Gallery by Tina Laney
The Rio Grande women brought their undefeated River States Conference record to Beckley Thursday afternoon for a clash with WVU Tech.
The Golden Bears promptly sent the Red Storm back to Ohio with their first conference setback.
Powered by a double-double from Brianna Ball and 23 points apiece from twins Whittney Justice and Brittney Justice, the Golden Bears knocked of No. 18 Rio Grande, 105-95.
The win avenges an 80-63 loss at Rio back in November.
“We have been up and down quite a bit this year, but there are some lights starting to flicker on and we are playing better,” WVU Tech head coach Roger Hodge said. “I have felt like all year we have had the talent to be competitive with anybody in our league and today we played liked it.”
The Golden Bears were red hot for the first 15 minutes and led by 19 when Brittney Justice drilled a 3-ball with 5:29 to play in the first half.
Foul trouble and turnovers began to take their toll allowing the Red Storm to roar back within four points before trailing 52-47 at the break.
“We knew that lead wasn’t going to last because (Rio) is too good and too potent offensively,” Hodge said. “We talked about limiting the turnovers and the fouls in the second half.”
A score in transition by the Red Storm cut the Tech advantage to three before two buckets from Brittney Justice and a pair of free throws from Ball pushed the back to nine.
A deep triple from Whittney Justice gave the Golden Bears a 63-53 lead that went to 12 on a score inside from Ball.
Trailing by 11 after three quarters, Rio showed why it’s one the top teams in the country. The Red Storm changed the momentum of the game by scoring the first seven points of the fourth quarter.
A bucket from Alanis Hill stopped the Rio scoring streak, but twice over the next two minutes the visitors trimmed the lead to just a point.
The Golden Bears stood strong in the face of adversity down the stretch.
“I think maybe we would have folded earlier in the year. They are learning and coming on now,” Hodge said. “We survived against a really great team. We survived foul trouble and turnovers at some times. I am just really proud of them. This team deserves that kind of a celebration.”
A pull up jumper from Hill and two free throws from Brittney Justice extended the lead to six points. Rio could get no closer than three over the final minutes as the Golden Bears iced the game at the foul line.
Along with defeating one of the top teams in the country, the win had big conference implications.
“There is a big jumble of teams that are all really close,” Hodge said. “Each day it is somebody beating somebody different. Today was a huge win from that aspect.”
Ball scored 18 points and grabbed 13 rebounds, while Hill scored 15 points. Elle Baker added 12 and Emilee Whitt scored 12 including a key 3-pointer to keep Rio at bay late in the game.
WVU Tech has a non-conference clash at Bluefield State Saturday before hosting Point Park Tuesday at 5:30 p.m. in another RSC battle.
RG: 21 26 2127 – 95
WVUT: 30 22 27 26 – 105
Rio Grande
Kaylee Darnell 5, Chyna Chambers 13, Hailey Jordan 14, Ella Skeens 26, Aleea Crites 11, Reagan Willingham 17, Kaeli Ross 2, Harlei Antritt 2, Jocelyn Abraham 3, Avery Harper 2. Totals: 31-78 26-36 95.
WVU Tech
Brianna Ball 18, Alanis Hill 15, Brittney Justice 23, Whittney Justice 23, Elle Baker 12, Emilee Whitt 10, Alyssa Taylor 4. Totals 37-69 21-26 105.
3-pointers – RG: 7 (Chambers 2, Willingham 5); WVUT: 10 (B. JUstice 2, W. Justice 5, Whitt 3)
