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WVU Rings in New Year at K-State
December 31, 2016 11:34 AM | Women's Basketball
Photo by Richard Rodriguez / Fort Worth Star-Telegram.
MANHATTAN, Kan. - The No. 12-ranked West Virginia University women’s basketball team rings in the New Year with a 2 p.m. ET/1 p.m. CT contest at Kansas State on Sunday, Jan. 1, at Bramlage Coliseum.
Dan Zangrilli will have the call on the Mountaineer Sports Network from IMG. Fans can listen to various affiliates across the state (click here for a full list), online at WVUsports.com, the WVU Gameday app or Tune In. Sunday’s contest is televised only in the Kansas area on Cox Kansas.
West Virginia (13-0, 1-0) remains unbeaten after picking up an 83-61 win over TCU on Thursday to open its fifth season in Big 12 play. The Mountaineers collected 17 steals, the most for WVU in a conference game since joining the league in 2012-13. Sophomore Tynice Martin led the team with 21 points, while Teana Muldrow followed with 19. Chania Ray matched her career-high 17 points, dished out a team-leading nine assists and collected a career-best six steals. Kristina King reached double-digits with 14 points and Lanay Montgomery led the squad with 11 rebounds.
WVU leads the nation with a 29.0 field goal percentage defense (218-of-752). WVU ranks in the top-15 in seven other categories including second in blocked shots per game (7.6 bpg), second in scoring margin (+32.8), fourth in scoring defense (49.3 ppg), seventh in 3-point defense (29.0%), seventh in rebounding margin (+13.6), 11th in field goal percentage (48.4%) and 14th in scoring offense (82.1 ppg).
West Virginia has held its last 14 opponents to shooting less than 40 percent from the field. The 13-game win streak is tied for the fifth-longest in program history.
K-State and WVU meet for the 10th time on Sunday, as the Mountaineers hold an 8-1 edge in the all-time series. WVU swept the three matchups last season winning 72-53 in Manhattan (Jan. 6, 2016), 64-44 in Morgantown (Feb. 6, 2016) and 74-65 at the Big 12 Championship quarterfinal round in Oklahoma City (March 5, 2016).
“It’s another big game for us early in the conference schedule,” coach Mike Carey said. "Kansas State has been in the Top 25 and has a great team. They have a lot of weapons inside and out. It will be a difficult game for us and we’re looking forward to the challenge.”
Sunday marks just the second time in program history WVU has played on New Year’s Day with the previous matchup against Texas A&M Corpus Christi in 2006.
K-State (10-3, 0-1) has dropped its last two games, which includes a 67-59 loss at Northern Iowa and an 87-57 defeat at Baylor.
The Wildcats are boasting 66.7 points per game on offense, while surrendering 55.8 points per contest to opponents. Kansas State is shooting 42.8 percent (306-of-715) from the field. The team’s 34.2 field goal percentage defense (267-of-781) ranks 20th nationally. K-State is 34th in scoring defense (55.8 ppg) and 41st in three-point defense (27.5%).
Kindred Wesemann leads K-State with 14.2 points per game. The senior is second in the Big 12 and 22nd nationally with 40 made three-pointers. Preseason All-Big 12 honoree Breanna Lewis is averaging 14.1 points and 8.9 rebounds. Lewis is third in the league and 13th nationally with a 61.5 field goal percentage. Shaelyn Martin paces the Wildcats with 3.5 assists per game.
Following Sunday’s game, West Virginia plays host to No. 3 Baylor for its Big 12 home opener on Wednesday, Jan. 4. The game is set for a 7 p.m. ET contest at the WVU Coliseum. Tickets are $1 courtesy of United Bank. The Mountaineers will host a Teddy Bear Toss following the game. Fans are invited to bring new or gently used teddy bears and other stuffed animals to toss on the court after the game. All donated items will be distributed by the City of Morgantown Police and Monongalia County Sherriff’s Office to child victims of crime and trauma.
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