WVU TECH DEFEATS IU SOUTHEAST 95-79

BECKLEY, W.Va. – Brynna Blackburn had a season-high 23 points on 7-of-9 shooting from the field, but it was not enough as West Virginia Tech defeated the Grenadiers 95-79 on Thursday.

Blackburn was also 6-of-8 from three-point range and Lauren Lambdin added 16 points in the loss.

After a tightly-contested first quarter, the Grenadiers fell behind 35-25 with 5:30 to play in the second quarter. A Lambdin jumper followed by a three-pointer by Blackburn cut the deficit to 35-30.

Later in the period, two free-throws by Blackburn cut the lead to 40-38. The Grenadiers would not get closer to that in the half as Brittany Justice connected on a three-pointer with a minute to play to extend the lead to 43-38. The Golden Bears led 43-40 at halftime.

Lauren Lamdin had 12 points and Brynna Blackburn added 11 in the first half to keep the Grenadiers in the game.

West Virginia Tech (6-10, 4-2 RSC)  pulled away in the third quarter, outscoring the Grenadiers 33-22 in the period. The Golden Bears opened the quarter on a 13-4 run. WVU Tech led 76-62 at the end of the third quarter.

But the Grenadiers got back in the game with three-straight three-pointers to start the fourth quarter.  A three by Maddie Knight sparked the offense and then a pair of three-pointers by Blackburn cut the lead to 78-71.

Another three-pointer, this time by Emmy Ralph, cut the lead to 80-74 wi seven minutes to play. After Blackburn hit one of the two free-throws the Golden Bears closed the game on a 14-4 run.

The difference in the contest was on the glass as WVU Tech dominated the rebounding battle 57-29 which led to 31 second-chance points to the Grenadiers' 12. IU Southeast forced 13 turnovers which led to 18 points.

The Grenadiers (6-10, 2-5 RSC) shot 41 percent from the field and were 9-of-21 (43 percent) from three-point range but the Golden Bears shot 47 percent from the field and 53 percent (9-of-17) from behind-the-arc.

IU Southeast travels to No. 18 University of Rio Grande Saturday at 3 p.m.