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WVU Aims to Rebound vs. TCU
February 23, 2016 11:39 AM | Women's Basketball
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. - The West Virginia University women’s basketball team opens its final homestand of the season against TCU on Wednesday, Feb. 24. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. at the WVU Coliseum.
Admission to the game is $1 courtesy of United Bank. Fans can purchase tickets by visiting WVUGAME.com and selecting the print-at-home option or calling the ticket office at 1-800-WVU GAME. Fans coming from I-79 South are encouraged to leave early due to potential delays because of I-79 interchange work.
Wednesday’s contest will be televised regionally on ROOT SPORTS Pittsburgh with Geoff Coyle and Meg Bulger describing the action. Amanda Mazey will serve as the sideline reporter. Jeff Culhane and Liz Repella will call the game on the Mountaineer Sports Network from IMG. Listen to the contest on various affiliates across the state, online at WVUsports.com or by using the TuneIn Radio app.
West Virginia (20-8, 9-6 Big 12) is coming off a 73-50 setback at No. 8/7 Texas. The Mountaineers led by seven in the first quarter before the Longhorns used a pair of runs to collect the season series sweep. TCU (15-11, 7-8) has picked up three consecutive wins including a 79-65 victory over then-ranked No. 17 Oklahoma State last Saturday.
The Mountaineers are second in the Big 12 and sixth nationally with a field goal percentage defense of 34.1. WVU is tops in the league with a 27.0 three-point field goal percentage defense and 6.3 blocks per game. Offensively, WVU is shooting 43.5 percent and averaging 69.4 points per game.
Senior CLASS Award finalist Bria Holmes leads the Mountaineers with 16.2 points and 3.5 assists per game. Holmes, a native of New Haven, Connecticut, is 46 points away from becoming the first Mountaineer to reach 500 or more points in three consecutive seasons. She is the Big 12’s active career scoring leader with 1,866 points.
Teana Muldrow is second on the team with 9.9 points per game, followed by freshman Tynice Martin’s 9.5 points per contest. Martin is boasting 10.9 points in Big 12 games this season. Junior Lanay Montgomery is WVU’s leading rebounder, pulling in 8.4 boards per game. Montgomery’s 2.7 blocks per game are second in the Big 12, while her 60.8 field goal percentage is third.
Senior Arielle Roberson has tallied double-figure rebounds in the last five games, which included a team-high 13 boards at Texas. In conference games, Roberson is first with 3.7 offensive rebounds per game and second with 10.1 rebounds per contest. Roberson’s 2.5 steals per game average is second in league games this season.
WVU is seeking its fourth series sweep of the year on Wednesday. In the previous meeting with TCU on Jan. 24, WVU scored 50 first half points and collected a 97-84 win over the Horned Frogs. Senior Jessica Morton scored a career-high 26 points, while Holmes added 24. TCU’s AJ Alix finished with 26.
The Horned Frogs are averaging 72.4 points per game and giving up 66.1 points per contest. TCU is shooting 42.9 percent from the field and 39.7 from behind the arc. TCU ranks fifth nationally with 7.3 made three-pointers per game.
Senior Zahna Medley leads the Horned Frogs with 16.0 points per game, while Alix is second with 11.8. Caitlin Diaz is TCU’s leading rebounder, pulling down 6.0 rebounds per game.
“They have really athletic guards,” coach Mike Carey said. “They can get up and down the floor and can shoot it. Transition defense and offense is very important. It’s important to get a win on Wednesday for seeding in the conference tournament.”
A West Virginia win on Wednesday would give WVU its second highest win total (10) in the Big 12 since joining the league, while extending the team’s homecourt winning streak to four.
The Mountaineers conclude the 2016 home slate when No. 22 Oklahoma State visits the WVU Coliseum on Saturday, Feb. 27. Saturday is Family Day and Senior Day. For $25, fans can receive four tickets, four hot dogs, four sodas and a box of popcorn. Family Day packages must be purchased before 5 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 26. Fans can purchase the package by visiting WVUGAME.com or calling 1-800-WVU GAME.
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