Box Score

Edinboro, Pa. – Action inside McComb Field House on Friday afternoon was exactly what a NCAA Atlantic Region Quarterfinal game should look like–hard-fought and down to the wire. Unfortunately for Millersville, the contest wound up in West Liberty's favor as the Marauders fell to the Hilltoppers 71-68 in the opening game of the regional.

The game marked Millersville's fourth-straight appearance in the tournament and the third time the club matched up opposite West Liberty. The Hilltoppers defeated the Marauders for the first time ever to head to the regional semifinals for the first time since the 2001-02 season.

With 48 seconds remaining on the clock the Marauders (22-7) and West Liberty (25-6) became knotted for the sixth and final time when Mashira Newman went coast-to-coast for a layup to knot the game at 65. The Hilltoppers countered, however, with a three-point play from Tori Hansen 18 seconds later and Millersville was unable to regain the advantage.

Down by two with 13 seconds to go, Millersville sent West Liberty's Jenni Robbins to the line where she missed her first attempt of a one-and-one. Newman, however, could not connect on a layup at the other end.

Sophomore Aurielle Mosley led the Marauders by recording her 19th double-double of the season with 19 points and 14 rebounds. Newman also netted 19 points and Sophia Waters scored 13 as the two played every minute of action.

The contest was full of runs by both teams, including an opening 7-0 run by Millersville and a 10-1 run by West Liberty in response. The Hilltoppers closed out the final six minutes of the second half with a 15-8 stretch.

A squad known for its stifling defense all season, the Marauders forced 15 West Liberty turnovers and swatted away four shots. They registered 16 points off of turnovers and scored 13 second-chance points, while committing a season-low 11 turnovers of their own.

Mary Fleig's bunch limited the 3-point specialists to a 25.0 percentage from behind the arc on 5-of-20 shooting. Robbins and Laura Malernee combined for all of the Hilltoppers' treys.

Friday marked just the fourth time all season that Millersville was out-rebounded. The Hilltoppers held a 44-35 advantage on the boards. West Liberty advances to the Atlantic Region Semifinal game Saturday where it will face the winner of the Glenville State-Johnson C. Smith contest.

The Marauders wrap up the season with a 22-7 overall record, posting a 20-win season for the fourth-consecutive year. It was the 10th time in Fleig's 21 years at the helm of the MU bench that her club tallied 20 wins.