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EDINBORO, PA – The Edinboro University
women’s basketball team suffered its third straight loss on
Friday night, dropping a narrow 86-84 decision to West Liberty
State in the first round of the Avalon Classic in Erie. The loss
dropped the Fighting Scots to 3-3, while West Liberty remained
perfect at 5-0.
Host Gannon defeated Central State in the other
first round game, 76-51. Edinboro will meet Central State in
Saturday’s consolation game at 1:00 p.m., with Gannon and
West Liberty meeting in the championship game at 3:00 p.m.
Edinboro led by as many as 11 points in the
first half before settling for a 34-32 halftime lead. The second
half saw the lead go back and forth, with nine ties and 15 lead
changes. With the score tied at 80-80, the Fighting Scots grabbed
their final lead on a Kelly Calderone layup with 52 seconds
remaining. Sixteen seconds later the Hilltoppers answered with a
three-pointer to pull ahead 83-82, but Calderone’s drive gave
the Fighting Scots an 84-83 lead with 19 seconds left.
Lena Kalvans gave West Liberty the lead for
good with a layup with just nine seconds left, and following an
Edinboro turnover, Renee Farina made one of two free throws with
just two seconds remaining. Edinboro last hope for a win ended
with another turnover.
Both teams shot extremely well in the second
half. Edinboro made 19 of 28 field goal attempts, a sizzling 67.9
percent, to finish at a season-high 53.3 percent for the game.
West Liberty shot 46.9 percent for the game, but was at 57.1
percent over the final twenty minutes.
The big difference came on the boards, as West
Liberty outrebounded Edinboro, 41-28. The Hilltoppers grabbed 17
offensive rebounds.
Calderone led four Fighting Scots in double
figures with 19 points, making 7 of 8 free throws. Samantha Reimer
added 18 points, making 6 of 10 field goals. Kelsey Conklin had a
season-high 17 points, making 8 of 11 field goals, but was
hampered by foul trouble in the second half. Lacey Heiar was the
other Fighting Scot in double figures, finishing with 11 points.
The junior game came off the bench and made 4 of 5 free throws.
Kalvans paced West Liberty with 23 points, while Farina had 17
points. |
