The WVU Tech women’s basketball team opened up their 2009 season with a 67-54 victory over a Bluefield State College team that defeated the Golden Bears by 10 points last season in the Baisi Center.

The Lady Blues entered into tonight’s game looking to improve on their 4-23 mark from the 2008 season. The Golden Bears split the two game series with Bluefield, winning the first game at Bluefield by a 17 point margin before dropping a 42-32 decision at Tech later in the season.

Tonight, the Golden Bears took to the floor for the first time this season against a traditionally gritty and physical Lady Blues squad and never trailed en route to their first victory in 17 games.

Junior, Ashley Blaney, put the Golden Bears on the board first thanks to a Shyla Jones feed down low. The two teams would battle it out for the next 10 minutes with Bluefield State refusing to go away and even tying the game with 10:37 left in the first half on a Charlene Diggs field goal.

The Golden Bears would bounce back and answer when Kelli Morgan sank two free throws to give the lead back to Tech. From there, Tech wouldn’t look back as they exploded for a 15-2 run to extend their lead to 13 in the first half before heading into intermission with a 31-25 lead.

The second half was a near mirror image of the first half of play with Bluefield State chipping away steadily at the Tech lead and eventually tying the game at 47 all with close to 6 minutes remaining in regulation.

Much like the first half, the Golden Bears would get their offense back on track with a pair of free throws – this time, courtesy of Style Harper. Tech would systematically increase their lead until the final buzzer to earn a 67-54 decision.

Tech’s Shyla Jones and Style Harper would lead the Golden Bears in the scoring column with 14 a piece. Jones would finish the game with her first double-double as a Golden Bear, adding rebounds to her 14 points while Style Harper dished out 5 assists to accompany her 14 point contribution.

The Golden Bears will put their 1-0 mark on the line Saturday when they travel to Virginia Intermont College to take on the Cobras. Tip off is set for 4:00pm.