WVU Takes on Unbeaten Texas
January 06, 2015 01:54 PM | General
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AUSTIN, Texas - The No. 25-ranked West Virginia University women’s basketball team concludes its two-game road swing with a visit to No. 3 Texas on Wednesday, Jan. 7. Tip-off at the Erwin Center is set for 8 p.m. ET.
Wednesday’s contest airs on the Longhorn Network/WatchESPN. A subscription for the channel is required in most areas. Jeff Culhane and Meg Bulger are set to call the action on the Mountaineer Sports Network from IMG. Fans can listen on 100.9 FM in Morgantown, online at WVUsports.com and on the TuneIn Radio app.
West Virginia (10-3, 0-1 Big 12) is coming off a tough 71-60 loss at Oklahoma on Sunday. The Mountaineers rallied from an 11-point first half deficit and took an early second-half lead. However, the Sooners stormed back to win the Big 12 opener.
WVU has a scoring offense of 75 points, while limiting opponents to just 59 per game. The Mountaineers are No. 25 in the USA TODAY Sports Coaches poll, which was released today..
Junior Bria Holmes led WVU with 23 points. The New Haven, Connecticut, native is 12 points shy of reaching the 1,000-point milestone. She is second in the league and 12th nationally with 22.5 points per contest.
The Mountaineers still have a prolific blocking attack, averaging 6.8 blocks per game for the fifth-best in the nation. Center Lanay Montgomery’s 3.5 blocks per game leads the Big 12. Linda Stepney’s assist/turnover ratio of 3.3 is tops in the Big 12 and third in the NCAA. The Norfolk, Virginia, native hands out 6.2 assists each contest.
Texas and WVU meet for the seventh time, with the Mountaineers holding a 4-2 edge. West Virginia has won two the last three, including a 67-60 win at the Big 12 Championship semifinal in Oklahoma City last year. Texas holds a decisive 2-0 edge inside the Erwin Center.
The Longhorns (12-0, 1-0 Big 12) have top-25 wins over Stanford, Tennessee and Texas A&M. Coach Karen Aston’s squad was projected to win the Big 12, as voted by the league’s coaches.
This season, Texas is averaging 74.5 points per contest. Opponents are just scoring 52.9 points, which is the 13th-best scoring defense in the country. Texas has a strong rebounding presence, out-manning its opponents by a margin of +12.9 per game.
Forward Nneka Enemkpali was named to the Preseason All-Big 12 team. This season, she is boasting a double-double with 13.4 rebounds and 10.3 points. Her four offensive rebounds is 18th nationally. Kelsey Lang is second on the team with 12.8 points per contest. Her field goal percentage of 62.3 is second in the league and seventh nationally. Ariel Atkins, the Big 12 Preseason Freshman of the Year, is boasting 10.6 points per contest.
WVU returns home to the Coliseum on Saturday, Jan. 10, to host No. 5 Baylor. Saturday’s contest is Family Day and Gold Rush. Fans can purchase a family day package that includes four tickets, four hot dogs, four cokes and a popcorn for just $25 at WVUGAME.com or by calling 1-800-WVU GAME. Family Day packages must be purchased before 5 p.m. Friday, Jan. 9, and will not be available on game day. Tickets at the gate are $5 for adults and $3 for youth/senior citizens.
It’s also a Gold Rush presented by Coke Zero. Coke Zero will distribute 2,500 pom-poms at the game and all fans are encouraged to wear gold. The men’s basketball team will play No. 17 Iowa State later Saturday night at 8 p.m. Separate game tickets are needed for each event. Family Day packages are only valid for the women’s game.
HOLMES CLOSES IN ON 1,000
- Junior Bria Holmes has 988 points and is 12 away from reaching 1,000 career points. She would become the 31st 1,000-point scorer in program history.
- The latest member to join the 1,000-point club was Taylor Palmer last season.
- Holmes has reached double figures in 17 consecutive games.
ON TO BIG 12 PLAY
- For the third straight season, WVU opened Big 12 play on the road.
- WVU went 16-2 in league play last season, clinching a share of the Big 12 regular-season title with Baylor.
- 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.
- WVU opened Big 12 play 0-2 during the 2012-13 season before reeling off three consecutive victories.
VETERAN LEADERSHIP
- Four WVU players have played in 78 or more games for a combined 386 minutes: Bria Holmes (78), Crystal Leary (95), Averee Fields (101) and Linda Stepney (112).
- Stepney has made 106 starts in her career, which is tied with ninth with Talisha Hargis (‘98).
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