happy to be advancing, and we look forward to taking on the number one seed tomorrow."

The Cardinals shot 54 percent from the field while holding their opponent to 36 percent shooting.

Chenelle Moore scored the first bucket of the game after the Cardinals defense forced a first-possession Golden Rams turnover. The Golden Rams scored the next six points, but WJU responded.

Bryant strung together three-straight baskets, and the Cardinals led 11-9. West Chester tied the game at 11 before hitting a trey to take a three-point advantage, 14-11. WJU finished the quarter on a 7-0 run and took a 19-14 upper hand into the second quarter.

Senior captain Taylor Lubinsky gave the Cardinals a boost with a three-point basket to open the second quarter, and WJU led by eight, 22-14. West Chester shrunk the WJU lead to a single point, 25-24, before WJU regained its margin.

The Cardinals put together a 10-0 run, consisting of five points from Bryant, two points from Moore, and three points from Lubinsky. The Cardinals led by nine, 37-28, at the break.

The Cardinals lead was minimized to three points at various points in the third quarter, but Kylie Frizell gave the Cardinals the same boost that she has given all season long. The junior nailed a key trey at 3:51 in the third to stretch WJU's lead back to nine, 52-43.

Jaana Motton banked home a jumper with 21 seconds on the clock, and WJU would take a six-point lead into the fourth period.

Motton also knocked in the first two baskets and a lone free throw to begin the fourth quarter, and WJU regained its double-figures lead, 65-54.

Frizell added a layup with 6:40 remaining, and WJU held a 67-60 lead. West Chester responded with a three to trail by just four points. The Golden Rams tied the game with 4:05 remaining before going ahead, 69-68, with 2:11 left.

The Cardinals committed two turnovers on consecutive possessions, and still trailed West Chester by one. The Golden Rams missed a three-point attempt with under 30 seconds to play, and WJU gained control of the rebound and called timeout.

Chelsea Richardson fought for an offensive rebound and scored what would be the game winning basket, as WJU defeated West Chester, 71-69.

Motton notched another double-double, this one consisting of 19 points and 10 boards. The junior shot 8-10 from the field. Seniors Bryant and Lubinsky joined Motton in double figure scoring. Bryant finished with 13 points, three rebounds, and four assists, while Lubinsky added 11 points to the Cardinals total.

Frizell supplied the Cardinals with nine points, eight rebounds, and four assists. Mariah Callen played all 40 minutes for WJU, scoring seven points and handing out four helpers. Moore also chipped in seven points.

Lydia Hyburg added three points, while Richardson gave WJU the most important two points of the game – a game winning layup.

The Cardinals tip-off against Virginia Union at 7:30 p.m. tomorrow, Saturday March 12.