WVU Women Host Cincinnati
January 07, 2011 05:03 PM | General
MORGANTOWN, W. Va. – In its most recent game against Seton Hall on Wednesday afternoon, sixth-ranked West Virginia proved that it was serious about coming back from a couple of slow starts.
The Mountaineers (15-0, 2-0 BE) started that game off strong, going on an 18-2 scoring run while shooting 48.4 percent (15-of-31) from the field to give themselves a 19-point lead going into halftime. It wasn’t the first half that was the problem. Instead, it was an early second half collapse that allowed the Pirates to come back to within three points of the lead with 13:24 remaining.
Something that can’t be allowed to happen on Saturday afternoon when the Mountaineers play host to Big East foe Cincinnati in a 4 p.m. tip. With West Virginia remaining as the only undefeated team in the Big East at 15-0, and one of only two remaining undefeated Division I teams nationwide, the players realize that opponents are going to be looking for the upset.
The Bearcats (8-6, 1-1 BE) are coming into Saturday’s contest having recently won an important Big East game of their own, defeating USF, 57-56, in Tampa on Wednesday. An upset win over the Mountaineers would place the team in very good position early on in conference play.
Senior guard Shareese Ulis currently leads all players in scoring, averaging 15.4 points per game. She also leads the team in steals (20), assists (51), 3-pointers made (36) and minutes played (34.4 mpg). Her 21 points on Wednesday led the Bearcats to their win over USF.
“They’re a very good team,” said Liz Repella. “They like to get the ball up and down the court, and they’re very athletic and fast. Their only losses have come to good opponents, and they haven’t lost by much.”
“They have three guards that rebound really well,” added Madina Ali. “We have to go in there and know that their guards do the majority of their rebounding. We have to be careful and be prepared to move our feet and be ready.”
UC’s senior guard Chanel Chisholm places second on the team, scoring an average of 8.7 points per game, and guard/forward Shelly Bellman rounds out the top three, averaging 8.2 points per game. Defensively, forward Tiffany Turner leads the team in rebounding, taking down 7.2 boards per game while forward Jeanise Randolph leads the team in blocks (10).
“They remind me a lot of when we played the University of Virginia, but they have some better shooters,” explained coach Mike Carey. “They have strong, athletic guards that can attack the rim but also shoot the three. Their post players are young, but very active. They have a 6-foot-1 girl who starts; she’s left-handed and is very active and can drive and score. Then they have a 6-foot-3 girl who’s very active. They’re all very athletic and can get up and down the floor.”
Despite Cincinnati holding a 5-4 series record against West Virginia, the Mountaineers took the most recent win in February of 2010. Liz Repella led the team in scoring for that contest with 20 points, while Korinne Campbell put up 13. Asya Bussie, Vanessa House and Sarah Miles combined for 24 points to help solidify the win.
These same players should contribute again on Saturday, with Repella, Campbell, Bussie, Miles and Ali expected to start. With an average of 14.3 points per game, and an average of 19.0 points per game in league play (the fourth-highest league average), Repella looks to lead the team’s offense. She will also have help from Ali, the team’s second leading scorer (12.9 ppg), and who currently shoots 58.3 percent from the field (also the fourth-highest league average). Ali also leads the team in rebounding, averaging 7.4 rebounds per game.
“Madina (Ali) is our physical presence in the paint,” Carey said. “She’s our leader on the floor and really gets the other players going. She also brings a lot of energy.”
Bussie will be looked at to help on both offense and defense, as she comes in third on the team in scoring, with 7.9 points per game. However, she also leads the team in blocked shots, with 29 (the third-highest average in the league). Campbell and Miles will help provide a boost to the nation’s top defense, as they have combined for 39 steals and 18 blocks on the season so far. Nine of those steals came from Miles alone, in her performance against Central Connecticut State University.
