BLUEFIELD, W.Va. - - Katlin Burger scored a career-high 28 points while tying a career-high with 10 rebounds to lead UVA Wise to a 69-58 non-conference victory over Bluefield State inside Shott Gymnasium Saturday.
It was evident early that Burger was in for a big offensive day. The sophomore netted nine points in the opening 10 minutes as UVA Wise (9-5) built a 23-11 advantage after the opening quarter.
Bluefield State (7-9) spent most of the afternoon playing from behind. The Big Blue would fall behind by as many as 22 points in the second quarter when the Cavaliers' Josie Hester sank a pair of foul shots to make it a 38-16 game with 3:54 to play in the half.
Katrina Davis would get Bluefield State within 16 at 42-26 at intermission when her 3-pointer went through the bottom of the net to conclude first half scoring.
The Big Blue would continue to inch closer in the third quarter. A 15-to-6 scoring to close the third period would make it a 52-46 affair going to the final 10 minutes. Bluefield State would make three of its five triples in the quarter, Davis hit two of the 3-pointers in the period on a day when she made a trio of long-range shots.
After a Burger bucket stretched the UVA Wise lead to 54-46 in the opening moments of the fourth quarter. The hosts would score the next nine points to go on top 55-54. Rori Cox capped the scoring spurt with a layup. The bucket was part of a big day for the guard who scored a team-best 15 points on 6-of-14 shooting.
Burger and Nia Vanzant would take the game over down the stretch. The pair would combine to score 13 points in the final quarter as the Cavs made 8-of-16 field goals while holding the Blues to a 3-of-17 performance in the final quarter.
Vanzant finished the game a rebound shy of a double-double with 10 points and nine boards, Leah Kestner likewise wound up a rebound short of a double-double with 11 points and nine boards to aid Burger on the offensive end.
UVA Wise won the game despite not making a 3-pointer. The Cavs finished 0-for-11 from distance but overcame the poor shooting by grabbing 17 offensive rebounds en route to a 55-to-41 advantage on the glass. The offensive rebounds turned into 19 second chance points for Jamie Cluesman's club who scored 42 points in the paint.
London Coleman tallied 14 points to join Cox as the only players in double-figure scoring in defeat.
The Cavs return to league play Monday when Limestone visits the Prior Center for a 4 p.m. tip.
