WISE - - History was made by the women's basketball program at UVA Wise Saturday. Caitlyn Ross became the second player in the NCAA Division II era of the program to record a triple-double with 14 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists as the Cavaliers established a new NCAA Division II era record with 14 blocks in a 65-54 South Atlantic Conference win over No. 18 Catawba College at the Prior Center. The win over the 18th ranked Indians marks the highest ranked opponent the Cavs have defeated since joining NCAA Division II.
UVA Wise's (10-10, 6-8 SAC) Nia Vanzant scored a game-high 21 points and none were bigger than her step-back 3-pointer with 6:41 to play that started a 10-0 scoring spurt. The run turned a 49-49 game to a 59-49 advantage for the Cavs.
Catawba (16-3, 11-3 SAC) never recovered as the visitors would be unable to get any closer than seven points down the stretch.
UVA Wise built a lead as large as 20 points in the first half behind the play of two freshman, Vanzant and Ross. Vanzant scored nine points on 3-of-6 shooting in the first quarter while Ross netted four points, grabbed three boards and dished out five assists in the opening 10 minutes of play.
The block party also began early, junior Ada Stanley came off the bench to block two of her career-high five blocks in the first period as the Cavs blocked four shots in the quarter.
Jamie Cluesman's team would see the lead bulge to 20 points at the 7:18 mark of the second quarter when Stanley scored off a Ross pass in the paint.
The nationally ranked Indians would spend the rest of the contest chipping away. Catawba finished the half on a 15-to-5 run as Taisha DeShazzo scored nine points in the quarter. The Indians used the offensive glass to their advantage throughout the game but the advantage was magnified in the second quarter as the guests grabbed 11 offensive boards and turned the second chance opportunities into 11 points.
Trailing 39-29 at intermission, Catawba turned up the defensive pressure to start the second half. UVA Wise turned the ball over eight times in the third quarter leading to 10 points for the Indians. While Catawba was forcing turnovers, the Indians were also causing the Cavs problems in the half court. UVA Wise made just 2-of-12 third quarter field goal attempts. When the third quarter clock expired, Catawba had cut the deficit to one at 47-46.
The Indians would have a chance to take the lead with 7:14 to play when Lyrik Thorne stepped to the charity stripe to shoot two with her club down one. Thorne would split the pair to tie the game and after UVA Wise turned the ball over on its ensuing possession Catawba once more had a chance to take the lead.
The Cavs would dodge danger once more as the Indians would miss a layup, grab an offensive rebound, get fouled and then proceed to miss two more free throws.
It would be the final time in the game the Indians would have the ball with a chance to take the lead as Vaznant's 3-pointer would start the deciding scoring spurt.
Ross did not record the triple double until the final moments of the game. The guard would drive the paint and dish to Catrina Wood who would lay it in off the left side of the glass with less than a minute to play to give her 10 assists in the game.
The 12 rebounds were a career-high for Ross who joined teammates Vanzant and Hanna Oliver in playing all 40 minutes.
Leah Kestner continued her strong freshman season by contributing seven points and eight rebounds in the win while Stanley added eight points and six boards to her career-high five blocks.
UVA Wise did a tremendous job guarding the 3-point line as Catawba was limited to 3-of-23 shooting from distance. The Cavs made five 3-pointers, four of which came from Vanzant.
DeShazo was the lone Indian to reach double-figure scoring as she scored 14 points. Catawba played 15 players in the game compared to seven for UVA Wise. Despite the discrepancy in depth, the Indians only outscored the Cavs 22-to-14 in bench points.
In addition to Stanley, three other Cavs finished with multiple blocks. Kalee Johnson blocked three shots as did Kestner while Vanzant swatted away two shots.
The win moves UVA Wise into a tie for seventh place in the SAC standings, the top eight teams will advance to next month's conference tournament. Next up, Tusculum visits Wise Wednesday for another league contest. Tip-off from the Prior Center is scheduled for 5:30 p.m.
