Women's Basketball: Travels to Providence
January 13, 2012 03:08 PM | General
MORGANTOWN, W. Va. – The West Virginia University women’s basketball team will be playing in its third BIG EAST game on the road this season when it travels to Providence on Saturday to face the Friars in a 2 p.m. tip.
While the Friars’ (9-8, 1-3 BE) overall BIG EAST record doesn’t appear intimidating on paper, the fact that they upset then-No. 20/18 DePaul, 60-52, at Alumni Hall a week ago should be a cause for concern.
It marked the first time in three years that Providence had upset a nationally-ranked opponent.
“Every game is important whether it’s home or away,” coach Carey said. “Providence knocked off DePaul who was nationally ranked during their last home game. They play well at home like everyone else does. We’re just going to have to go in there and defend, rebound and cut down on turnovers and hopefully we come away with the win.”
Perhaps the biggest threat from Providence lies in its rebounding ability, as it has out-rebounded opponents this season by a +4.8 margin. The Friars out-rebounded DePaul, 46-26, behind the leadership of senior forward Teya Wright who led the team with 12 boards.
Wright also happens to currently lead the league in rebounding, averaging 10.4 rebounds per game.
“They have a post player (Wright) who’s leading the BIG EAST Conference in rebounding and has had several double doubles,” Carey said. “They’re very talented and athletic and they try to get in the paint and drive and kick out for threes, or drive and draw fouls.”
In addition to her rebounding, Wright also paces the Friars in scoring as she averages 13.9 points per game. Behind Wright, senior guard Rachel Barnes averages 11.0 points per game and junior guard Symone Roberts rounds out the top three scorers with 8.1 points per game.
Sophomore forward Lauren Okafor comes in behind Wright in rebounding, averaging 5.3 rebounds per game, while Barnes rounds out the top three in rebounding with 4.7 boards per game.
West Virginia currently leads Providence in the all-time series, having won 10 of the last 11 outings including the last six.
The Mountaineers (12-4, 3-1 BE) also hold a 6-3 overall record at Alumni Hall.
Three players are currently averaging in the double figures during BIG EAST play this season, with junior Asya Bussie averaging 15.8 points per game, sophomore Brooke Hampton averaging 13.5 points per game and redshirt-sophomore Christal Caldwell averaging 11.8 points per game.
“Brooke (Hampton) is shooting very well,” Carey said. “Christal Caldwell is shooting very well. Now if we can get Taylor Palmer along with Bussie and Ayana Dunning inside, then we have some scoring there.”
So far, West Virginia has been converting 36.9 percent of its shots from past the arc, in comparison to its opponents’ average of converting just 28.2 percent.
Hampton has been most accurate from 3-point range during league play, as she’s made 64.7 percent (11-of-17) of her attempts.
But it’s not only offensively that the Mountaineers are dominating. Like Providence, they’ve also had solid performances on the boards, out-rebounding all league opponents this season including Connecticut, and hold a +8.8 rebounding margin.
Dunning leads the team with an average of 9.3 rebounds per league game. She’s followed by Caldwell who is averaging 6.8 rebounds per game and by Bussie who’s averaging 6.3 rebounds per game.
“We’ve had two good practices where we really got after it,” Carey concluded. “Providence is a tough place to play, so we’re just going to have to go in there and stay focused and do the things we do.”
Live audio and stats for Saturday’s game will be provided by MSNsportsNET.com.
While the Friars’ (9-8, 1-3 BE) overall BIG EAST record doesn’t appear intimidating on paper, the fact that they upset then-No. 20/18 DePaul, 60-52, at Alumni Hall a week ago should be a cause for concern.
It marked the first time in three years that Providence had upset a nationally-ranked opponent.
“Every game is important whether it’s home or away,” coach Carey said. “Providence knocked off DePaul who was nationally ranked during their last home game. They play well at home like everyone else does. We’re just going to have to go in there and defend, rebound and cut down on turnovers and hopefully we come away with the win.”
Perhaps the biggest threat from Providence lies in its rebounding ability, as it has out-rebounded opponents this season by a +4.8 margin. The Friars out-rebounded DePaul, 46-26, behind the leadership of senior forward Teya Wright who led the team with 12 boards.
Wright also happens to currently lead the league in rebounding, averaging 10.4 rebounds per game.
“They have a post player (Wright) who’s leading the BIG EAST Conference in rebounding and has had several double doubles,” Carey said. “They’re very talented and athletic and they try to get in the paint and drive and kick out for threes, or drive and draw fouls.”
In addition to her rebounding, Wright also paces the Friars in scoring as she averages 13.9 points per game. Behind Wright, senior guard Rachel Barnes averages 11.0 points per game and junior guard Symone Roberts rounds out the top three scorers with 8.1 points per game.
Sophomore forward Lauren Okafor comes in behind Wright in rebounding, averaging 5.3 rebounds per game, while Barnes rounds out the top three in rebounding with 4.7 boards per game.
West Virginia currently leads Providence in the all-time series, having won 10 of the last 11 outings including the last six.
The Mountaineers (12-4, 3-1 BE) also hold a 6-3 overall record at Alumni Hall.
Three players are currently averaging in the double figures during BIG EAST play this season, with junior Asya Bussie averaging 15.8 points per game, sophomore Brooke Hampton averaging 13.5 points per game and redshirt-sophomore Christal Caldwell averaging 11.8 points per game.
“Brooke (Hampton) is shooting very well,” Carey said. “Christal Caldwell is shooting very well. Now if we can get Taylor Palmer along with Bussie and Ayana Dunning inside, then we have some scoring there.”
So far, West Virginia has been converting 36.9 percent of its shots from past the arc, in comparison to its opponents’ average of converting just 28.2 percent.
Hampton has been most accurate from 3-point range during league play, as she’s made 64.7 percent (11-of-17) of her attempts.
But it’s not only offensively that the Mountaineers are dominating. Like Providence, they’ve also had solid performances on the boards, out-rebounding all league opponents this season including Connecticut, and hold a +8.8 rebounding margin.
Dunning leads the team with an average of 9.3 rebounds per league game. She’s followed by Caldwell who is averaging 6.8 rebounds per game and by Bussie who’s averaging 6.3 rebounds per game.
“We’ve had two good practices where we really got after it,” Carey concluded. “Providence is a tough place to play, so we’re just going to have to go in there and stay focused and do the things we do.”
Live audio and stats for Saturday’s game will be provided by MSNsportsNET.com.
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