Women's Basketball: Mountaineers Cruise
December 01, 2004 08:55 PM | General
December 1, 2004
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – Meg Bulger’s 16 points led four West Virginia double-figure scorers in an 81-52 victory over Longwood Wednesday night at the WVU Coliseum.
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| Joei Clyburn lays in two of her seven points in West Virginia's 81-52 win over Longwood Wednesday night.
All-Pro Photography/Dale Sparks |
Bulger made seven of 17 field goal attempts in 27 minutes of action.
Sherell Sowho and freshman LaQuita Owens each scored 12, while junior center Yelena Leuchanka contributed a 10-point, 10-rebound double-double.
"I thought LaQuita came in and did some good things ... it was good to see her hit a couple of open shots," said West Virginia coach Mike Carey. "She can score, she just needs to get confidence."
Point guard Yolanda Paige handed out 17 assists, one shy of her WVU record set two weeks ago against Northwestern when she had 18.
In five games this year, Paige has dished out 58 assists and needs just 54 more to break Rosemary Kosiorek’s school record of 725 set from 1989-92.
"She could have had 30 (assists) if we would have made some shots. She had another good game for us," Carey said.
After trailing 5-4 early on, West Virginia went on an 8-2 run to take a 12-7 lead after a layup by Joei Clyburn. A big 23-2 run turned a 12-10 lead into a 35-12 West Virginia advantage following a Yelena Leuchanka basket at 7:06.
West Virginia’s largest lead of the game was 31 at 61-25. In the second half Longwood's zone forced West Virginia to take a lot of three-point shots.
"We weren't hitting our threes and because of that we were standing around," Carey said. "Down in Florida we didn't execute our half court sets and this game in the second half it got into the halfcourt and we didn't execute well. Those are things we need to work on and that's why we have these games to find things that we need to work on."
The Mountaineers held a 49-36 advantage in rebounding and made 34 of 71 field goal attempts for 46.2 percent. Ten different players scored points for West Virginia, which improves to 5-0.
Longwood, now 3-3, got 10 points from Amber Mason.
"We've got to get our post players in better shape," Carey said. "That will come as the year goes on."
West Virginia returns to action this Saturday at the Coliseum against Duquesne at 5 pm prior to the men’s game against Radford at 7 pm.
"Saturday's game is not going to be a runaway like this game," Carey said. "Duquesne always comes in here and plays hard and always has some good players."
