boxscore
final tournament leaders
(CHARLESTON, W.Va.)---Fairmont State captured their second WVIAC Women's Basketball Tournament championship in three seasons by rallying for an 85-78 overtime win over West Liberty.
Tournament MVP Ashley Vavrek tallied the Falcons' last seven points in regulation as FSU erased a 68-63 deficit over the final 1:58.
Hope King sank the second of two foul shots to give WL the five-point edge. Vavrek reduced the margin to 68-66 with a three-pointer at the 1:44 mark. She then tied the game with a pair of free throws with 1:03 left.
West Liberty regained the lead at 70-68 when King connected on both attempts from the foul stripe. Vavrek responded with two free throws of her own for the final points of regulation at the 0:21 mark.
The Toppers had the final crack, but Tori Hansen's driving attempt was off the mark and the contest went to overtime tied at 70-all.
Mo Gattuso was the hero for Fairmont State in the overtime. She accounted for the Falcons' first six points of the extra sesson to give her team a 76-72 edge.
FSU extended their lead to 80-73 on two Rachel Murray free throws. West Liberty's final gasp came on a three-pointer from Kayla Ayers with 0:30 left that pulled the Toppers within 81-78. Vavrek then connected on four straight insurance free throws to punch the Falcons' ticket to next week's NCAA Division II Atlantic Region Tournament.
The tightly contested battle saw 13 ties and as many lead changes. Neither squad owned a double-digit lead during the game. West Liberty held a slight 34-32 edge at intermission.
Vavrek led all scorers with 31 points. Murray posted 23 points and 21 rebounds, along with four blocks. Gattuso registered 10 points and also reached double-double status with 13 rebounds.
Hansen topped West Liberty with 23 points, 9 rebounds, and 8 assists. The junior established a new tournament record with 111 points in four contests. Andi Winney was the only other Topper to reach double figures with 10 points before fouling out.
2010 All-WVIAC Tournament Team:
Donita Adams (Glenville State)
Kourtney Booth (Wheeling Jesuit)
Tori Hansen (West Liberty)
Lindsey Kentner (Charleston)
Laura Malernee (West Liberty)
Rachel Murray (Fairmont State)
Kaitlin Snyder (Fairmont State)
Ashley Vavrek (Fairmont State)
Camille Wilmer (Shepherd)
Andi Winney (West Liberty)
Most Valuable Player: Ashley Vavrek (Fairmont State)
George Springer Trophy (Individual Sportsmanship): Kaitlin Snyder (Fairmont State)
Commissioner's Heart & Hustle Award: Tori Hansen (West Liberty)
Galperin Trophy (Highest Scoring Average): Tori Hansen (West Liberty)---111 points in 4 games (27.8 ppg)
WVIAC Women's Basketball Tournament
March 1-6
Monday, March 1 (first round---campus sites, 7:30 p.m. unless indicated)
G1: #7 Shepherd 59, #10 Concord 57
G2: #2 Seton Hill 92, #15 Bluefield State 44
G3: #3 Charleston 80, #14 Ohio Valley 53
G4: #6 Fairmont State 62, #11 West Virginia State 57
G5: #8 Wheeling Jesuit 70, #9 Pitt Johnstown 63
G6: #4 Glenville State 119, #13 Alderson-Broaddus 86
G7: #5 West Liberty 97, #12 Davis & Elkins 87
Wednesday, March 3 (quarterfinals---Charleston Civic Center)
G8: Shepherd 76, Seton Hill 64
G9: Fairmont State 64, Charleston 62
G10: Wheeling Jesuit 53, #1 West Virginia Wesleyan 52
G11: West Liberty 96, Glenville State 79
Friday, March 5 (semifinals---Charleston Civic Center)
G12: Fairmont State 85, Shepherd 72
G13: West Liberty 75, Wheeling Jesuit 68 (ot)
Saturday, March 6 (championship---Charleston Civic Center)
G14: Fairmont State 85, West Liberty 78 (ot)