ELKINS, W.Va. (Dec. 4) – The Wheeling University women's basketball team was handed a 68-59 loss at Davis & Elkins in a Mountain East Conference (MEC) game Wednesday night at the McDonnell Center.
 
The loss drops the Cardinals to 1-5 overall, 0-3 in the MEC. Meanwhile, the Senators, playing in their first season in the MEC, improve to 1-2 in league play, 1-6 overall.
 
Sophomore forward Lilly Ritz (Cambridge, Ohio/Cambridge) led the team with 20 points on 10-of-16 shooting with nine rebounds.
 
D&E held the early edge, but Wheeling took its first lead of the night at 10-9 with 4:43 to play in the first quarter. The Cardinals led by as many as three, 17-14, with just over a minute to play in the period, before a quick 7-0 run by the Senators to close out the quarter put Wheeling in a 21-17 hole.
 
Davis & Elkins ran its lead to 25-19 during the opening minute of the second quarter. Wheeling went on a 7-0 run of its own to take a 26-25 advantage with just over seven minutes to play until halftime. After the Senators reclaimed the lead at 27-26, the Cardinals went on to out-score D&E 13-9 down the stretch to take a 39-36 lead into the break.
 
Wheeling held the lead throughout the third quarter until a three near the horn tied the game at 50 heading into the final period.
 
Davis & Elkins went on to out-score Wheeling 18-to-9 during the fourth quarter to pull ahead and send the Cardinals to the loss.
 
Wheeling forced 22 turnovers and converted for 22 points off of those turnovers.
 
Davis & Elkins held a 45-to-33 advantage on the glass.
 
Wheeling will travel to Buckhannon, West Virginia on Saturday, December 7 to take on West Virginia Wesleyan at 2 p.m.