The WVU Tech women’s basketball played host to a hard nosed Davis and Elkins squad Monday evening at the Baisi Center in a match up that was two years in the making. The Golden Bears got into foul trouble early in the game but thanks to a few surprise performances, Tech was able to keep the game close in the first half.

Davis and Elkins controlled the opening tip off, and the offensive boards as WVU Tech’s offensive lulls that have plagued the young squad so far this season were carried over onto the defensive side of the ball in the second half.

The Golden Bears managed to tie the game 3 times in the early parts of the first half before four of their five starters found themselves in foul trouble with 14 minutes remaining in the first half. In fact, in the span of 70 seconds, Tech committed 5 fouls, swinging the momentum of the game heavily in the Senators’ favor and forcing Jim Fout to play 4 freshmen and a sophomore for the majority of the first half.

Tech’s Shyla Jones picked up 2 fouls in the first half, but managed to stay on the floor for 14 minutes while other Golden Bears weren’t so lucky. Junior Shyla Jones picked up 2 fouls in only 9 minutes of action in the first half while Kerin Roache and Ashley Blaney each played 10 minutes before picking up their second fouls of the half. Sophomore Jessica Johnson picked up her 2 fouls in only 4 minutes of play.

Despite the having four of their starters sitting the bench, the Golden Bears managed to keep the game close, feeling pretty good about trailing Davis and Elkins by only 7 points at the half.

But the good feeling quickly vanished as the second half began. Tech would pull within 5 on a Shyla Jones field goal with 17 minutes remaining, but that was as close as the Golden Bears would come as the Senators put on a clinic on the offensive boards and steadily extend their lead to 30.

The visiting Senators opened their season with a bang offensively, having 4 players reach double digits on the night thanks in large part to the Golden Bears giving up 14 second chance points in the second half and allowing Davis and Elkins to pull down 25 offensive boards.

Despite getting into foul trouble early, Tech’s Shyla Jones still managed to record 10 points, 1 block and 3 steals in her 20 minutes on the floor. Style Harper also contributed 10 points in 19 minutes of playing time. Freshman Tori Eagle had a perfect night shooting for the Golden Bears, connecting on 2 for 2 shooting from the field and hitting all 4 of her free throws for her 9 points. Eagle also dished out 2 assists on the night while Junior Kerin Roache distributed a team high, 4 assists.

The first home loss of the season for the Golden Bears drops Tech to 2-1 on the season.