Jahzinga Tracey scored on a driving layup with four seconds left to tie the game, but Lena Kalvans responded with a 3-pointer at the buzzer to give West Liberty State a dramatic 75-72 victory over IUP in the final game of the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation “Shoot for the Cure” Classic at Memorial Field House.

IUP (2-2) trailed by 16 at halftime and then wiped out a seven-point deficit in the final 27 seconds before the Toppers (4-0) pulled out the win.  In the earlier game on Sunday, Glenville State routed Lock Haven, 88-48, and joined West Liberty State with two wins in the tournament.

Tracey finished with 19 points and 10 rebounds to lead IUP.  She had 15 points in the second half to help IUP overcome an 18-0 West Liberty State run to end the first half that gave the Toppers a 38-22 lead at intermission.  Tracey was named to the all-tournament team after also posting 15 points and 17 rebounds against Glenville State on Saturday.

Siarra Cornelius came off the bench to score a career-high 16 points while pulling down nine rebounds.  Katie Glaws shook off an 0 for 5 first half to score 11 points with her off balance 3-pointer bringing IUP to within 72-70 with 17 seconds left.

After an IUP timeout, Charity Street missed two free throws, and Staci Heberling grabbed the last of her eight rebounds.  Tracey tied the game with her layup, but Street found Kalvans open on the right wing, and she drained the 3-pointer as the clock hit all zeroes. 

Street led all scorers with 27 points for West Liberty State and was named to the all-tournament team with 45 points and 19 rebounds in two games.  She was joined by teammate Lisa Perry, who dished out 21 assists in the tournament.  Also making the all-tournament team were Glenville State’s Casey Taylor (37 points and 18 rebounds) and Melanie Oliver (21 points, 27 boards).

IUP stormed back from its sizeable halftime disadvantage to climb to within two for the first time at 48-46 on an offensive rebound and layup by Kierstin Filla with 9:17 remaining.  The lead fluctuated between two and eight points over the next seven minutes before West Liberty State seemed to take control for the final time.

A jumper by Tracey got IUP back to 66-64 with 2:06 left, but Street made a basket at the 1:37 mark and a free throw 39 seconds later to make it 69-64.  An IUP turnover was followed by a Street layup with 37 seconds left, and it appeared that the Toppers had enough breathing room.

But Tracey grabbed an offensive rebound off a missed 3-pointer by Cornelius and fed Lauren Fisher, who drained a shot from behind the arc to make it 71-67 with 27 seconds left.  Perry made one of two from the line, and Glaws forced a shot from just behind the arc that found the net and set the stage for the exciting final seconds.

IUP travels to Wheeling Jesuit on Wednesday for its fifth straight game against WVIAC opposition.

<back to top>