Women's Basketball: WVU Wins BIG EAST Opener
January 05, 2008 11:00 PM | General
January 5, 2008
BOX SCORE
TAMPA, Fla. – Junior guard Sparkle Davis came off the bench to record a career-best 22 points and senior center Olayinka Sanni scored a team-high 23 points as No. 16/17 West Virginia (11-2) opened BIG EAST play with a 79-73 victory over USF (10-4).
Leading 54-53 with 11:09 left to play, WVU went on a 15-2 run to stretch its lead to 14 at 69-55 with 6:27 left in the contest. The Mountaineers then held on for the win after a furious Bulls rally down the stretch.
A Decatur, Ga., native, Davis was 8-11 from the field including 4-6 from 3-point range, with five assists and four rebounds in a career-best 33 minutes of action. Sanni was 10-13 from the field with a game-best seven rebounds as WVU won its second-ever BIG EAST road opener. The output was Davis’ second career 20-point output while Sanni notched her 17th career 20-point effort and fifth of the season.
Senior guard Meg Bulger added 16 points including four 3-pointers. Bulger has now tallied three or more 3-pointers in 20 of her last 24 contests. Senior guard LaQuita Owens chipped in 11 points
Foul trouble plagued West Virginia early and often in the first half as the Mountaineers reached the 10 foul limit with 10:32 left in the stanza. Ashley Powell, LaQuita Owens were removed from the game early with two fouls while Lateefah Joye and Chakhia Cole picked up three late in the first stanza. WVU coach Mike Carey was forced to go deep into his bench and junior forward Melanie Small and freshman guard Liz Repella played tremendous defense late in the first half to preserve a four point WVU halftime lead at 35-31.
Davis and Sanni paced the Mountaineers in the first half with 11 and 10 points, respectively. Davis connected on three 3-pointers while Sanni was 5-6 from the field. Bulger added eight including two 3-pointers.
For the game, West Virginia shot a blistering 54.9% (28-51) from the field including 11-22 from the 3-point line. The Mountaineers have now reached 50% or better shooting in six of its last nine contests and seven of its last 11. WVU’s 11 3-pointers tied a season-high. The Mountaineers also added 20 assists on 28 made shots and tallied 10 steals. The Bulls and WVU each had 31 rebounds.
The Mountaineers improved to 2-1 all-time against USF and have now won two straight in the series. WVU’s 11-2 start to the 2007-08 campaign also ties the 1991-92 and 1974-75 teams for the best start in school history.
Shantia Grace scored a game-best 25 points for the Bulls.
West Virginia returns to action, Wednesday, Jan. 9, at No. 1 Connecticut at 7:30 p.m. at Gampel Pavilion in Storrs, Conn. That contest will be broadcast live on television by West Virginia Public Broadcasting. MSN radio with Travis Jones will also air the contest on many affiliated stations.
