WVU Women Defeat Boston
December 03, 2011 07:13 PM | General
MORGANTOWN, W. Va. – Led by four players with double-digit scoring performances, the West Virginia women’s basketball team defeated Boston, 78-53, at the Coliseum on Saturday afternoon.
Having started the season with slow starts, the Mountaineers (5-2) knew that it would be important to get on the board early and build momentum in their favor during this game. With an early layup from true freshman Linda Stepney, a 3-pointer from sophomore Taylor Palmer, and two foul shots from sophomore Jess Harlee, the team was able to do just that, notching an early 7-2 lead in just over two minutes of play.
Stepney and fellow freshman Crystal Leary earned the first starts of their Mountaineer careers in the win.
“We changed up our starting lineup tonight and we came out with a little more energy to start the game and we came out in the second half with more energy also,” said coach Carey. “We are going to keep trying things. It’s my job to keep trying things and see what is going to help us win basketball games.”
Although Boston would sink shots of their own during the first half to keep things close, West Virginia brought a 39-30 lead into halftime, from which the Terriers (3-4) would not be able to recover.
With her second double-double of the season and the fifth of her career, junior Asya Bussie paced the Mountaineers in both scoring and rebounding, with 17 points and 10 boards. She was followed by sophomore Taylor Palmer, who has now scored in double figures in six of the Mountaineers’ seven games, tallying 16 points against Boston.
Sophomores Jess Harlee and Christal Caldwell rounded out the team’s scoring, having each posted 10 points against the Terriers.
Although Boston tied West Virginia in accuracy from beyond the arc at 33.3 percent, and held a slightly higher percentage from the charity stripe at 68.4 percent, they did not outscore the Mountaineers from the field, shooting just 37 percent (17-of-46).
West Virginia, in contrast, shot 49.2 percent (30-of-61) from the field, including 50 percent (14-of-28) during the first half.
“Overall, the effort was there,” Carey said. “The first half, for them to shoot 54 percent from the floor is very unlike us and we had a little bit of a heart-to-heart and then they shot 20 percent in the second half. That is what we should be holding opponents to.”
The Mountaineers also dominated Boston in several other categories. West Virginia scored 42 points in the paint, 33 points off of 21 costly turnovers, 14 fast break points and had a great showing from its bench players, who tallied 31 points.
Boston only scored eight points in the paint, nine points off of Mountaineer turnovers, zero fast break points and 14 points off the bench.
Defensively, the Mountaineers kept their streak of holding all opponents this season to under 60 points, and were able to notch 14 steals, 24 defensive rebounds and three blocks from the Terriers.
Juniors Chantell Alford and Mo Moran scored 17 and 10 points for Boston, respectively, as the Terriers continue to search for their first road win this season.
West Virginia returns to action on Wednesday, Dec. 7 at Syracuse in its first BIG EAST contest of the season. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m.
“We are going to Syracuse and our past history there shows that we do not play well there. They are very good, and have everyone back from last year. We are going to have to go there and be ready to play because it is going to be a tough place,” ended Carey.
Having started the season with slow starts, the Mountaineers (5-2) knew that it would be important to get on the board early and build momentum in their favor during this game. With an early layup from true freshman Linda Stepney, a 3-pointer from sophomore Taylor Palmer, and two foul shots from sophomore Jess Harlee, the team was able to do just that, notching an early 7-2 lead in just over two minutes of play.
Stepney and fellow freshman Crystal Leary earned the first starts of their Mountaineer careers in the win.
“We changed up our starting lineup tonight and we came out with a little more energy to start the game and we came out in the second half with more energy also,” said coach Carey. “We are going to keep trying things. It’s my job to keep trying things and see what is going to help us win basketball games.”
Although Boston would sink shots of their own during the first half to keep things close, West Virginia brought a 39-30 lead into halftime, from which the Terriers (3-4) would not be able to recover.
With her second double-double of the season and the fifth of her career, junior Asya Bussie paced the Mountaineers in both scoring and rebounding, with 17 points and 10 boards. She was followed by sophomore Taylor Palmer, who has now scored in double figures in six of the Mountaineers’ seven games, tallying 16 points against Boston.
Sophomores Jess Harlee and Christal Caldwell rounded out the team’s scoring, having each posted 10 points against the Terriers.
Although Boston tied West Virginia in accuracy from beyond the arc at 33.3 percent, and held a slightly higher percentage from the charity stripe at 68.4 percent, they did not outscore the Mountaineers from the field, shooting just 37 percent (17-of-46).
West Virginia, in contrast, shot 49.2 percent (30-of-61) from the field, including 50 percent (14-of-28) during the first half.
“Overall, the effort was there,” Carey said. “The first half, for them to shoot 54 percent from the floor is very unlike us and we had a little bit of a heart-to-heart and then they shot 20 percent in the second half. That is what we should be holding opponents to.”
The Mountaineers also dominated Boston in several other categories. West Virginia scored 42 points in the paint, 33 points off of 21 costly turnovers, 14 fast break points and had a great showing from its bench players, who tallied 31 points.
Boston only scored eight points in the paint, nine points off of Mountaineer turnovers, zero fast break points and 14 points off the bench.
Defensively, the Mountaineers kept their streak of holding all opponents this season to under 60 points, and were able to notch 14 steals, 24 defensive rebounds and three blocks from the Terriers.
Juniors Chantell Alford and Mo Moran scored 17 and 10 points for Boston, respectively, as the Terriers continue to search for their first road win this season.
West Virginia returns to action on Wednesday, Dec. 7 at Syracuse in its first BIG EAST contest of the season. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m.
“We are going to Syracuse and our past history there shows that we do not play well there. They are very good, and have everyone back from last year. We are going to have to go there and be ready to play because it is going to be a tough place,” ended Carey.
Gold-Blue Spring Festival Fan Recap
Sunday, April 19
John Neider | April 18
Saturday, April 18
Coach Zac Alley | April 18
Saturday, April 18
Coach Rich Rodriguez | April 18
Saturday, April 18
