Women's Basketball: WVU Travels to ECU
December 20, 2004 10:57 AM | General
December 20, 2004
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – The West Virginia University women’s basketball team resumes play Tuesday afternoon at East Carolina for a 1 pm non-conference tilt.
The Mountaineers (8-0) have had the last 10 days off due to final examinations having last defeated Coppin State, 67-53 on Saturday, Dec. 11.
West Virginia is playing just its second contest of the season in an opposing team’s gym. WVU dropped Florida International, 58-49 on Nov. 27 after defeating Wichita State on a neutral court the day before.
West Virginia’s other wins have come against UNC Greensboro, Northwestern, Longwood, Duquesne and St. Francis, Pa.
Six-foot sophomore forward Meg Bulger leads the Mountaineers with an average of 18.6 points per game. The Pittsburgh native is looking to regain her shooting touch after seeing her percentage slip to 46.4 percent. Bulger has made a team-best 25 threes.
Senior guard Sherell Sowho is averaging 17.4 points per game and is shooting a team-best 59.8 percent. Sowho is 52 of 87 from the field including 16 of 37 from three-point distance for 43.2 percent.
Senior point guard Yolanda Paige is also averaging double figures at 10.3 points per game while also handing out a Big East-best 89 assists.
Those three are expected to start along with 6-foot-5 junior center Yelena Leuchanka (7.1 ppg., 6.4 rpg.) and 5-foot-10 freshman forward Chakhia Cole (4.5 ppg., 3.4 rpg.).
East Carolina fell to 2-7 losing 57-56 at UNC Wilmington on Saturday. Five-nine senior forward Jennifer Jackson led the Pirates with 20 points in the loss. Jackson is the team’s top scorer averaging 15.1 points per game. Six-foot senior forward Shanita Sutton is also averaging double figures at 10.1 points per game.
Joining those two in the ECU starting lineup are 6-foot LaToya Horton (3.3 ppg.), and guards Viola Cooper (7.7 ppg.) and Samantha Pankey (3.3 ppg.).
East Carolina’s two victories have come at home against Duquesne 65-51 in the season opener and at home against Stephen F. Austin. The Pirates have dropped decisions to George Washington, Montana, Cal-Fullerton, Savannah State, Baylor, Wake Forest and UNC Wilmington.
