Coach Steve Harold is gone.

The Glenville women's basketball team is not.

Donita Adams scored 23 points and had seven rebounds to lead the seventh-seeded Pioneers to a 56-47 upset of second-seeded and 25th-ranked nationally West Liberty on Wednesday in the quarterfinals of the West Virginia Conference tournament.

West Liberty (24-5) had been on a 15-game winning streak. The Hilltoppers had made the semifinals 14 years in a row.

But Glenville had something to prove as well: that it could continue without Harold, who resigned after last season. The Pioneers won the tournament crown last season and had made the finals the last eight seasons (with three titles). However, they were picked to finish 11th among the league's 16 teams in the coaches preseason poll and finished seventh.

"This means a lot,'' said senior forward Karina Kendrick, who had 10 points and 12 rebounds. "I'm almost in tears because people had their doubts. There was the coaching change. We're young.

"But I think this proves we're going to be dominant for years to come. You shouldn't doubt us because we're capable.''

It also gave first-year head coach Dennis Fitzpatrick his most significant win. He not only steered the Pioneers to victory, but did so against West Liberty's Lynn Ullom, who, according to Fitzpatrick, "got the West Virginia Conference on the map.''

Coach Steve Harold is gone.

The Glenville women's basketball team is not.

Donita Adams scored 23 points and had seven rebounds to lead the seventh-seeded Pioneers to a 56-47 upset of second-seeded and 25th-ranked nationally West Liberty on Wednesday in the quarterfinals of the West Virginia Conference tournament.

West Liberty (24-5) had been on a 15-game winning streak. The Hilltoppers had made the semifinals 14 years in a row.

But Glenville had something to prove as well: that it could continue without Harold, who resigned after last season. The Pioneers won the tournament crown last season and had made the finals the last eight seasons (with three titles). However, they were picked to finish 11th among the league's 16 teams in the coaches preseason poll and finished seventh.

"This means a lot,'' said senior forward Karina Kendrick, who had 10 points and 12 rebounds. "I'm almost in tears because people had their doubts. There was the coaching change. We're young.

"But I think this proves we're going to be dominant for years to come. You shouldn't doubt us because we're capable.''

It also gave first-year head coach Dennis Fitzpatrick his most significant win. He not only steered the Pioneers to victory, but did so against West Liberty's Lynn Ullom, who, according to Fitzpatrick, "got the West Virginia Conference on the map.''

Perhaps sweetly, Glenville knocked down the game's biggest shot on a double screen usually milked by West Liberty. With the game tied at 44, Mallory Menendez converted a trey from the left side.

Hilltopper leader Renee Farina then traveled. After a Fitzpatrick timeout, Adams was fouled, knocked down a pair of free throws and sent the Pioneers on to victory.

"Donita Adams was a second-team all-conference pick,'' Fitzpatrick said. "She should have been first-team all-conference. I reminded her of that before the game.''

The game was close throughout. Both teams had trouble converting baskets with Glenville hitting 36.8 percent of its shots and West Liberty 29.8. The Pioneers' defensive effort held the Hilltoppers to their season low in points.

"That's about as ugly as you can see a West Liberty team play,'' Ullom said. "A lot of that was due to Glenville. They just had that little extra 'want.' ''

West Liberty's two top scorers - Farina and Tori Hansen - converted but 4-of-20 shots. National assist leader Lisa Perry hit 4-of-13.

Glenville (18-11) will take on Fairmont State, a 68-55 winner over West Virginia State, in the semifinals at 1 p.m. Friday.