No. 21 WVU Opens Big 12 Play at Oklahoma
January 03, 2015 10:58 AM | General
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MORGANTOWN, W.Va. - The No. 21-ranked West Virginia University women’s basketball team begins its third year of Big 12 play at Oklahoma on Sunday, Jan. 4. The contest with the Sooners is slated for a 4:30 p.m. ET tip-off and will air nationally on Fox Sports 1.
Jeff Culhane and Meg Bulger will describe the action on the Mountaineer Sports Network from IMG. Fans in the Morgantown area can listen on 100.9 FM, online at WVUsports.com or use the Tune In Radio app.
West Virginia (10-2) closed out non-conference action with a 101-46 win over Saint Francis. With the victory, WVU has reached double-digit non-conference wins 12 times in 14 years under coach Mike Carey and extended its home court winning streak to 16.
Bria Holmes and Teana Muldrow led the way with 23 points each, while Linda Stepney handed out a career-best 12 assists. Holmes is second in the Big 12 with 22.4 points per game and is just 35 away from reaching the 1,000-point plateau. Stepney’s assist/turnover ratio of 3.9 leads the Big 12 and is fourth nationally. Sophomore center Lanay Montgomery is anchors one of the best blocking teams in the country with her 3.8 per contest. WVU is third in the NCAA, averaging 7.0 blocked shots per game.
The Mountaineers and Sooners (6-5) meet for the seventh time on Sunday with WVU leading the all-time series 4-2. West Virginia swept the season series last year, which included a thrilling 76-75 victory in Norman. WVU is 1-1 in season openers and for the third consecutive year opens league play on the road. Last season, the Mountaineers won at Kansas (65-55), but fell in their first season at Oklahoma (71-68).
Oklahoma snapped a three-game losing skid with 71-54 win versus Yale on Dec. 30. The Sooners only played four home games in the non-conference slate this year.
Coach Sherri Coale’s squad the Big 12’s third-best offense with 78.6 points per game. OU is shooting at a 45.8-percent clip this season, which is fifth in the league.
Senior Sharane Campbell-Olds leads the Sooners with 12.3 points and 5.6 rebounds. Kaylon Williams (10.4) and Peyton Little (10.0) are also in double-figures for Oklahoma.
Point guard Gabby Ortiz is one of the best assist’s leaders in the league, dishing out 3.7 a game.
"They've played the last month on the road," said Carey. "They played a lot of road games and not a lot of home games. They've got a lot of shooters. They have a lot of people that can come off the bench and score."
WVU continues its two-game road swing with a visit to No. 3 Texas on Wednesday, Jan. 7. That contest is set for an 8 p.m. ET tip on the Longhorn Network.
NOTABLE NUGGETS
- Bria Holmes has scored double figures in 16 consecutive games.
- Holmes has 965 points and is 35 from reaching 1,000 career points.
- She would become the 31st 1,000-point scorer in program history.
- Senior Linda Stepney is 10th all-time with 105 career starts.
- Averee Fields played her100th game on Monday evening.
- Bria Holmes has scored double figures in 16 consecutive games.
- Holmes has 965 points and is 35 from reaching 1,000 career points.
- She would become the 31st 1,000-point scorer in program history.
- Senior Linda Stepney is 10th all-time with 105 career starts.
- Averee Fields played her100th game on Monday evening.
OPENING BIG 12 PLAY
- For the third straight season, WVU opens Big 12 play on the road. Last season, WVU won 65-55 at Kansas. In their inaugural season in 2013, the Mountaineers fell to Oklahoma 71-68 in Norman.
- WVU went 16-2 in league play last season, clinching a share of the Big 12 regular season title with Baylor.
- Overall, WVU has won 25 regular season games in Big 12 play during its first two seasons.
- The Mountaineers were projected to place third in the league in 2015.
- Guard Bria Holmes as selected as the Big 12 Preseason Player of the Year.
- For the third straight season, WVU opens Big 12 play on the road. Last season, WVU won 65-55 at Kansas. In their inaugural season in 2013, the Mountaineers fell to Oklahoma 71-68 in Norman.
- WVU went 16-2 in league play last season, clinching a share of the Big 12 regular season title with Baylor.
- Overall, WVU has won 25 regular season games in Big 12 play during its first two seasons.
- The Mountaineers were projected to place third in the league in 2015.
- Guard Bria Holmes as selected as the Big 12 Preseason Player of the Year.
NON-CONFERENCE SUCCESS
- WVU’s 101-46 win over Saint Francis secured double-digit non-conference wins for the 12th time in 14 seasons under coach Mike Carey.
- West Virginia has reached double-figure victories in 12 out of the last 13 campaigns during non-league play with the exception of 2013 (8).
- West Virginia has reached double-figure victories in 12 out of the last 13 campaigns during non-league play with the exception of 2013 (8).
NATIONAL LEADERS
- Three Mountaineers rank in the top-20 nationally in individual categories: Linda Stepney fourth in assist/turnover ratio (3.9), Lanay Montgomery sixth in blocked shots (3.8), Stepney seventh in assists per game (6.4), and Bria Holmes 13th in scoring (22.4).
- Holmes (scoring), Montgomery (blocks) and Stepney (assist/to ratio) all lead the Big 12 in those respective categories.
- WVU is 26th nationally with a +10.3 rebound margin and 34th with a field goal percentage defense of 34.0%.
- Holmes (scoring), Montgomery (blocks) and Stepney (assist/to ratio) all lead the Big 12 in those respective categories.
- WVU is 26th nationally with a +10.3 rebound margin and 34th with a field goal percentage defense of 34.0%.
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