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No. 22 WVU Squares Off Against Texas Tech
January 24, 2017 11:19 AM | Women's Basketball
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. - The No. 22-ranked West Virginia University women’s basketball team returns home to conclude its regular-season series with Texas Tech on Wednesday, Jan. 25, at the WVU Coliseum.
Wednesday is Faculty/Staff Night. All WVU faculty and staff members will receive free admission to the contest. Fans can purchase tickets online at WVUGAME.com or by calling the Mountaineer Ticket Office at 1-800-WVU GAME.
Dan Zangrilli and Meg Bulger will have the call on the Mountaineer Sports Network from IMG. Fans can listen to various affiliates across the state (click here for full list), WVUsports.com, the WVU Gameday app and TuneIn. Also, a free video stream will be provided at WVUsports.com.
West Virginia (15-5, 3-5) and Texas Tech (11-7, 3-4) previously met on Jan. 11, with the Lady Raiders prevailing 75-66 in Lubbock. WVU opened the game with a 10-point lead, but Texas Tech outscored the Mountaineers 40-18 in the second and third quarters to take command of the game. West Virginia battled back with a 21-4 fourth quarter run, but fell short in the contest. TTU is seeking a regular-season series sweep against WVU for the third time. The Lady Raiders swept the regular-season series in 2013 and 2015, while WVU swept the series in 2014 and 2016.
“We’re at home. If we can’t get up for this game at home after they beat us, then we’re probably in trouble,” coach Mike Carey said. “We’ve got to come out and play extremely hard. We’ve got to come out and do whatever it takes to win this basketball game.”
Texas Tech has lost three of its last four, including a 77-57 loss to No. 12 Texas on Saturday. TTU leads the country with a 24.1 three-point field goal percentage defense and is 12th nationally with fewest fouls per game (13.6). The Lady Raiders are seeking their first road win this season and the first since upending Kansas, 69-58, on Feb. 27, 2016.
Reece’ Caldwell leads the Lady Raiders with 16.3 points per game, 51 3-pointers and 77 assists. Arella Guirantes follows with 12.3 points per game. Jada Terry is averaging 11.5 points per contest and paces the team with 6.7 rebounds per game.
WVU is coming off a 79-73 loss at No. 2 Baylor on Saturday. The Mountaineers gave the Lady Bears their toughest challenge in Big 12 play and scored the most points against BU this season. Teana Muldrow led the Mountaineers with 20 points and eight rebounds.
West Virginia ranks in the top 30 in seven statistical categories including No. 3 in blocked shots per game (6.8) and No. 12 in field goal percentage defense (34.6%).
Lanay Montgomery’s 69.9 field goal percentage (102-of-146) leads the country, while her 3.5 blocked shots per game are sixth. Chania Ray is leading the Big 12 with 6.2 assists per game. Tynice Martin is second in the Big 12 and paces the Mountaineers with 17.8 points per contest. Muldrow is second on the squad with 14.4 points per game.
Following Wednesday’s contest, No. 22 West Virginia visits No. 12/13 Texas in a 4 p.m. tilt on Sunday, Jan. 29.
West Virginia No. 22 in Coaches Poll
West Virginia climbed one spot to No. 22 in the USA TODAY Sports Coaches Top 25 Poll released on Tuesday.
The Mountaineers earned 125 votes in the poll. Other Big 12 Top 25 teams include No. 2 Baylor (762), No. 13 Texas (401) and No. 20 Oklahoma (165). Kansas State (8) is in the others receiving votes category.
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