Women's Basketball: Exhibition Sunday
November 05, 2009 03:59 PM | General
November 5, 2009
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – West Virginia University’s women’s basketball team opens its 2009-10 season with an exhibition contest against West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference member Glenville State, at 6 p.m., Sunday, Nov. 8, at the WVU Coliseum. Admission to the event is free.
West Virginia is fresh off an 18-15 record from a season ago, when the Mountaineers advanced to the second round of the postseason WNIT. The squad also boasts no seniors on this year’s team for the first time since 1978.
The Mountaineers return three starters from last year’s squad led by junior co-captain and preseason all-BIG EAST performer Liz Repella and junior guard Sarah Miles, who was the league’s Most Improved Player last year. Repella averaged 16.5 points and 8.1 rebounds per contest last year at forward, both team-bests, while Miles tallied 12.2 points per game while adding 5.3 rebounds per game. Sophomore center Natalie Burton is also back, after averaging 4.8 points and 4.9 rebounds per game last year.
WVU welcomes the return of redshirt juniors Madina Ali and Vanessa House, both of whom missed most of last season due to season-ending injuries. Redshirt freshman Jessica Capers also begins her Mountaineer career after missing all of last season due to injury. Junior Korinne Campbell is ready to contribute after sitting out last season in compliance with NCAA transfer rules.
A top 30 recruiting class will also be unveiled in the Glenville State contest as top 100 freshmen recruits Asya Bussie, Akeema Richards and Antishia Wright are all expected to help out immediately.
Coach Mike Carey enters his ninth year at the helm of the program, boasting a 150-101 record at WVU and a 438-203 overall career record in 21 years of coaching.
The Pioneers were 9-19 last season and return three starters from that team, including leading scorer and senior guard Donita Adams, who averaged 15.4 points and 5.4 rebounds last year. The Pioneers are coached by Bunky Harkleroad, who is in his first season at Glenville State.
