tynice-martin-isu-preview.jpg
WVU Visits Iowa State to Cap Regular Season
February 29, 2016 12:59 PM | Women's Basketball
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. - The No. 22-ranked West Virginia University women’s basketball team concludes the 2015-16 regular season with a matchup at Iowa State on Tuesday, March 1. Tipoff is scheduled for 8 p.m. ET/7 p.m. CT in Ames, Iowa.
Fans can watch the game on Cyclones.TV for a subscription fee. 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.
The Mountaineers (22-8, 11-6 Big 12) put together one of their best offensive performances of the season in an 82-48 win over No. 22 Oklahoma State on Saturday. WVU connected on 13 three-pointers – the most since making 13 versus NJIT in November 2008. Bria Holmes scored a game-high 27 points, while freshman Tynice Martin netted a season-high 20 in the victory. Following the game, Holmes’ longtime boyfriend Oterrious Diggins asked her to marry him on live television.
West Virginia returned to the Associated Press Top 25 for the fourth time this season, entering the poll at No. 22. The Mountaineers were last ranked at No. 24 on Feb. 8.
Holmes, an All-America candidate, is second in the Big 12 with 17.0 points per game. After scoring 27 points versus OSU on Saturday, she became the first Mountaineer to reach 500 or more points in three consecutive seasons. The New Haven, Connecticut, native ranks third all-time at WVU and is the Big 12’s active career scoring leader with 1,923 points.
Teana Muldrow, who scored 14 points versus the Cowgirls, is second on the team with 10.4 points per game. Martin is third on the team with 9.7 points per game, while her 11.1 points per contest in conference games are second. Lanay Montgomery ranks second in the Big 12 with 2.7 blocks per game, while her 60.7 field goal percentage is third. Montgomery is averaging 8.6 points and 8.2 rebounds this season.
West Virginia’s 193 total blocked shots lead the NCAA, while the team’s 6.4 blocked shots per game are fifth. WVU’s 34.5 field goal percentage is 14th nationally.
With a victory on Tuesday, West Virginia will finish third in the Big 12 and clinch the No. 3 seed for the Phillips 66 Big 12 Championship in Oklahoma, City, Oklahoma (March 4-7). If the Mountaineers fall to the Cyclones, they will be either the No. 4 or No. 5-seed. Regardless, WVU will not play until the quarterfinal round on Saturday, March 5.
WVU and Iowa State meet for the ninth time on Tuesday. The Mountaineers own a 6-2 edge in the series, which includes a 57-47 win over the Cyclones on Feb. 10. Holmes and Montgomery combined for 38 of WVU’s 57 points in the victory.
Iowa State (13-15, 5-12 Big 12) has dropped three consecutive games including an 85-54 loss at No. 23 Oklahoma on Saturday. The Cyclones are averaging 67.2 points and giving up 66.5 points per game to opponents. Despite the losing record, ISU holds a 9-5 mark at Hilton Coliseum this season.
“There probably will be 6,000 or 8,000 people there tomorrow night. Whether they have a good season or bad season, they pack it every night no matter who they are playing,” coach Mike Carey said. “This will be their Senior Night and their last home game, so I am sure it will be a special night for them. This is an important game for seeding not only for the Big 12, but for the NCAA’s. We need to go in there and play well.”
Seanna Johnson leads the Cyclones with 16.5 points and 9.2 rebounds per game. Freshman Bridget Carleton is second on the team with 11.6 points per contest. Jadda Buckely is also boasting double-figures with 11.3 ppg.
NCAA Second Round Press Conference | Kellogg, Harrison, Shaw
Monday, March 23
NCAA First Round Recap
Sunday, March 22
Mark Kellogg, Meme Wheeler & Jordan Harrison | NCAA First Round vs. Miami (OH)
Saturday, March 21
NCAA Tournament Trailer
Friday, March 20
