Storylines –IUP Game
IUP shot just 26 percent from the floor in its season opening loss. The Crimson Hawks were led by junior Megan Smith who scored 16 points and grabbed nine rebounds in her team's loss to Bowie State. IUP was picked second in the PSAC West in the league's preseason poll and is coming off its third consecutive 20-win season. The team is under the direction of Head Coach Tom McConnell who is in his fourth season with the Crimson Hawks. The coach enters Saturday's game with a 64-24 record at IUP and has not started th season 0-2 in any of his first three seasons. Smith is the lone returner from last year's NCAA Tournament squad. The forward averaged 12.7 points and 6.4 rebounds per game while shooting 44.1 percent from the field last season. Division I transfer Lauren Wolosik is also a player to watch, the guard missed most of last season due to injury but scored seven points, grabbed four rebounds and handed out three assists in the season opener.
About UVa-Wise
Turnovers plagued UVa-Wise in its season opening loss to Shippensburg Friday.
Kristin Kunzman's team turned the ball over 31 times which led to 27 points for the Raiders. In addition to its problems holding onto the ball, the Cavaliers had difficulty keeping Shippensburg off the foul line. The Raiders went to the 25 times in the win; by comparison, UVa-Wise attempted just 10 foul shots in the season opener. Senior
Kayla Carey led the Cavs in the season opener; the Knoxville, Tenn. native netted 12 points and nine rebounds on 5-12 shooting. Sophomore
Alle Moore and freshman
Kayla Mullins chipped in six points each in a losing effort. A positive for UVa-Wise in the game was its ability to rebound the basketball. The Cavs out rebounded the Raiders 42-38 while also registering seven second chance points. Kunzman's team also distributed the ball well, a trio of players had two assists as the Cavs had an assist on nine of the team's 15 made field goals. Depth could be beneficial to UVa-Wise Saturday, the Cavs had 11 players play at least nine minutes in the season opener. Saturday's game will be the first of two occasions this season in which UVa-Wise plays on back-to-back days. Later this season, the team will play on consecutive days in Puerto Rico. Following Saturday's game, the Cavs will return home to face Winston-Salem State in their home opener.
