Box Score
SHEPHERDSTOWN, W.Va. – Lexy Carson scored six of her game-high 26 points in the final 1:32 of regulation to lead West Virginia State to an 85-80 win over Shepherd University in MEC women's basketball action at the Butcher Center on Saturday.
State also got 20 points from Jordan Brock and 13 points and a game-high 13 rebounds from Shealyn Shafer.
Junior center Gabby Flinchum (North Potomac, Md./Wootton) scored 21 points and grabbed nine rebounds to pace the Rams. She added four blocked shots.
Junior guard Rachel Johnson (Frederick, Md./Frederick) added 16 points, nine rebounds, and three steals, while freshman guard Cara Mason (Monrovia, Md./Urbana) added 13 points, five boards, and three assists. Senior forward Jimyse Brown (Rankin, Pa./Winchester Thurston) had 11 points and seven rebounds, while junior guard Briana Vaden (Stockton, Calif./San Joaquin Delta College) contributed 11 points, five rebounds, and a game-high four steals.
Shepherd had a 42-34 lead at halftime as Johnson and Vaden (9 each) combined for 18 first half points.
Shepherd led the majority of the game and held a 78-68 lead with 3:44 remaining when West Virginia State went on a 13-2 run to take an 81-80 lead with 45 seconds left after a pair of free throws by Carson. Carson had nine points during the run.
West Virginia State hit 4-of-4 free throws down the stretch to seal the win.
The Rams shot 33.7 percent (30-89) from the floor for the game, 31.3 percent (5-16) from three-point range, and 88.2 percent (15-17) from the line.
West Virginia State connected at 45.6 percent (31-68) from the floor, 20 percent (1-5) from beyond the arc, and 78.6 percent (22-28) from the charity stripe.
The Rams had a 48-47 edge in rebounds. Shepherd forced 19 turnovers and committed 15.
Shepherd falls to 2-14, 2-10 in MEC action, while West Virginia State improves to 12-6, 8-4. The Rams return to action on Thursday when they travel to Charleston for a 5:30 p.m. contest.
Box Score
Cara Mason scored 13 points.
Briana Vaden had 11 points and a game-high four steals.
Gabby Flinchum had 21 points and nine rebounds.
Maggie McLoughlin had six points.
Jimyse Brown had 11 points and seven boards.
Hailey Brown battles for a loose ball.
Rachel Johnson had 16 points, nine rebounds, and three steals. (Photos by William Ransom)
