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URBANA,Ohio — The Urbana women's basketball team suffered an 80-71 loss in a conference matchup against West Liberty Wednesday night in the Grimes Center.
The Blue Knights fall to 1-14 (1-10 MEC) and the Hilltoppers improve to 10-7 (7-4 MEC).
// TEAM STATS
The Blue Knights had fewer turnovers (14) than the Hilltoppers (16), and both teams shot nearly the same percentage.
But, the difference proved to be at the free-throw line where UU struggled to go 13 of 26 (50%). WLU finished the shooting 23 of 29 (79.3%) at the charity stripe.
WLU held a slight edge on the glass, 44-43, but UU recorded more offensive boards, assists and steals.
// INDIVIDUAL STATS
Urbana's Sylvia Hudson led the team with 29 points on 13-of-19 shooting, while out-playing West Liberty All-American Marissa Brown, who fouled out with just seven points (3-11) and 14 boards in 34 minutes. Brown entered the game averaging nearly 27 points per game while leading the nation in made field goals. With the strong effort, Hudson raised her season average to 20.1 points per game.
Megan Beachy chipped in with 10 points while Erin Morrow grabbed a team-high 12 boards. Morrow played outstanding defense while covering WLU's Brown.
WLU's Taylor Johnson posted a game-high of 34 points.
// HOW IT HAPPENED
UU went ahead 20-19 on a Hudson basket early in the second quarter, but that was the last lead for the Blue Knights. West Liberty went into the half with a 38-33 cushion after both teams shot 15 of 38 from the field.
The teams were evenly matched, but the Blue Knights just couldn't pull ahead.
WLU built the largest lead of the game when it went up 57-45 near the end of the third. However, Hudson caught fire in the fourth and scored 10 consecutive points to get UU within four, 66-62, with under three minutes left in the game.
That was as close as the Blue Knights could get as the Hilltoppers knocked down seven straight free throws to seal the game.
// UP NEXT
The Blue Knights will travel to South Euclid, Ohio for a conference matchup with Notre Dame College on Saturday (2 p.m.).