The game marks the season debut of WVPBS women’s basketball telecasts for the 2011 campaign. Hoppy Kercheval will once again provide the play-by-play with former WVU basketball standout Warren Baker adding analysis. MSNsportsNET.com will also provide a live video stream and statistics.
The Mountaineers (15-0, 2-0 BE) started that game off strong, going on an 18-2 scoring run while shooting 48.4 percent (15-of-31) from the field to give themselves a 19-point lead going into halftime. It wasn’t the first half that was the problem. Instead, it was an early second half collapse that allowed the Pirates to come back to within three points of the lead with 13:24 remaining.
Something that can’t be allowed to happen on Saturday afternoon when the Mountaineers play host to Big East foe Cincinnati in a 4 p.m. tip. With West Virginia remaining as the only undefeated team in the Big East at 15-0, and one of only two remaining undefeated Division I teams nationwide, the players realize that opponents are going to be looking for the upset.
The Bearcats (8-6, 1-1 BE) are coming into Saturday’s contest having recently won an important Big East game of their own, defeating USF, 57-56, in Tampa on Wednesday. An upset win over the Mountaineers would place the team in very good position early on in conference play.
Senior guard Shareese Ulis currently leads all players in scoring, averaging 15.4 points per game. She also leads the team in steals (20), assists (51), 3-pointers made (36) and minutes played (34.4 mpg). Her 21 points on Wednesday led the Bearcats to their win over USF.
“They’re a very good team,” said Liz Repella. “They like to get the ball up and down the court, and they’re very athletic and fast. Their only losses have come to good opponents, and they haven’t lost by much.”
“They have three guards that rebound really well,” added Madina Ali. “We have to go in there and know that their guards do the majority of their rebounding. We have to be careful and be prepared to move our feet and be ready.”
UC’s senior guard Chanel Chisholm places second on the team, scoring an average of 8.7 points per game, and guard/forward Shelly Bellman rounds out the top three, averaging 8.2 points per game. Defensively, forward Tiffany Turner leads the team in rebounding, taking down 7.2 boards per game while forward Jeanise Randolph leads the team in blocks (10).
“They remind me a lot of when we played the University of Virginia, but they have some better shooters,” explained coach Mike Carey. “They have strong, athletic guards that can attack the rim but also shoot the three. Their post players are young, but very active. They have a 6-foot-1 girl who starts; she’s left-handed and is very active and can drive and score. Then they have a 6-foot-3 girl who’s very active. They’re all very athletic and can get up and down the floor.”
Despite Cincinnati holding a 5-4 series record against West Virginia, the Mountaineers took the most recent win in February of 2010. Liz Repella led the team in scoring for that contest with 20 points, while Korinne Campbell put up 13. Asya Bussie, Vanessa House and Sarah Miles combined for 24 points to help solidify the win.
These same players should contribute again on Saturday, with Repella, Campbell, Bussie, Miles and Ali expected to start. With an average of 14.3 points per game, and an average of 19.0 points per game in league play (the fourth-highest league average), Repella looks to lead the team’s offense. She will also have help from Ali, the team’s second leading scorer (12.9 ppg), and who currently shoots 58.3 percent from the field (also the fourth-highest league average). Ali also leads the team in rebounding, averaging 7.4 rebounds per game.
“Madina (Ali) is our physical presence in the paint,” Carey said. “She’s our leader on the floor and really gets the other players going. She also brings a lot of energy.”
Bussie will be looked at to help on both offense and defense, as she comes in third on the team in scoring, with 7.9 points per game. However, she also leads the team in blocked shots, with 29 (the third-highest average in the league). Campbell and Miles will help provide a boost to the nation’s top defense, as they have combined for 39 steals and 18 blocks on the season so far. Nine of those steals came from Miles alone, in her performance against Central Connecticut State University.
The game marks the season debut of WVPBS women’s basketball telecasts for the 2011 campaign. Hoppy Kercheval will once again provide the play-by-play with former WVU basketball standout Warren Baker adding analysis. MSNsportsNET.com will also provide a live video stream and statistics.
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