BUCKHANNON, W.Va. - - Taylor Sandidge scored 11 of her season-high 27 points in the first quarter to lead UVa-Wise to an 88-68 Mountain East Conference victory over West Virginia Wesleyan at the Rockefeller Center Wednesday. The win halts a two-game losing skid for the Cavaliers who improved to 8-0 against the Bobcats since the formation of the MEC.
UVa-Wise (16-7, 11-4 MEC) received a layup from Sandidge on her team's opening possession to give Kristin Kunzman's team a 2-0 advantage. The Cavs would never trail in the contest as the visitors opened up a 26-18 lead by the end of the opening period.
The first quarter performance by Sandidge was the start of one of the better game's of the 5-foot-5 senior's career. The guard made three of four field goal attempts in the period while picking up a steal and dishing out an assist. The Waynesboro, Va. native finished the game with a career-high 11 made field goals, five rebounds, six assists and two steals.
West Virginia Wesleyan (6-12, 6-9 MEC) played without the services of leading scorers Rachel Vandertoolen and Mari Stewart but enjoyed early offensive success. Coach Vicky Bullet's team made eight of its first 16 shots as five Bobcats made at least one field goal in the first 10 minutes.
Wesleyan's hot shooting continued into the opening moments of the second quarter. Nicole Gilyard drained a jumper before a Kambrie Bosley 3-pointer cut the UVa-Wise lead to 26-23.
Senior Kayla Carey answered the run for the Cavs as the Knoxville, Tenn. scored four quick points to run the lead back to seven at 30-23 with 6:06 to play in the half. UVa-Wise took its first double digit lead of the game on back-to-back buckets by freshman Kayla Mullins and Sandidge at the 2:20 mark of the second quarter.
The Bobcats' Tara Goldman scored the half's final bucket to send the game to intermission with the guests leading 37-29.
Sandidge began the second half the same way she opened the first half by attacking the rim. The guard made six of seven field goal attempts in the period en route to 12 points. Fellow senior Makenzie Cluesman also had a big period as the Jonesville, Va. native netted eight points in aiding UVa-Wise to a 30-point quarter. The strong play of the senior duo propelled the visitors to a 67-52 lead going to the fourth quarter.
The hosts would be unable to get the game back within single digits at any point in the final period. Cynita Webb and Alle Moore opened the final 10 minute session with a pair of baskets to give the Cavs a 19-point margin with 8:11 to play.
Bullet's squad would get the game within 11 thanks to a 10-2 run but UVa-Wise closed the game with a 15-6 run to post the 88-68 road win.
Cluesman finished with 14 points while Carey finished a rebound shy of a double-double with 13 points. Moore provide nine points off the bench to lead a group of reserves that collected 30 points in the win.
Bosley led the Bobcats with 16 points while Stacy Remer (12) and Lana Long (11) also finished in double-figure scoring.
As a team, the Cavs handed out 20 assists against 13 turnovers and won the battle of the boards 37-27.
By scoring 27 points, Sandidge moved to ninth place on the all-time scoring list at UVa-Wise with 1,292 points.
With the win, UVa-Wise is guaranteed of its first winning season the 2009-2010 season. The team is back in action at home Saturday against Glenville State College. Tip-off against the first place Pioneers is set for 2 p.m. from the Prior Center.
