RICHMOND, Va. - The Wheeling Jesuit women's basketball team gave the No. 1 seeded Virginia Union Panthers all they could handle. The Cardinals trailed by 10 points at half, but managed to cut the Panthers lead to seven points at multiple times in the fourth quarter, before falling, 75-66.
"Virginia Union is an outstanding basketball team," said WJU head coach Debbie Buff. "I couldn't be more proud of the way we fought. We had an incredible season. To finish with 27 wins, win the conference championship, and advance in the NCAA tournament, it was a season we will never forget."
Mariah Callen gave the Cardinals an early 3-0 lead as she drained a trey on the opening trip down the court. Taylor Lubinsky hit a pair of free throws to give WJU a 5-3 lead before Callen hit her second three of the first quarter, and WJU led, 8-6.
The Cardinals led, 14-13, before Virginia Union scored six of the next seven points to take a 19-15 advantage into the second quarter.
Chenelle Moore converted a layup with 7:12 on the clock and WJU regained the lead, 22-21. The Panthers rattled off nine-straight points, and possessed a 30-22 lead.
Lubinsky added another pair of free throws and WJU trailed by only six points. Jaila Bryant hit a jumper on the last possession of the half for the Cardinals to shrink the Panthers lead to seven, 40-33, before Virginia Union hit a three-pointer to take its 10-point halftime lead.
Lubinsky added two more free throws early into the third quarter and WJU trailed by eight. Virginia Union responded with another three, and it led by 11 points. The Panthers grew their lead to 13 before Bryant knocked in another jumper to bring the lead back to 11 points.
Lydia Hyburg scored at 6:02 and WJU trailed, 50-41. Chelsea Richardson added a layup with 5:03 remaining, and the Panthers lead was nine points, 52-43.
Bryant went one of two from the line with six seconds remaining in the third quarter, and WJU would trail Virginia Union by 10, 60-50, heading into the fourth.
Bryant hit the first basket of the final period, and WJU trailed by eight, 60-52. Virginia Union scored the next four and regained its double figure lead.
Jaana Motton hit for the next two scores and WJU once again was behind by eight, 64-56. Bryant added a layup and the foul with 3:03.
A Bryant layup with 2:18 left cut the Panthers lead to seven, 69-62. Virginia Union hit two from the free throw line and took a nine-point advantage.
The Panthers were able to hold on to their lead, and defeated the Cardinals, 75-66, to advance to the sweet sixteen.
Bryant led the Cardinals in her last outing. The senior, who finishes her career as the fifth all-time leading scorer in WJU history, scored 18 points and collected five rebounds. Fellow senior Lubinsky added nine points on the night.
Chenelle Moore gave WJU a dominant inside presence, as she scored 13 points and grabbed a game-high 15 boards. Callen hit three treys and handed out five helpers.
Kylie Frizell hit a pair of threes and finished with six points. Motton finished with six points and eight rebounds. Hyburg and Richardson each scored a bucket for the Cardinals.
