Women's Basketball: URI Invitational Champions
November 24, 2007 06:07 PM | General
November 24, 2007
BOX SCORE
KINGSTON, R.I. – West Virginia University’s women’s basketball team routed host Rhode Island, 80-47, Saturday afternoon at the Ryan Center in the championship game of the URI Invitational.
The win marked coach Mike Carey's 400th career coaching victory.
The Mountaineers (5-1) never trailed in the contest and opened the game with a 15-5 run thanks in part to eight quick points, including two 3-pointers, from senior guard LaQuita Owens.
WVU went on to hold a 43-22 halftime lead on the strength of the inside-outside game of senior guard Meg Bulger and senior center Olayinka Sanni. Bulger was a perfect 5-of-5 in the opening stanza from 3-point range while Sanni added 13 points on 6-7 shooting, all of which came in the paint.
The Rams (3-3) closed to within 10 points at 52-42 before West Virginia used a 28-5 during the final 10 minutes to seal the victory.
For the contest, Owens tallied a game-high 22 points on 9-of-10 shooting including 4-of-5 from 3-point range. Owens’ 90% shooting marked the fourth-best single game shooting percentage in school history. She also recorded her 10th career 20-point game.
Sanni added 21 points on 10-of-14 shooting with seven rebounds while Bulger finished the contest with 19 points and seven boards. Sanni tallied her 14th career 20-point game. Junior forward Ashley Powell had a productive game tallying six assists, grabbing seven rebounds and collecting four steals.
WVU out-rebounded Rhode Island 36-22 and dominated the points in the paint at 38-8. WVU also tallied 21 assists on 31 made baskets and shot a season-high 59.6% (31-52) from the field and 11-17 (64.7%) from 3-point range. The Mountaineers also scored 35 points off of 24 Ram turnovers.
With the win, West Virginia improved to 15-7 all-time against its former A-10 rival.
The Mountaineers placed three players on the all-tournament team: senior forward Chakhia Cole, Owens and tournament MVP Sanni. Joining them were American’s Liz Hayes and Rhode Island’s Safi Mojidi.
West Virginia is back in action at the FAU Holiday Classic when it takes on St. Bonaventure at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 1. WVU will then face Columbia on Sunday, Dec. 2, also at 1 p.m.
