Coming off a 28-5 season, LMU is 1-1 through its first two games of the 2017-18 campaign. Ranked No. 12 in the latest D2SIDA Media Poll and No. 24 in the Coaches' Poll, the Railsplitters' roster is composed of three seniors and five juniors to go with 10 underclassmen. Senior guard Shea Coker drives the bus for LMU, the 5-foot-8 native of Knoxville, Tenn. is the only LMU player averaging double figures thus far. Coker scored 14 points in her team's season opening loss to Lander before dropping 24 in a win against USC Aiken. A year ago, Coker averaged 13.5 points per game while shooting .477 from distance. Freshman Maggie Jachimczuk has been a bright spot for LMU out of the blocks. The 6-foot forward scored eight points and picked up 10 rebounds in her team's 79-73 win over USC Aiken. Rachel Griffith is also nicely filling the "sixth man" role as she is the team's second leading scorer at 8.5 points per game. Picked to win the Southern Athletic Conference, LMU and UVa-Wise have not played on the hardwood since the 2001-02 season.

Turnovers have been the story for the Cavaliers in the season's first two games. UVa-Wise out-rebounded each of its first two opponents while also shooting a higher percentage from the field and the 3-point line in each contest. However, Elise Clyburn's squad has turned it over 65 times in the first two games which has led to 50 points for the opposition. Freshman guard Hanna Oliver and sophomore forward Cynita Webb have provided the bulk of the team's offense thus far. Oliver is shooting .588 from beyond the 3-point line while averaging a team-high 14.5 points per game. The Woodbridge, Va. product has already made eight 3-pointers, having made four in each of the first two games. Webb is averaging a double-double in the early going. The Virginia Beach, Va. native is averaging 11.5 points and 13.5 rebounds per game. The forward began the season with a 16-point, 13-rebound showing against Millersville before grabbing a career-high 14 rebounds in her team's loss to Edinboro University. Half court defense has been a strength of the club in the early going, opponents are shooting just .356 from the field and .200 from beyond the 3-point line against UVa-Wise. Entering Wednesday, the Cavs have made double the 3-point field goals of their opponents (14-7). Following the game, the Cavs will play six straight Mountain East Conference games, beginning Saturday at Urbana University.