No. 17/16 WVU Treks to Mississippi State
November 19, 2014 02:12 PM | General
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MORGANTOWN, W.Va. - The No. 17/16-ranked West Virginia University women’s basketball team visits Mississippi State for the semifinal round of the Preseason WNIT on Thursday, Nov. 20. Tipoff is set for 8 p.m. ET at Humphrey Coliseum in Starkville.
Fans can listen to the game on WTCS-AM 1490 in Fairmont/Morgantown and online at WVUsports.com. A live telecast will be available online via the SEC Network+ and the WatchESPN app.
The Mountaineers (2-0) are coming off a thrilling 89-87 victory over Seton Hall on Monday to reach their second Preseason WNIT semifinals. Junior Bria Holmes anchored West Virginia with 36 points – the most for a Mountaineer since Meg Bulger in 2005. Averee Fields recorded her first career double-double, scoring 21 points and pulling in 15 rebounds. Meanwhile, freshman Teana Muldrow hit six treys and senior Linda Stepney dished out nine assists in the offensive showcase.
Holmes, the Big 12 Preseason Player of the Year, leads the league with 29.5 points per game. Fields is boasting 16.5 points and 9.0 rebounds during her first two games. Muldrow is averaging 13.5 points and 7.0 boards a contest.
For the first time, West Virginia and Mississippi State will meet on the hardwood. The Mountaineers are 6-18 all-time against the SEC. West Virginia defeated Ole Miss (86-56) in the regular season and fell to LSU (76-67) in the NCAA Tournament second round last year.
“I am still disappointed in our defense,” said coach Mike Carey. “I am disappointed in our effort defensively. We’ve got to get better defensively. We’re not going to score 87 points a night. This is another team that will show us the areas that we need to get better at. This is another learning experience.”
MSU (2-0) is averaging 95 points after its first two contests. The Bulldogs collected a season-opening 97-66 win over Mercer and defeated Arkansas State 93-83 on Sunday.
Starting his third season, Coach Vic Schaefer’s team has a combined nine freshmen and sophomores. Freshman guard Morgan William is averaging 24.0 points and shooting 63.2 percent from the field. Forward Victoria Vivans is boasting 17.5 points and 3.0 rebounds from the first two games. Veteran Breanna Richardson leads Mississippi State with an average of 7.5 rebounds.
Thursday's winner will face the winner of the other semifinal round: Albany at WKU.
PRESEASON WNIT
- WVU makes its second appearance in the Preseason WNIT. In the its only other showing in 2009, WVU defeated Towson and Marist before falling to nationally ranked Ohio State in the semifinal round.
- G Bria Holmes set a WVU Preseason WNIT record with 36 points and 10 made field goals against Seton Hall.
- F Averee Fields set a WVU WNIT record with 15 rebounds against the Pirates.
- WVU scored its most points in a Preseason WNIT game with 89 vs. SHU.
- G Bria Holmes set a WVU Preseason WNIT record with 36 points and 10 made field goals against Seton Hall.
- F Averee Fields set a WVU WNIT record with 15 rebounds against the Pirates.
- WVU scored its most points in a Preseason WNIT game with 89 vs. SHU.
OFFENSIVE EXPLOSION VS. SETON HALL
- Bria Holmes netted 36 points, tying Kate Bulger for the second most at the Coliseum. It was the first 35-point game by a WVU player since Meg Bulger in 2005.
- Averee Fields became the first Mountaineer to record a stat line of 21 points, 15 assists and five assists. She notched the first 21/5 line since Ayana Dunning in 2011.
- Freshman Teana Muldrow drained six triples in the win against the Pirates, becoming the first freshman since Taylor Palmer in 2010 to achieve that feat.
- Averee Fields became the first Mountaineer to record a stat line of 21 points, 15 assists and five assists. She notched the first 21/5 line since Ayana Dunning in 2011.
- Freshman Teana Muldrow drained six triples in the win against the Pirates, becoming the first freshman since Taylor Palmer in 2010 to achieve that feat.
WVU IN THE POLLS
- WVU remained No. 17 in the AP poll on Nov. 17 and moved up one to No. 16 in the coaches poll on Nov. 18.
- For just the third time in program history, West Virginia is ranked in the Associated Press and USA TODAY Sports coaches preseason polls.
- For just the third time in program history, West Virginia is ranked in the Associated Press and USA TODAY Sports coaches preseason polls.
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