BOWLING GREEN, Ky. — WKU women's basketball (15-17) fell in the Conference USA Championship quarterfinals to Liberty (17-15), 62-59. The Lady Toppers were down as much as 11 points in the first half, but came back to get within one multiple times in the second half, including in the final seconds, but weren't able to complete the comeback.
Destiny Salary led all scorers with 22 points and had a season high nine rebounds. It was the fourth 20-point performance of the season for Salary. Teresa Faustino added 12 points and had two rebounds and two assists.
The Lady Toppers forced Liberty into 19 turnovers and score 18 points off those miscues. WKU outscored the Flames 26-22 in the paint and 13-5 in second chance points.
Both teams opened the game on scoring droughts. Liberty was first on the board at the 8:04 mark and WKU scored their first points at the 6:41 mark on a 3-pointer from Pitts. The Flames responded with two threes of their own, but Caitlin Staley stopped the 6-0 run with a bucket in the block. From there, the Lady Toppers outscored Liberty 6-4 and went into the second quarter down 14-11.
Liberty made four threes in the first six minutes of the second quarter to go ahead 28-17. WKU closed out the quarter on an 8-4 scoring advantage to get back within seven at halftime.
After a Liberty basket to start the third quarter, Odeth Betancourt scored back-to-back to cut Liberty's lead down to five. A Flames three pushed it back out to eight, but Salary scored four straight points to bring it back down to four. After two Liberty free throws, Salary scored five more points to get WKU within one. The two teams traded baskets, but two free throws for the Flames in the final minute gave Liberty a 46-43 lead going into the final quarter.
After WKU cut the score to one to start the fourth quarter, Liberty answered with five straight points. The Flames went ahead by as much as seven in the next few minutes, but a three from Salary with 3:20 left brought the score to 55-52. After a Liberty bucket, Pitts scored back-to-back baskets to get WKU back within one with 1:02 left to play. Liberty missed a shot on their next possession but came up with the offensive rebound. With under three seconds left on the shot clock, the Flames connected on a deep three to take a 4-point lead with 19 seconds left. WKU came down the court and Faustino connected on a three with 14 seconds left to bring it back within one. After a few WKU fouls, Liberty made two free throws to go ahead 62-59 with 11 seconds left. Acacia Hayes had a look at the three but came up short. Betancourt got the offensive rebound for WKU, passing it back out to Faustino who just missed the game-tying three.
How to Follow the Lady Toppers: For complete information on Lady Topper Hoops, visit WKUSports.com or follow the program via social media @LadyTopperHoops on X, @LadyTopperHoops on Instagram and on Facebook at facebook.com/WKUWomensBasketball.
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