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Mountaineers Open Big 12 Slate at TCU
December 28, 2016 10:16 AM | Women's Basketball
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. - The No. 12-ranked West Virginia University women’s basketball team opens its fifth season in the Big 12 Conference with a matchup at TCU on Thursday, Dec. 29. Tipoff is set for 7:30 p.m. ET/6:30 p.m. CT at Ed & Rae Schollmaier Arena in Fort Worth, Texas.
Dan Zangrilli will have the call on the Mountaineer Sports Network from IMG. Fans can listen to the broadcast on various affiliates across the state (click here for a full list), WVUsports.com, the WVU Gameday app and TuneIn. Fans can watch the game online at GoFrogs.com for a fee.
West Virginia (12-0) concluded its nonconference slate undefeated for a third time in program history with a 77-45 win over Mount St. Mary’s on Dec. 21. The Mountaineers are off to their second-best start in school history, only behind the 16-0 opening to the 2010-11 season.
Statistically, the Mountaineers rank in the NCAA top 10 in seven categories. West Virginia leads the nation with a 28.3 field goal percentage defense. WVU is No. 2 nationally in scoring defense (48.3 points per game) and blocked shots (7.4 bpg). WVU is fourth in 3-point field goal defense (22.5%), fifth in rebounding margin (+13.9) and 10th in field goal percentage (48.8%).
Tynice Martin continues to lead the Mountaineers with 18.5 points per game, which ranks third in the Big 12. Lanay Montgomery is the team’s top rebounder, pulling in 9.8 boards per game and is third on the squad with 12.4 points per game. She leads the country with a 75.0 field goal percentage (63-of-84) and is fifth in the country with 3.5 blocks per game. Teana Muldrow (13.9 ppg) and Kristina King (11.0 ppg) also are averaging double-figures through 12 games played.
Thursday marks the Mountaineers’ fifth season-opener in the Big 12. WVU is 1-3 in previous Big 12 openers and kicks off league play on the road for the fourth time in five seasons. The Mountaineers own a 44-28 (.611) record in regular-season games and finished 12-6 for a third place finish last season.
TCU and West Virginia meet for the 12th time on Thursday with the Mountaineers holding a 10-1 edge in the series. WVU swept the season series last year with a 97-84 win in Fort Worth (Jan. 24, 2016) and an 83-72 win in Morgantown (Feb. 24, 2016).
“We just have to go down there and play,” said coach Mike Carey. “Our team has to be focused and ready to play. We’re going down there to win two games, that’s our mindset.”
The Horned Frogs finished their nonconference slate with an 8-3 mark for a third consecutive year. The Horned Frogs have won three consecutive games with victories over McNeese (74-70), Texas Southern (77-48) and Alcorn State (95-39).
TCU is averaging 75.8 points per game and surrendering just an average of 57.2 points per contest. The Frogs are shooting 47.5 percent from the field and lead the nation with a 44.1 three-point field goal percentage. The Frogs are seventh in the NCAA with 6.6 blocked shots per game and are ninth with 19.4 assists per contest.
TCU has four players averaging double-figures including Amy Okonkwo’s 11.8 points per contest. Veteran returners Jada Butts (10.6 ppg), Jordan Moore (10.4 ppg) and AJ Alix (10.1 ppg) round out the double-figure scoring. Alix paces TCU with 26 three-pointers and 50 assists. Moore is TCU’s top rebounder with 6.3 boards per game. Mikayla Christian (3.5 ppg) and Amber Ramirez (9.6 ppg) have each earned Big 12 Freshman of the Week honors this season.
West Virginia continues its two-game road swing with a visit to Kansas State on Sunday, Jan. 1, in a 2 p.m. ET/1 p.m. CT matchup. The game is televised regionally on Cox Kansas.
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