Storylines – vs Charleston
Adam Collins' team is off to a 3-0 start in Mountain East Conference play after winning three straight home games to begin league play. The Golden Eagles are led by the duo of Octavia Loll and Abby Watson. Loll is averaging a team-high 15.5 points per game while adding 6.3 rebounds per game. The guard is shooting 47.3 percent from the field while adding four assists a contest. Watson has started just two games but, the 5-foot-8 junior is second on the team in scoring at 13.8 points per game. As a team, Charleston is shooting 42.3 percent from the field while limiting opponents to 34.9 percent shooting. The Golden Eagles are dominating the boards through their first six games; Charleston is averaging 43.5 rebounds a night while limiting their opponents to 34.2 rebounds a contest. The combination of good defense and good rebounding has allowed Charleston to surge to the top of the scoring defensive leaderboard in the MEC. Oppoonents are scoring just 61.5 points per game against the Golden Eagles, the number is boosted by the team's 88-36 shellacking of Bluefield State on Nov. 22. Depth has also played a key role in the team's early season success. Entering play Saturday, Collins is playing 10 players at least 11 minutes per game as a total of 18 Golden Eagles have touched the court this season.
About UVa-Wise
In search of its first league win of the season, Elise Clyburn's team will play its first MEC game inside the Prior Center after three conference games on the road to begin the season. Putting the ball in the basket has been an issue for UVa-Wise through the first six games. The Cavaliers are averaging a league worst 61.5 points per game while also ranking last in turnover margin at -7.67 per game. UVa-Wise is averaging 24.3 turnovers per game while shooting 34.3 percent from the field. The good news for UVa-Wise is that they are returning home. Clyburn's squad won its only home game of the season, 83-80 over No. 24 Lincoln Memorial University on Nov. 15. Getting to the free throw line has been a strength of a team. UVa-Wise has shot a league-high 160 free throws, including 44 in its win over LMU. Sophomore Cynita Webb continues to be a force on the interior for the team. The Virginia Beach, Va. native has 10 or more rebounds in five of her team's six games while having turned in a pair of double-doubles. Webb is shooting 50 percent from the field while adding 9.3 points per game. Freshman Hanna Oliver is the team's leading scorer behind 43.2 percent shooting from the 3-point line. Oliver averages 11.8 points per game and has made at least three 3-pointers in five of her first six collegiate games. Her 43.2 percent shooting from beyond the arc ranks fourth in the conference while her 19 made 3-pointers is second in the conference.