STORYLINES – VS WEST LIBERTY UNIVERSITY
A year removed from an appearance in the finals of the Atlantic Regional, West Liberty is off to a slow start this season. Picked to finish third in the MEC Preseason Poll, the Hilltoppers are just 3-5 in their first eight games due in large part to the team's inability to hold onto the basketball. West Liberty is averaging 21.6 turnovers per game, the most in the league while also ranking last in turnover margin at -7.29. A positive going into Saturday's game for the 'Toppers is history. West Liberty has won each of the first nine meetings against UVa-Wise since the formation of the MEC. Veteran coach Lynn Ullom's team is also playing better of late, the 'Toppers have won two of their past three games, including an 86-66 win at West Virginia Wesleyan Tuesday. In the win, a pair of West Liberty players topped 20 points led by Marissa Brown's 25-point outburst. Teammate McKenna Shives netted 22 as West Liberty shot 49.2 percent from the field, 41.9 percent from the 3-point line and 90 percent from the free throw line in the victory.
ABOUT UVA-WISE
After completing a perfect 5-0 home stand, Kristin Kunzman's Cavaliers will look to continue the run on the road. UVa-Wise begins its three game road trip on Saturday at West Liberty to face a Hilltoppers team that has been a thorn in the Cavs side over the last three seasons. Since joining the Mountain East Conference, West Liberty has ended UVa-Wise's season in each of the last three seasons. As usual, Saturday's game has significant meaning with UVa-Wise standing in a first place tie with Wheeling Jesuit for the conference lead near the mid-way point of the league season. While being a perfect 8-0 at home, UVa-Wise is just 4-4 away from the Prior Center to begin the season. To get off to its fast start, the Cavs have relied heavily on the senior trio of Makenzie Cluesman, Kayla Carey and Taylor Sandidge. Cluesman has made at least one 3-pointer in 15 consecutive games while Carey has scored in double digits in 13 of her team's 16 games. Sandidge has found her groove as of late, the 5-foot-4 guard has scored in double figures with five or more rebounds in three consecutive contests. In its most recent win over Notre Dame College, the UVa-Wise reserves played a large part in the win as well. The bench scored 31 points, led by a career-high 14 from sophomore guard Ashley Cullen. Cullen added four rebounds and a pair of assists while freshman forward Cynita Webb went a perfect 6-6 from the free throw line en route to her first double figure scoring collegiate game. The Virginia Beach, Va. product finished with 12 points on 3-3 shooting.
