SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. – The Slippery Rock University women's basketball team went toe-to-toe with No. 21 West Liberty University for a full 40 minutes, but a jumper by WLU's Kailee Howe with three seconds remaining in regulation proved to be the difference in a 79-77 Rock loss Saturday afternoon at Morrow Field House.
 
The close non-conference defeat snaps SRU's two-game winning streak and moves The Rock's record on the season to 4-2. West Liberty, which is currently ranked 21st in NCAA Division II by the Women's Basketball Coaches Association, improves to 5-1 on the year with the win.
 
Slippery Rock jumped out to an early 15-point lead, before West Liberty got back into the game with a barrage of 3-pointers in the second and third quarters that eventually allowed the Hilltoppers to erase their deficit and open up a 13-point edge of their own at 65-52 heading into the fourth quarter.
 
Slippery Rock would regroup at the between-quarter break and proceed to score 19 of the next 25 points to tie the game up at 71-71 with 3:35 to play in regulation. On the ensuing West Liberty possession junior guard Lexi Carpenter forced a turnover and was then fouled. Carpenter, a 91.7 percent shooter from the free throw line this season, calmly converted both attempts to give The Rock a 73-71 lead with 3:08 left to play.
 
Following the free throws, WLU's Johnie Olkosky hit a 3-pointer that was answered back by a jumper in the paint by Carpenter only for Olkosky to respond with yet another triple to put the Hilltoppers ahead 77-75 with 44 seconds showing on the clock.
 
Slippery Rock was once again able to answer what could have been a potential game-ending shot as senior guard Erica Aiello made a great drive to the glass and finished off a layup that tied the contest at 77-77 and forced a timeout with 27 seconds left to play.
 
However, West Liberty one-upped SRU on its final possession of the game as Howe connected on a jumper with three seconds to play. Slippery Rock was unable to get off a final attempt and the Hilltoppers escaped with the two-point victory.
 
Sophomore guard Ciara Patterson paced The Rock with 18 points and three steals in 30 minutes. Carpenter added 17 points, five assists, four rebounds and three steals. Junior guard Audrey Stapleton recorded her third straight double-digit scoring effort with 14 points.
 
The trio of Aiello, senior forward Megan Hardiman and freshman forward Morgan Henderson all finished with eight points to round out The Rock's scoring leaders. Henderson and Hardiman also ended the game in a tie for the team-lead in rebounds with sophomore guard Krista Pietropola at five apiece.
 
For the game, Slippery Rock shot 47.5 percent (28-for-59) from the field overall and 94.7 percent (18-for-19) from the foul line. Slippery Rock also forced 20 turnovers while committing just 11 miscues of its own.
 
West Liberty, which made 15 3-pointers on the day, was led by the duo Emily Bucon and Kierra Simpson. Bucon had 22 points thanks in part to six 3-pointers while Simpson collected a double-double of 15 points and 18 rebounds. Howe set the WLU offense up with 17 assists.
 
Slippery Rock returns to competition 2 p.m. Saturday at Central State University in Wilberforce, Ohio.