Storylines – vs Urbana university
At this point, Urbana is playing out the string on the 2016-2017 season. The Blue Knights have lost five consecutive games to fall to 3-16 in the league, a full three games behind 10th place West Virginia Wesleyan for the final berth in the upcoming Mountain East Conference Tournament. Thursday, Haley Ducey's squad a 90-75 home decision to Concord despite placing five players in double-figure scoring. Sophomore guard Megan Beachy led the way with 17 points while junior Danie Shafer returned to score 10 points after missing the previous seven games due to injury. The return of Shafer is big for the Blue Knights, the 5-foot-8 forward was All-MEC First-Team honoree last season and leads the team in scoring average at 14.6 points per game. In the first meeting between the two schools, it was the play of freshman Sylvia Hudson that kept Urbana within striking distance. Hudson scored 11 points and grabbed 10 rebounds in a 74-60 loss at the Prior Center. Rebounding could be the difference Saturday, UVa-Wise leads the league in rebounding margin (+10.5) while Urbana is losing the battle of the boards by 2.5 a night. In Wise, the Cavs won the battle of the glass 43-32.
About UVa-Wise
Coming off one its worst shooting performances of the season (.300), UVa-Wise needs a win Saturday to remain in third place in the MEC standings. Kristin Kunzman's team stands a game ahead of fourth place Fairmont State with three games to play in the regular season. The Cavaliers have won each of the last two meetings against the Blue Knights, including a 74-60 win in Wise earlier this season. That night, Taylor Sandidge erupted for 19 points on 7-10 shooting while also grabbing six rebounds. The senior guard moved into eighth place all-time at UVa-Wise in scoring in the team's loss Thursday when she netted 20 points to give her 1,344 for her career. Keeping fellow senior and backcourt mate Makenzie Cluesman on the floor will be pivotal Saturday, the Jonesville, Va. native fouled out in 26 minutes of play and was held to nine points. This season, UVa-Wise is winless when Cluesman fails to reach double-figure scoring. Sophomore Alle Moore continues to be a spark plug off the bench for the Cavs. The Marietta, Ohio native scored all 14 points of her points in the first half Thursday and has now scored 10 or more points in three of her last four games. Freshman Kayla Mullins has cracked the starting lineup for UVa-Wise recently. The Clintwood, Va. product has started the team's last two games and recorded a season-high three blocks Thursday.