Women's Basketball 1/5/2017 7:40:00 PM Michael McDonald, Assistant Sports Information Director

Cardinals Drop First MEC Contest to Yellow Jackets

Box Score INSTITUTE, W.Va. –The No. 18 Wheeling Jesuit Cardinals faced off with the hosting West Virginia State Yellow Jackets in what would be a highly contested Mountain East Conference matchup. The hosting Yellow Jackets pulled away in the fourth quarter to defeat the Cardinals, 90-70.

"We have to learn to play 40 minutes, and do a better job of following the scouting report," WJU head coach Debbie Buff stated. "It's a long season and I'm confident we will continue to get better on defense."

West Virginia State (7-5, 5-1 MEC) led for nearly half of the first quarter, but WJU's Chenelle Moore added her first bucket of the game (5:37) to push WJU (10-2, 5-1 MEC) ahead, 12-11. The Yellow Jackets would finish the period strong, but would trail the Cardinals by a point, 24-23, after the first 10 minutes of action.

The Cardinals opened the second quarter on a 11-0 run to claim their largest lead of the night, 35-23. Moore added another layup and WJU would lead by eight points, 41-33, at the intermission.

With 4:17 remaining in the third, junior point guard Mariah Callen converted one of two shots from the free-throw line, sending WJU ahead, 53-47. West Virginia State would have an answer as they finished the quarter on a 8-4 run, pulling to within a bucket of the Cardinals.

The Yellow Jackets claimed the first two buckets of the final period, pulling ahead 59-57. WJU would use a Jaana Motton tip-in to tie the contest before State would grow its lead to eight points by way of a 10-2 run.

Chelsea Richardson added a tip-in of her own to help the Cardinals to within six points, 69-63, but State rattled off the next six points to lead, 75-63. The Yellow Jackets would go on to win the contest, 90-70 over the Cardinals.

Senior forward Jaana Motton led WJU with a monster double-double consisting of 22 points and 15 rebounds. Moore added 15 points and seven boards while blocking four shots. Richardson chipped in 11 points while collecting nine rebounds, and Callen scored 10 points and dished out nine assists.

Monica Burns and Kylie Frizell each supplied five points while Khira Burton scored three points and Lydia Hyburg two.

WJU returns home to host West Virginia Wesleyan on Sunday, January 8 at 2 p.m.

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Players Mentioned

#13 Monica Burns: G; 5' 6"; Redshirt Sophomore

#1 Mariah Callen: G; 5' 4"; Junior

#32 Kylie Frizell: G; 5' 10"; Senior

#33 Lydia Hyburg: F; 6' 2"; Senior

#21 Chenelle Moore: F; 6' 0"; Sophomore

#42 Jaana Motton: F; 5' 11"; Senior

#11 Chelsea Richardson: G; 5' 9"; Senior

#2 Khira Burton: G; 5' 4"; Freshman

Players Mentioned

#13 Monica Burns
: 5' 6"; Redshirt Sophomore
: G

#1 Mariah Callen
: 5' 4"; Junior
: G

#32 Kylie Frizell
: 5' 10"; Senior
: G

#33 Lydia Hyburg
: 6' 2"; Senior
: F

#21 Chenelle Moore
: 6' 0"; Sophomore
: F

#42 Jaana Motton
: 5' 11"; Senior
: F

#11 Chelsea Richardson
: 5' 9"; Senior
: G

#2 Khira Burton
: 5' 4"; Freshman
: G