WISE – UVA Wise rode a 15-15 performance at the free throw line and 35 points from
Caroline Mullins to hand Head Coach
Jamie Cluesman her 100thh career victory with the 74-64 South Atlantic Conference win over Tusculum Wednesday evening.
Cluesman becomes the second coach in the program's history to reach the century mark in wins after the 112 posted by Doris Kilgore Hubbard from 1969-73 and 1975-81. Kilgore reached the 100-win mark in a 54-53 win in Greear Gym on Nov. 12, 1980, and somewhat ironically it came against Concord College, Cluesman's future alma mater.
INSIDE THE MATCHUP
Result: UVA Wise 74, Tusculum 64
Records: UVA Wise (9-6, 6-3 SAC); Tusculum (1-14, 1-8 SAC)
Location: Wise, VA | The Quillen Court in the David J. Prior Convocation Center
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Mullins scored first and the teams then traded baskets for the next six minutes before she helped spark the Highland Cavs to an 11-0 run late in the period.
Kyndra West scored and
Emilea Preece extended the lead to 20-13 with a 3-pointer at 2:07.
Jalie Ruehling later added a fast-break layup off a turnover, and Mullins converted another layup to widen the gap. A basket by Tusculum's Martina Garofalo as time expired cut the UVA Wise lead to 24-15 at the end of the first quarter.
- The second quarter saw the Highland Cavaliers outscore the Pioneers 17-13 in the period.
Emilea Preece made notable contributions with a jumper at 8:13, assisted by
Izzy Proffitt, who also added a layup later in the quarter.
Caroline Mullins contributed a 3-pointer with an assist from
Kyndra West at 4:45, further extending the lead. In the final minute,
Shelby Higgins scored a layup, assisted by
Madison Looney, to push the home team's score to 41-28, closing the quarter and half on a strong note.
-
Caroline Mullins showcased an impressive performance in the third quarter, scoring two critical 3-pointers and contributing a total of 12 points to maintain the Cavs' lead over Tusculum. The Cavaliers built their advantage with timely defensive plays, including a block and rebound from
Mia Nienaber at the 8:43 mark, and a steal by
Madison Looney at 7:05. The Pioneers' Abbi Douglas kept the visitors competitive with multiple successful layups, including a tip-in at 5:19, narrowing the gap to 49-38. Despite Tusculum's efforts, including a late layup by Josie Horner, the Cavs finished the quarter leading 58-44 after Mullins' jumper with 48 seconds remaining.
- Josie Horner of Tusculum scored early with a jumper and free throw at 9:42, to help close the gap to 58-47. Maddison Neale added a three-pointer at 8:49, further reducing the deficit to 58-50. However, UVA Wise countered with key contributions from
Caroline Mullins and
Madison Looney, who scored a combined 14 points in the quarter, helping the home team maintain their lead. Despite Tusculum outscoring the Cavs 20-16 in the final quarter, the Highland Cavaliers hit 6-6 from the free throw line in the period to secure the 74-64 victory.
GETTING WISE
-
Caroline Mullins surpassed the 30 point mark for the second time this season with 35 points off of 14-27 shooting from the field, 3-6 from three-point range, and 4-4 from the free throw line. She also pulled down a game-high eight rebounds and had three assists and three steals
-
Emilea Preece scored eleven points and had two rebounds and two assists.
-
Madison Looney scored 10 points and had five rebounds. She also had three steals.
-
Jalie Ruehling had six points, six assists, and seven rebounds.
- As a team, the Cavs hit a 42.9 percent from the field, including a perfect 15-15 from the free throw line, and out-rebounded the Pioneers 36-31.
- Abbi Douglas led the Pioneers with 16 points, while Josie Horner added in 12 points.
REACHING THE CENTURY MARK
- Coach Cluesman notched her first win with a 77-68 victory against Millersville in the Carol Eckman Classic in West Chester, Pennsylvania, on Nov. 11, 2018. In that game the Cavs were paced by Adalmaryz Rivera-Gomez' 19 points.
- She now needs 13 victories to become the winningest women's basketball coach in Clinch Valley College / UVA Wise history.
- Cluesman is the fourth basketball coach, men's or women's to reach the 100 win mark, behind Doris Kilgore Hubbard's 112 women's victories; and Blake Mellinger's 124 (and counting) and the 209 by Lee Clark (1996-2013) on the men's side.
UP NEXT
In their next game, the Cavaliers will host Anderson on Saturday, Jan. 17. Tip-off is set for 2 p.m. on The Quillen Court in the David J. Prior Convocation Center.
