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Women’s Basketball Completes First Practice
October 09, 2014 01:54 PM | General
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – After much anticipation, the 2014-15 West Virginia women’s basketball team officially took the floor for the first time on Thursday afternoon.
The Mountaineers completed a storybook season in 2013-14 with a 30-5 record. The team claimed its first Big 12 Conference regular season title. WVU also set a school record with a fifth consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance. With several new faces combined with a strong mix of veterans, the Mountaineers are anxious to get the season rolling.
“We’re excited to get started,” noted coach Mike Carey. “We have a lot of things that we have to answer this year after losing five seniors. We have a lot of questions, but that’s why you practice. During the non-conference season, we’ll get that ironed-out and see where we are going into conference play.”
On Wednesday, the Mountaineers were tabbed to finish third in the Big 12 Preseason Poll, as voted on by the head coaches. Last week, the league’s coaches named junior guard Bria Holmes the Big 12 Preseason Player of the Year.
The New Haven, Connecticut, native was a unanimous All-Big 12 First Team selection last year in leading the Mountaineers to a share of their first Big 12 women’s basketball regular season title. She was also an Associated Press All-American honorable mention, as well as a Phillips 66 Big 12 Championship All-Tournament Team honoree.
“I think being the target every day in these situations and in practice is a big role,” said Holmes. “It’s a big role, but I feel like I can control it and take it on.”
This upcoming season, West Virginia has seven newcomers that will don the Old Gold and Blue uniform for the first time. WVU welcomes three junior college transfers: Kayla Montgomery (Gulf Coast State), Jessica Morton (Gulf Coast State) and Abigail Asoro (Iowa Western CC). A trio freshmen are on this year’s roster with guards Dominique Simpson and Tyara Warren and a forward Teana Muldrow. Bre McDonald, a sophomore transfer from Georgia Tech, is eligible for the first time after sitting out last season due to NCAA eligibility rules.
“My biggest concern going into this season is if we have enough people that are willing to wear the hard hats, do the little things, take the charges, dive on the floor and care about defense. I knew last year’s team we had that. This year’s team is yet to be seen. Our teams are known to be aggressive defensively. I have got to find some new players that are willing to do that. We’ll see once we get into practice,” said Carey.
Fans can get their first look at West Virginia at the annual Haunted Hoops game presented Coke Zero on Friday, Oct. 31, when the Mountaineers welcome Wheeling Jesuit for an exhibition contest. WVU tips off the 2014-15 campaign against Eastern Kentucky in the opening round of the WNIT on Saturday, Nov. 15. Season tickets are on sale at the Mountaineer Ticket Office in the Coliseum. To order, visit WVUGAME.com or call 1-800-WVU-GAME.
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