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304MECSFBurnsMotton
Sam Santilli
68
WISE WISE 21-11
74
Winner WJU WJU 24-6
WISE WISE
21-11
68
Final
74
WJU WJU
24-6
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 F
WISE WISE 21 12 17 18 68
WJU WJU 16 14 17 27 74

Game Recap: Women's Basketball | | Michael McDonald, Assistant Sports Information Director

Cardinals Fight Past Cavs, Clinch Spot in MEC Championship

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -  In the second semifinal of the 2017 Mountain East Conference women's basketball tournament, the Wheeling Jesuit Cardinals fought past the Virginia Wise Cavaliers, clinching a spot in Sunday's championship game.
 
"Our seniors were huge, they really led the charge," Head Coach Debbie Buff stressed. "Jaana especially, she is our passion player. She got on the team to step it up, and I think she really put the team on her back. I am very proud of the team for how they performed down the stretch."
 
Virginia Wise buried the afternoon's first bucket, a three-point basket by Kayla Mullins. Senior forward Jaana Motton scored six of the Cardinals first nine points, pushing WJU ahead, 9-8.
 
Just before the first quarter media timeout, Kylie Frizell made a floater from the left elbow, putting the Cardinals ahead, 11-10. On WJU's first trip out of the timeout, Frizell made one of two from the line, stretching WJU's lead to two, 12-10.
 
The Cavaliers finished the quarter on an 11-4 run and took a 21-16 lead into the second period of play.
 
Monica Burns scored the first points of the second quarter nearly two minutes into the period, when she found the bottom of the net on a running-jumper from the left side of the court. Wise, however, rattled off a 7-0 run to take a 28-18 lead, forcing a WJU timeout.
 
Out of the timeout, Motton converted a jumper, pulling the Cardinals to within eight, 28-20. WJU and Wise would exchange baskets on the next two possessions, as Chenelle Moore score back-to-back layups.
 
With 1:44 remaining in the half, Mariah Callen added two points to the home team's total, helping WJU to within six points. Callen later scored another fast-break opportunity, this time with 41 seconds left in the period, and the UVa-Wise lead was just five, 33-28. Burns was fouled with 4.5 seconds remaining and made both attempts from the line, making the halftime deficit just three points, 33-30.
 
Virginia Wise began the third quarter on a 6-0 run, including two baskets by Kayla Carey and a pair of free throws by Taylor Sandidge.
 
WJU responded by way of an 8-0 run, pulling to within a point, 39-38, with 5:48 remaining. Frizell hit a running jumper to begin the run and a three-pointer to cap the run, while Callen buried a three in the middle of the run.
 
After Motton sent WJU into the media timeout (4:28) down just one point, Wise would drain a pair of threes on the next two trips down the court, pulling back ahead, 47-40. The Cardinals outscored the Cavs 7-3 over the remaining three and a half minutes, and would trail 50-47 heading into the fourth and final period.
 
Wise yet again scored first to begin the quarter, making a pair at the line. With 5:35 in the fourth, Burns hit a running jumper to pull the Cardinals to within three, 57-54. Moore grabbed an offensive board and converted a put back, helping WJU to within a point, 57-56.
 
On WJU's next possession, Burns buried a deep three to give WJU its first lead of the second half, a 59-58 advantage. Frizell added a runner just after, growing its lead to three, 61-58.
 
Wise pulled to within a point with 1:29 remaining, but WJU would execute a perfect play out of the timeout. Burns drove to the left side and hit a running jumper off the glass, sending WJU back ahead by three, 67-64.
 
The Cardinals would get the defensive stops they needed the most, going on to win 74-68 over Virginia Wise.
 
Motton finished with 17 points and 10 rebounds, her 12th double-double of the year. Burns added 16 points, two rebounds and one assist. Frizell and Callen each finished with 12 points while Moore scored 11.
 
The Cardinals face the Fairmont State Falcons in the MEC Championship at 1 o'clock tomorrow, Sunday March 5. 
 
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