WVU Topples Wheeling Jesuit in Exhibition Game
October 31, 2014 10:18 PM | General
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MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – The No. 17th-ranked West Virginia women’s basketball team used a balanced attack to collect an 87-49 victory over Wheeling Jesuit during the annual Haunted Hoops exhibition game on Friday evening inside the WVU Coliseum.
The Mountaineers shot at a 41.9 from the field (31-of-74), holding the Cardinals to 27.5 percent (14-of-51) from the field. WVU forced 28 Wheeling Jesuit turnovers that resulted in 38 points, while outrebounding the Cardinals 58-to-31.
All nine Mountaineers tickled the twine as Big 12 Preseason Player of the Year Bria Holmes led the way by scoring a game-best 22 points and reeling in nine rebounds. Holmes picked up five steals and handed out three assists in 27 minutes of action.
Two other Mountaineers reached double figures, including redshirt freshman Teana Muldrow. The forward tallied 14 points, five rebounds and three blocks. Senior guard Linda Stepney scored 12 points with a perfect 6-of-6 from the charity stripe. The Norfolk, Virginia native tied Holmes with five steals, while handing out three assists.
"[Bria] can play," said coach Mike Carey. "She can score 20 every night. I thought Linda Stepney played with a lot of energy. We’ve got a lot of questions. We’ve got a lot of work to do."
West Virginia and the Cardinals played tight during the first five minutes with WVU holding a slight 8-6 edge. The Mountaineers then executed a 16-0 run sparked by a Holmes layup. The New Haven, Connecticut native scored five consecutive points to give WVU a comfortable 17-6 lead.
Wheeling Jesuit snapped the six-minute skid with a trey from the hands of Breanna Butler, making it a 24-9 contest at 7:44. The Mountaineers spread the scoring ledger in the final minutes of the half as Stepney, Muldrow and Kayla Montgomery all found the net.
West Virginia took a 34-16 lead into the locker room. The Mountaineers made 14-of-40 from the field for 35 percent, holding the Cardinals to 6-of-26 for 23.1 percent in the first stanza. WVU dominated the boards, 35-to-16, and forced 12 WJU turnovers. Both teams went 2-of-12 from the 3-point arch. Holmes led all scorers with 13 points, while Fields had nine rebounds.
In the second half, WVU started on a powerful 27-9 burst to take a commanding lead. A Holmes jumper at the 13:16 mark in the final frame gave the Mountaineers their largest lead of the contest. Alexus Grimmett’s two free throws cut Wheeling Jesuit’s deficit to 33 points with 11:28 left. WVU closed out the game with an 87-49 victory, closing out the exhibition season.
WVU outscored its opposition 40-4 in the paint and 16-0 in fast break opportunities. Newcomers Kayla Montgomery and Dominique Simpson each posted nine points in the win. Wheeling Jesuit had three players reach double-digits with Mariah Callen pacing the Cardinals with 18.
The No. 17-ranked Mountaineers officially open the 2014-15 season against Eastern Kentucky in the Preseason WNIT First Round on Saturday, Nov. 15 at the WVU Coliseum.
NOTES: Prior to the game, WVU raised its Big 12 Conference Championship and NCAA Tournament banners from the 2013-14 season … Four Mountaineers (Teana Muldrow, Kayla Montgomery, Dominique Simpson and Tyara Warren) made their debut at WVU Coliseum on Friday … WVU drew 2,062 for the third annual Haunted Hoops game presented by Coke Zero.
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