WISE - - Senior guard Janice Ladson scored a career-high 14 points on 6-of-11 shooting as UVa-Wise led wire-to-wire in a 72-52 Mountain East Conference win over Urbana University at the Prior Center Saturday; the game was the league opener for both schools.

UVa-Wise (2-2, 1-0 MEC) raced out to a 17-7 lead after the opening 10 minutes and never looked back. Jamie Cluesman's team limited Urbana (0-2, 0-1 MEC) to just 1-of-16 shooting in the opening quarter while dominating the interior. Ten of the Cavaliers' 17 points in the quarter came in the paint as post players Cynita Webb and Dakotah Turner scored four points each in the period.

The lead swelled to 30-17 at intermission as Urbana made just 2-of-12 field goal attempts in the second quarter. UVa-Wise's interior play continued to control the action as the hosts grabbed eight of their 15 offensive rebounds in the 10 minute stanza.

UVa-Wise erased any hope of an Urbana comeback in the third quarter by posting 27 points. Sophomore Hanna Oliver scored seven of her nine points in the quarter while also dishing out all four of her assists as the Cavs entered the fourth period holding a 57-35 advantage.

The fourth quarter belonged to the bench as Nokomis Williams went a perfect 3-for-3 to net six points as part of a 25 point output by the bench.

Urbana finished the game just 26.8 percent from the field, Sylvia Hudson and Nikki Current tallied 10 points each in defeat.

The Cavs won the battle of the boards 45-to-39 and posted 12 fast break points while holding the Blue Knights without a transition bucket.

 

Cluesman's team was also proficient at the foul line connecting on 17-of-21 attempts.

Ladson added a career-high five steals to her 14 points as UVa-Wise finished with 10 steals as a team. Webb posted her third double-double in four games as she finished with 12 points and 10 rebounds in 25 minutes of play.

With the win, the Cavs have started 1-0 in league play for the fourth time in five years. Cluesman's crew will attempt to start league play 2-0 on Monday when Notre Dame College visits the Prior Center for a 5:30 p.m. tip.