SALEM, WV – The Salem International University women's basketball team faced a high-scoring West Liberty University team on Tuesday night (Dec. 13) inside T. Edward Davis Gym. The Tigers looked to slow the Hilltoppers offense as much as they could in a 109-59 victory for West Liberty in NCAA women's collegiate basketball action.

INSIDE THE MATCHUP: 
Final: West Liberty 109, Salem International 59
Records: West Liberty (2-7), Salem International (1-10)
Location: T. Edward Davis Gym | Salem, West Virginia

HOW IT HAPPENED:

•  First Half
  • The Hilltoppers would start the night on a strong note, scoring the first nine points of the contest.
  • West Liberty held an 18-5 lead against the Tigers after the opening 10 minutes of play.
  • The second quarter would see the Hilltoppers surpass the 20-point mark, out-scoring SIU 26-11.
  • The Tigers trailed West Liberty 44-16 at halftime.
  • SIU senior Dorina Barrett sparked the Tigers offensively in the opening stanza with a team-high seven points.
  • SIU sophomore Keishla Gilmore finished the first-half with five points, one steal, and one assist.
  • Salem was 6-of-33 from the floor and 1-of-6 from downtown, while West Liberty was 16-of-32 from the floor and 6-of-14 from three-point range.
  • The Hilltoppers recorded 13 assists in the first-half with Johnie Olkosky leading the way with four.
  • Olkosky scored a team-high 12 points for West Liberty, adding six rebounds and three steals to her stat line.
  • Brandi Beader would score 11 points off of the bench for the Hilltoppers, going 4-of-5 from the floor and 3-of-4 from three-point range.
•  Second Half
  • The Tigers showed some offensive-touch in the second-half, scoring 21 points in the third quarter and 22 in the fourth quarter.
  • Allie Farina scored 12 points for West Liberty in the second-half, going 4-of-9 from the floor and 4-of-4 at the free throw line.
  • The Hilltoppers went 19-of-39 in the second-half en route to crossing the century mark. SIU went 14-of-34 and 6-of-12 from downtown.
  • The third quarter would see West Liberty make 17 trips to the charity stripe, connecting 16 times.

 STATS FROM THE GAME:

• Gilmore finished the contest with a team-high 14 points for SIU, while sophomore Jiahna Flood-Francis finished with 12 points.
• Barrett finished with nine points and recorded a team-high five assists for the Tigers.
• Sophomore Quamilla Jackson tallied eight points for Salem, while junior Safiya Hernandez tallied eight as well.
• SIU turned the ball over 15 times and recorded just three steals. the Hilltoppers turned the ball over 13 times and registered seven steals.
• West Liberty received 55 points from its bench in the win and scored 38 points inside of the paint.
• Beader finished with a game-high 24 points off of the bench, including a 6-for-9 effort from downtown.
• Olkosky notched a double-double for the Hilltoppers, scoring 16 points and adding 10 rebounds. She also tallied six assists and five steals.
• McKenna Shives paced the Hilltoppers offense with nine assists and also recorded 15 points. A total of six West Liberty players finished in double digits.
• West Liberty out-rebounded SIU 43-22 and dished-out 26 helpers in the game.

UP NEXT:

The Tigers will hit the road for a matchup with Davis & Elkins on Friday afternoon (Dec. 16) and then return home to host Edinboro at 2 PM on Saturday afternoon (Dec. 17) inside T. Edward Davis Gymnasium. Live stats and video for both of the Tigers home games will be available at www.SIUTigerPride.com.