BECKLEY, W. Va. – The IU Southeast women's basketball team started strong but saw its offense falter in the second half as West Virginia Tech defeated the Grenadiers 75-69 on Saturday.
 
The Grenadiers started the game on an 11-0 run behind the play of Ella Brown, who had eight of the first 11 points for IU Southeast. Brown had 11 of her 19 points in the first quarter.
 
Jesse Ledgerwood hit two three-pointers in the first quarter to record her 1,000^th career point. She is the 33^rd Grenadier to score 1,000 points in program history.
 
IU Southeast extended its lead to 20-6 on a Morgan Roberts three-pointer. The Grenadiers led 22-8 at the end of the first.
 
Consecutive layups by Linzie Wernert gave the Grenadiers their largest lead at 26-10 in the second quarter. The Golden Bears chipped into the deficit but could not get it under double-digits in the period.
 
IU Southeast led 35-25 at halftime.
 
The Grenadiers kept WVU Tech at arms' length in the third quarter, answering each time the Golden Bears got to within four points.
 
A Ledgerwood jumper put IU Southeast in front 42-36 with 4:41 to play in the third, but a 9-2 run by WVU Tech sent the Golden Bears in front for the first time.
 
Jesse Ledgerwood hit a three-pointer followed by a layup by Grace Stapleton to swing IU Southeast back in front. A three-pointer by Ella Brown gave the Grenadiers a 52-49 lead heading to the fourth quarter.
 
The Grenadier perimeter offense went cold in the fourth quarter as IU Southeast was 0 -of- 6 from three-point range. A quick 7-0 run put WVU Tech in front 59-57 with 6:36 to play.
 
Grace Stapleton hit a jump shot to push IU Southeast in front 63-61, but a pair of free-throws by Alexis Sexton tied the game.
 
IU Southeast missed a three-point shot at one end and fouled Maggie Boroski who hit one of two shots to put the Golden Bears in the lead.
 
After an IU Southeast turnover, Cadence Stewart hit a three from the wing to put WVU Tech in front by four with under two minutes left.
 
The teams traded baskets and after a Ledgerwood miss, Jazzlyn Nixon was fouled and hit one of two free throws.
 
Jesse Ledgerwood hit a pair of free-throws to make it a one-possession game at 70-67.
 
Alexis Sexton was fouled and hit both shots to make it a 72-67 lead with 23 seconds left. The Grenadiers missed a three and then fouled Stewart. She only made one of two but without the three-pointer falling the Grenadiers could not score quickly enough and fell 75-67.
 
WVU Tech outscored the Grenadiers 50-34 in the second half after the Grenadiers held the Golden Bears to 25 points in the first half.
 
Ella Brown had 19 points to lead IU Southeast. Linzie Wernert had 18 points and 15 rebounds, Jesse Ledgerwood had 15 points and Grace Stapleton added 12 in the win.
 
The Grenadiers travel to IU Columbus on Tuesday at 6 p.m.