WVU Opens Preseason WNIT with EKU
November 14, 2014 11:48 AM | General
- Game Day Central
- Eastern Kentucky Game Notes - West Virginia Game Notes
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. –The No. 17-ranked West Virginia University women’s basketball team opens the 2014-15 campaign against Eastern Kentucky in the first round of the Preseason WNIT on Saturday, Nov. 15, at 7 p.m. inside the WVU Coliseum.
 |
| Junior guard Bria Holmes was named the Big 12 Preseason Player of the Year. |
Saturday’s contest is Poster Night, while Carey’s Crew members can pick up their t-shirt. Tickets are available for the game online at WVUGAME.com or by phone at 1-800-WVU GAME.
A live stream of the season-opening contest will be provided online at WVUsports.com. Additionally, Jeff Culhane will call the action on the Mountaineer Sports Network (see affiliates). Fans also can listen anywhere via the TuneIn Radio app.
The Mountaineers, who open their 42nd season on Saturday, are coming off a school-best 30-5 overall record in 2013-14. West Virginia went 16-2 in Big 12 Conference action to capture the program’s second regular season title in school history.
Coming into this season, the Mountaineers are predicted to finish third in the Big 12 as voted by the league’s coaches. The Associated Press and the USA TODAY Coaches polls both have the Mountaineers as the nation’s 17th-best team, marking only the third time in program history that WVU has appeared in both preseason polls.
In October, junior guard Bria Holmes was tabbed the Big 12 Preseason Player of the Year after boasting 15.2 points per game last season. WVU returns four other letterwinners including F Averee Fields, F Crystal Leary, C Lanay Montgomery and G Linda Stepney.
There are six newcomers that will see action this season: F/G Bre McDonald, F Kayla Montgomery, G Jessica Morton, F Teana Muldrow, G Dominique Simpson and G Tyara Warren.
In its only exhibition contest, West Virginia tallied an 87-49 win over Wheeling Jesuit. Holmes led the way with a game-best 22 points, while Fields corralled 10 rebounds. The Mountaineers forced 28 turnovers and shot 41.9 percent (31-of-47) from the field.
“Since day one until now, we have gotten better,” said head coach Mike Carey. “We’ve got a long way to go. It’s just a matter of repetition. It’s going to be a process. We are working hard and attitudes are good. Because of that, we’ll continue to get better.”
The EKU Colonels posted a 17-13 record in 2013-14, making it to the Ohio Valley Conference semifinals. The Colonels return 12 letterwinners and three starters from last year’s squad. EKU is projected to finish third in the OVC by the media and seventh by the league’s coaches and sports information directors. In preseason action, EKU easily won over Pikeville (75-59) and Kentucky Christian (97-41).
“Coach Roberts is a very good teacher of the game,” said coach Carey. “I know her teams will be prepared and play hard.”
Forwards Shelly Harper and Miranda Maples return as key cogs to the EKU lineup this season. Harper averaged 10.4 points and a team-leading 6.2 rebounds per game. Maples tallied 7.3 points and 5.9 rebounds, while shooting 47 percent on the season.
QUICK NOTES
TIPPING OFF THE SEASON
- West Virginia women’s basketball opens its 42nd season on Saturday. The Mountaineers own a 26-15 all-time record in season openers and have won six out of their last seven. Coach Mike Carey has a 10-3 record in season openers.
- The Mountaineers are an impressive 31-10 in home openers. WVU has won 12 out of its last 13 home-opening affairs. Carey’s teams are 12-1 since his arrival in 2001-02.
PRESEASON WNIT
- WVU makes its second appearance in the Preseason WNIT. In the Mountaineers’ only other showing in 2009, WVU defeated Towson and Marist before falling to nationally-ranked Ohio State in the semifinal round.
PLENTY OF NEW FACES
- There are six student-athletes that will don the Old Gold and Blue for the first time. WVU welcomes two players from the junior college ranks: Kayla Montgomery (Gulf Coast State) and Jessica Morton (Gulf Coast State). Georgia Tech transfer Bre McDonald is eligible this season after sitting out a year due to NCAA transfer rules. Guards Dominique Simpson (Orlando, Fla.) and Tyara Warren (Plano, Texas) are true freshmen expected to play this season. Meanwhile, fans can get a good look at Teana Muldrow for the first time after she took a redshirt in 2013-14.
- Associate Head Coach Chester Nichols rejoined the WVU staff after two seasons at Michigan. Nichols previously served as an assistant at WVU from 2004-09.
CAREY’S HOME-COURT EDGE
- WVU is 356-160 (.689) overall all-time at the Coliseum in program history.
- The Mountaineers are 151-39 (.794) all-time under Mike Carey, including a flawless home record in 2010.
- WVU is 78-6 (.929) at home against nonconference teams since 2002.
- The Mountaineers are 151-39 (.794) all-time under Mike Carey, including a flawless home record in 2010.
- WVU is 78-6 (.929) at home against nonconference teams since 2002.
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
