Storylines – Coker
Third-year coach Melissa DeVore had her Coker Cobras regionally ranked in the D2SIDA Poll after starting the year 3-0 behind solid defense. Coker is second in the conference and ranks 23rd in NCAA Division II in scoring defense at 54.5 points allowed per game. A big reason why is the team's ability to block shots and clean the glass. Valicia Demeritte leads the interior charge by grabbing 9.8 rebounds and blocking 1.3 shots per game. Demeritte is adding 10 points per game to her stat line despite the senior averaging only 26 minutes played per game. Overall, teams are shooting a league-worst 28.6 percent against the Cobras who have yet to allow an opponent to score more than 62 points in a game this season or shoot better than 38.9 percent.
About UVA WISE
Having missed its last two games due to illness, UVA Wise will be playing its first game in eight days when it heads to Coker for the league opener. Senior point guard Caitlyn Ross leads the South Atlantic Conference and ranks second in NCAA Division II in assists per game at 8.4 as the Cavaliers rank seventh nationally as a team at 18.6 assists per game. Jamie Cluesman's crew has also been swatting away shots at a rapid pace. Behind Kaitlin Bailey's league-leading 2.4 blocks per game, the club is blocking 5.4 shots a contest to rank eighth in NCAA Division II. Sophomore forward Katlin Burger has scored in double digits in four consecutive games while redshirt junior Nia Vanzant has reached the mark in five consecutive contests to start the season. Conditioning has not been an issue for UVA Wise, Vanzant (39.3), Ross (38.8) and Josie Hester (38.1) rank first, second and fourth in the league in minutes played per game. The extended playing time has allowed the three guards to post some lofty numbers thus far. The trio is averaging a combined 43 points, 16 rebounds and 12.4 assists per game, as a group.