West Virginia Wins Nugget Classic
November 28, 2009 11:33 PM | General
November 29, 2009
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| Asya Bussie |
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – A strong defensive showing guided the West Virginia University women's basketball team to a 66-41 victory over Nevada in the Nugget Classic championship on Saturday evening at the Lawlor Events Center in Reno, Nev.
Just like they have done throughout the early portion of the season, the Mountaineers (5-1) used their size and quickness on the defensive end to create turnovers and force the Wolfpack (4-2) into difficult shots.
Nevada, which hosted the tournament, shot 31.4 percent from the field and was outplayed by a WVU team that did its damage inside. The Mountaineers outrebounded the Wolfpack 48-31, including a 19-9 edge on the offensive glass that led to 13 second-chance points.
WVU also forced 19 turnovers and committed just 12. The Mountaineers scored 19 points off turnovers and outscored Nevada 38-22 in the paint.
Tournament MVP Asya Bussie, a freshman center, recorded her first career double-double, registering career highs of 16 points and 12 rebounds. Guard Sarah Miles, who was named to the all-tournament team, had 15 points and distributed the ball well with seven assists, while Korinne Campbell notched her third double-figure output with 10 points and nine boards.
The Mountaineers weren't overly efficient on offense, shooting 38.7 percent overall. But WVU was clearly more aggressive getting to the basket, going 16 of 24 from the free throw line compared to 7 of 10 shooting by Nevada.
Junior Liz Repella chipped in with 10 points and nine rebounds. The Steubenville, Ohio, native has scored in double-figures in every game this season and is averaging an impressive 7.2 rebounds per game as a shooting guard.
Midway through the first half, the Mountaineers pulled away and extended their double-digit lead into the second half. Bussie’s layup at the 17:51 mark gave WVU a decisive 41-21 advantage, and the Mountaineers built a 26-point lead with 1:53 left on two free throws by Miles.
With the game well in-hand, the Mountaineers were able to go 10-deep, with eight players earning significant time with at least 11 minutes apiece.
West Virginia took a commanding 35-19 halftime lead, holding the Wolfpack to just 29.2 percent from the field. WVU showed its dominance inside by holding a 27-16 edge in rebounding, led by seven rebounds and five offensive boards from Bussie.
With the game tied at 9-9, West Virginia proceeded to go on a 10-0 run, highlighted by back-to-back jumpers by freshman Akeema Richards. Vanessa House added a fastbreak layup and Miles’ layup with 8:19 remaining gave WVU the 19-9 advantage.
Miles ended the half with a flurry of baskets, capped by a jumper in the paint with five seconds left to give the Mountaineers a 16-point lead.
Nevada guard Amanda Johnson was the lone double-figure scorer for her team, tallying 11 points. Guards Nicole Williams and Johnna Ward had eight points apiece.
West Virginia opens a seven-game home stretch, beginning with a contest against Radford on Wednesday, Dec. 2. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. at the WVU Coliseum.
