Storylines – vs Urbana University
Former Georgetown College Head Coach Andrea McCloskey will make her home debut as the leader of the Blue Knights Saturday. McCloskey's crew shot just 23.3 percent in a season opening 69-38 loss at Tiffin Wednesday and were picked 11th in the Preseason Mountain East Conference Coaches' Poll. The new coach brings a track record of success to Urbana. At Georgetown, McCloskey posted three consecutive 20-win seasons, made two NAIA Tournament appearances and was named Mid-South Coach of the Year. Urbana is one of the more experienced teams in the league as the team returns 11 players from last year's squad and its top four leading scorers from a year ago. Two-time All-MEC player Danie Shafer averaged 13.6 points per game last season while Sylvia Hudson is back after finishing third nationally in field goal percentage (.633) as a freshman a year ago. Urbana's issues rested primarily in its defense. Teams averaged 79.7 points per game against the Blue Knights in the 2016-17 season, only three teams in NCAA Division II allowed more points per game.
About UVa-Wise
Interim Head Coach Elise Clyburn picked up the first win of her coaching career Wednesday when UVa-Wise upset nationally ranked Lincoln Memorial 83-80 in her team's home opener. Five Cavaliers finished in double-figure scoring, led by Bianca Lockamy who came off the bench to net a team-high 13 points. Lockamy did most of her damage at the free throw line where she went 7-for-8 to aid her team to a 32-for-44 showing at the stripe. Sophomore Cynita Webb turned in her second double-double of the young season as she scored 12 points and grabbed 10 rebounds. A big reason for the team's success was the turnaround in turnovers. UVa-Wise committed 27 turnovers in its season opening loss to Millersville before giving it up 38 times in a loss to Edinboro, Wednesday the team turned it over 19 times and lost the points off turnovers battle by just two points 13-11. Ten different UVa-Wise players registered double figure minutes Wednesday; for the season, the Cavs have eight players playing 10 or more minutes per game.  Defense has been a constant for Clyburn's crew, opponents are shooting just 36 percent from the floor and 23.6 percent from the 3-point line through the season's first three games. A win Saturday would give the Cavs their fourth consecutive win over the Blue Knights while allowing the team to start 1-0 in MEC play for the fourth consecutive season.