CHARLESTON, W.Va. - - Top-seeded West Liberty and ninth-seeded UVa-Wise hooked up for the third time this season in the quarterfinal round of the 2015 Mountain East Conference Tournament Thursday inside the Charleston Civic Center.  The first two meetings were decided by a combined eight points and Thursday's battle matched the previous two meetings. 

Neither team had a lead larger than five points and the lead changed hands 17 times while the score was tied 13 times in what was the third quarterfinal of the day.  West Liberty eventually outlasted UVa-Wise 73-68 in double overtime, keeping its hopes alive for a berth in the upcoming NCAA Division II Tournament.

West Liberty's (21-8) defense in the second extra session proved to be the difference as the 'Toppers did not allow a made field goal by UVa-Wise (10-20) and just four points in the final five minute stanza.  All-MEC performer Kailee Howe did her part on the offensive end of the floor in continuing her team's season as well.

Howe scored just two points in the first half but showed her abilities when the 'Toppers needed it most.  After Blair Harding made a 3-pointer with 10 seconds to play to give UVa-Wise a 64-62 lead in the first overtime period, Howe raced the length of the floor and scored in the paint to tie the game with four seconds to play.  She then stole the ensuing inbounds pass and just missed a 3-pointer that would have ended the game.

After consecutive empty possessions by UVa-Wise to open the second overtime, West Liberty took the lead for good when Howe continued her playmaking ability with a bucket at the 3:55 mark.  A possession later, Kierra Simpson split a pair of foul shots to give the 'Toppers a 67-64 lead.

The Cavaliers would cut the lead to one on their next possession as Kehana Grayer made two foul shots with three minutes left.  Liz Flowers would then score for West Liberty before Taylor Sandidge canned consecutive free throws to make the score 69-68 with 2:06 to play.

Howe would make her second field goal of the double overtime period with 36 ticks to play to again put the 'Toppers up by three at 71-68.  UVa-Wise would have two opportunities to tie the game but would miss both 3-point attempts.  Hillary Southworth then put the game out of reach with two made free throws for the final margin of 73-68.

The opening moments of the game saw UVa-Wise get off to a good start as senior Katie Jo Dockery scored off the dribble and Harding scored her only points of the half on a 3-pointer just over two minutes in. 

West Liberty answered with a 9-0 run of its own to take a 9-5 lead as Southworth and Simpson each scored inside before an Emily Bucon 3-pointer gave the 'Toppers their first lead of the day.

Back-to-back free throws by Jenn Mohney capped the run at the 13:40 mark in the opening half.

The two teams would then trade blows over the remainder of the opening 20 minutes.  UVa-Wise regained the lead on a Grayer layup at the 7:45 mark and would build the lead to as much as four points when Allison Ball's second 3-pointer of the half swished through the net.  Ball's triple made the score 21-17 with 5:51 to play in the half.

Lynn Ullom's West Liberty squad would outscore Kristin Kunzman's Cavaliers 14-7 over the remainder of the half to enter intermission leading 31-28.

The UVa-Wise bench kept the team in the game as the team's top-two leading scorers, Harding and Sandidge played just a combined 24 minutes and scored six points.  Harding picked up three fouls in the opening half while Sandidge was assessed two.

The game's back and forth nature continued throughout the second half as the lead was swapped nine times with five ties.  The foul trouble moved from the Cavalier side to the 'Toppers side as well, Mohney eventually fouled out of the game while four other West Liberty players finished with four fouls.

As with the case in the first overtime, the Cavs had a chance to win the game in regulation.  Following a West Liberty turnover, UVa-Wise missed two shots in the final three seconds that would have knocked out the regular season co-champions. 

Lofty statistical numbers were put up by players on both sides.  Four 'Toppers tallied double figures led by Southworth's 17-point, six-rebound outing.  Simpson registered a double-double with 15 points and 11 boards while Flowers and Howe each netted 12 points.

Sandidge's final stat line read 17 points, eight rebounds, three assists, and three steals while Kayla Carey scored 16 points and corralled seven rebounds.  Harding tallied 10 points, seven boards, and four assists.

The loss marks the second consecutive season that UVa-Wise has lost to West Liberty in the quarterfinal round of the MEC Tournament.  The 'Toppers now advance to play either the fourth seed Wheeling Jesuit or the number five seed Fairmont State.