Less than 24 hours ago the women's basketball team fell on the road to #18 USCAA foe West Virginia Tech only to return home and play the NAIA's #16 team, the Blue Raiders of Lindsey Wilson College.
Both teams came out playing an aggressive and physical defensive style which made scoring a challenge. The Blue Raiders found success in the low post and built a six point lead just past the midway point of the first half. Jaime Roberts and Zacchea Small would lead BC back into the game. A Roberts' long range bomb was followed by an offensive rebound by Small off of a Roberts miss. Small would add another basket on the next trip down the floor to give Berea its first lead of the game.
That small lead wouldn't hold up against a talented and deep Blue Raiders squad, but in the final seconds of the half Johnesha Warren would take a defensive rebound and race down the floor attempting a highlight reel worth lay-up. It would be a miss, but Roberts was there to rebound the miss, make the basket and receive a foul that would lead to the 34-32 Mountaineer lead at the half.
The second half would be a near carbon copy of the first half with both team's physical play and defenses limiting offensive opportunities. LWC continued to dominate down low, leading the rebounding war by 10 or more boards through most of the half. Berea would battle to stay in the game as Adriana Williams forced a turnover and converted at the other end with a layup. With 6:30 remaining on the clock, Warren would land a punch that put the Blue Raiders on their heels when she nailed a long three point basket. The knockout punch would come two minutes later when Williams forced another steal and converted the layup. Each of the next three LWC possessions would result in a turnover, with Anna Loveless and Williams converting those errors into points. The Mountaineers would hold on down the stretch converting seven out of 10 free throws to clinch the game.
The Mountaineers were led by Warren with 22 points, Williams added 14 points, while Loveless dropped in 11, and Roberts and Small added 10 each. Small was big on the boards leading the team with 13 against the much larger Blue Raiders.
The Mountaineers will return to action for third straight night when they travel south to Williamsburg for a 6:00 pm match up with The University of the Cumberlands.