MORGANTOWN, W.Va.  – The West Virginia University women's basketball team returns to the court for its last game of 2018 on Saturday when the Mountaineers play host to the Niagara Purple Eagles in a 2 p.m. tipoff at the WVU Coliseum.
 
Dan Zangrilli and Ayana Dunning will have the radio call on the Mountaineer Sports Network from IMG on Jack-FM 100.9, as well as various affiliates across the state, WVUsports.com and the TuneIn Radio app. A free live stream will be available at WVUSports.com.
 
The Mountaineers will host an early New Year's Eve celebration, with fans receiving light-up 2019 glasses while supplies last. A New Year's brunch featuring a donut wall, coffee, juice and champagne will be available in the Mountaineer Lounge.
 
Single-game tickets are $5 each and $3 for groups of 10 or more when purchased in advance at WVUGAME.com. At the WVU Coliseum ticket window, tickets will be $7 for adults, $5 for youth and seniors and $3 for groups. The discounted online pricing will be available until tipoff. Students receive free admission with a valid WVU ID.
 
WVU (8-2) is coming off a 90-47 win over Towson on Dec. 20 at the WVU Coliseum. Senior guard Katrina Pardee had a career-high 28 points to lead the way in the victory. She also tied her career bests with nine rebounds and four steals in the game. Freshman forward Kari Niblack also had a career night, scoring 19 points and going 11-for-14 at the free-throw line. Niblack's performance at the charity stripe earned her three spots in the WVU freshman all-time top 10 records for free throws made, free throws attempted and free-throw percentage. Additionally, junior guard Lucky Rudd dropped a career-high 12 points in her third game with the Mountaineers.
 
The Mountaineers attempted a season-high 34 shots from the free-throw line and made a season-high 30. The win moved the team to 184-95 all-time in the month of December.
 
Under the direction of coach Jada Pierce, Niagara enters Saturday's matchup at 3-7 overall and 0-4 on the road. The Purple Eagles average 58.5 points and 35.3 rebounds per game, with 77 steals and seven blocks on the season. They're shooting 35.3 percent overall, 29.5 percent from downtown and 66.5 percent at the free-throw line.
 
Junior guard Jai Moore leads the scoring for Niagara at 14.1 points per game. Junior guard Maggie McIntyre joins her in double figures at 11.1 points per game, and also has a team-high 27 assists on the season. Sophomore forward Emerald Ekpiteta leads the effort on the glass with 7.5 rebounds per game.
 
Following the contest, the Mountaineers travel to Fort Worth, Texas, to open Big 12 play at TCU on Jan. 2.