Storylines – vs Tusculum College
Tusculum is looking to halt a two-game losing streak. Most recently, the Pioneers dropped a 74-67 conference decision at Brevard. In the contest, reserve guard Morgan Depew came off the bench to score a game-high 20 points. The junior is averaging nearly eight points per game despite playing less than 15 minutes per contest. Second-year Head Coach Devan Carter's team is led by senior Maelyn Head. The guard averages 13.8 points per game but is shooting just 28.8 percent from the floor. Through four games, Tusculum has struggled to rebound the basketball. In a loss at Wingate earlier this month, the Pioneers collected just 19 rebounds in a game that saw them lose the battle of the boards by 28. Overall, Tusculum is losing the battle of the glass by an average of over five rebounds per contest. In its 74-68 loss to UVa-Wise last season, the Pioneers struggled to defend the UVa-Wise backcourt.
Taylor Sandidge scored a team-high 20 points on 5-8 shooting while adding five rebounds and two assists. Fellow guard
Blair Harding canned four 3-pointers en route to 14 points while
Makenzie Cluesman chipped in 10 points. In total, Cavalier guards scored 46 points in the win while making eight 3-pointers.
About UVa-Wise
UVa-Wise is in search of its fifth consecutive victory after rallying from a 16-point deficit to defeat West Virginia State 94-91 on Monday. In the win, seniors
Kayla Carey and
Makenzie Cluesman each recorded a double-double. Carey scored 24 points and grabbed 12 boards while Cluesman made a season-high five 3-pointers en route to 23 points and 11 rebounds. With 27 fourth quarter points,
Kristin Kunzman's squad has now scored over 20 points in the fourth quarter in four consecutive games. In that stretch, the Cavs are outscoring their opponent by an average of 9.5 points per game in the final period. The team's dominance of the glass has been a strong point this season. By out rebounding the Yellow Jackets 56-46 on Monday, UVa-Wise is averaging 10.8 more rebounds per game than their opponent. Five players are averaging at least four boards per game, led by Carey's 9.8 a contest. UVa-Wise has also been able to shut the door late in games by connecting at the foul line. Entering Saturday's game, the Cavs have five players shooting 75 percent or better from the free throw line. Cluesman ranks third in the Mountain East Conference at 92.3 percent. While the seniors have carried the load, the UVa-Wise freshmen made an impact in the team's most recent win.Â
Natalie Boothe (9),
Cynita Webb (8) and
Kayla Mullins (3) combined for 20 points against West Virginia State. A win against Tusculum would give UVa-Wise its first five game winning streak since January 2006.
