Storylines – MEC Quarterfinals
For the third consecutive season, UVa-Wise and West Liberty will meet in the quarterfinal round of the Mountain East Conference Tournament. Last season, the Hilltoppers claimed a 73-68 double overtime victory over the Cavaliers as Kierra Simpson recorded a double-double with 15 points and 11 rebounds in 44 minutes of play. This season, Simpson leads the MEC and ranks second nationally in rebounding at 13.4 per contest while adding 14 points per game en route to MEC Player of the Year honors. Simpson had two teammates join her as First-Team All-MEC performers, guard Liz Flowers finished third in the league with 19.4 points per game  while Kailee Howe led the nation with 9.9 assists per night. West Liberty rolled through the regular season posting a 20-2 league mark and winning its final eight regular season contests. Led by MEC Coach of the Year Lynn Ullom, the 'Toppers claimed a 60-50 win the regular season finale over Wheeling Jesuit to clinch their  second consecutive regular season crown. At stake for West Liberty in the
tournament is the right to host next week's NCAA Atlantic Regional. Entering the MEC Tournament, the 'Toppers are ranked seocnd in the regional poll behind CIAA member Virginia Union.
About UVa-Wise
Coach Kristin Kunzman's team will hope the third time is the charm in its pursuit to advance beyond the quarterfinal round in the MEC Tournament. For the third consecutive season, UVa-Wise won as the lower seed in the opening round to advance to Thursday's game. Led by a career-high 29 points from Makenzie Cluesman and 21 points, eight rebounds and seven assists from Taylor Sandidge, the Cavs finished the game on a 25-7 run to knock out No. 8 seed West Virginia State 84-74. In its first two meetings against West Liberty, UVa-Wise has struggled to score. The Cavs made just 25 percent of their shot attempts in a 59-53 home loss before shooting 34.3 percent in an 86-65 loss at West Liberty in February. Sandidge coule be a player to watch, the junior became the 18th player in program history to eclipse 1,000 career points in her career last time out and is averaging 21.2 points, 5.3 rebounds and 4.3 assists over her last three games. In last year's tournament loss to West Liberty, she scored a team-high 17 points while tying for team-high rebounding honors with eight. Thursday's winner will advance to Saturday's semifinals to face the winner of No.4 seed Glenville State and No. 5 seed Fairmont State.