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Ray Finds Perfect Fit
November 02, 2015 04:52 PM | Women's Basketball
Over the next few weeks, WVUsports.com will highlight members of the 2015-16 West Virginia University women’s basketball team. The 11th installment of this feature includes sophomore guard Chania Ray.
Sophomore guard Chania Ray is poised and ready to step on the hardwood for the first time as a Mountaineer this season. The Alexandria, Virginia, native joined West Virginia in the spring of 2015 after spending the fall semester at Florida State last season.
She was highly sought after by many programs coming out of Riverdale Baptist High. ESPN HoopGurlz rated Ray as the 25th best player at her position and she guided the Crusaders to a 57-9 overall record during her time there. Eventually, Ray would settle on her decision to play at Florida State.
Ray has a strong bond with her family, especially her mother. While in high school, Ray and her mother Meredith Davis would take blankets to the homeless in Washington, D.C. during the harsh cold winter months.
During Ray’s short time in Tallahassee, she would soon learned her mother was sick. Her mom’s illness made it important for Ray to move closer to Alexandria.
“My mom got really sick and I felt like being closer to home, where I could get to her with no problems,” said Ray.
Her mother’s illness led Ray to transfer from Florida State to West Virginia during the spring of 2015. And since then, she has made plenty of visits back home to see her mother.
“I’ve been home plenty of times on the weekend which is really nice because at Florida State I couldn’t do that,” stated Ray. “I like being able to go home at will to see my mom, brother, sisters and niece.”
The Mountaineers’ family-like atmosphere and proximity to home made West Virginia the perfect fit for the point guard.
“Just like FSU, West Virginia made you feel like family. I feel like I can help the program this year. They also have a lot to offer here with academics,” said Ray.
While Ray does have to sit out part of the semester, she is excited about the opportunities that are ahead. The sophomore joins 10 other first-year Mountaineers that will wear the Old Gold and Blue this season. And for Ray, that’s just perfect.
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