WISE – The UVA Wise women's basketball team completed the South Atlantic Conference season sweep of Anderson as they defeated the Trojans 65-63 Saturday afternoon.
It was the first time they have defeated Anderson on the Trojans' home court and they now have won three of the last five in the series.
The win also clinches a berth in the upcoming South Atlantic Conference Tournament.
INSIDE THE MATCHUP
Result: UVA Wise 65, Anderson 63
Records: UVA Wise (15-11, 12-8 SAC); Anderson (11-15, 7-13 SAC)
Location: Anderson, SC | Abney Athletic Center
HOW IT HAPPENED
- The first quarter began with the Trojans taking an early lead as Khiara Flugence scored a layup at 7:49 with an assist from Alana Eakle. UVA Wise responded with
Madison Looney hitting a pair of free throws at 7:17 to tie the game. The teams exchanged baskets throughout the quarter, with Looney and
Caroline Mullins contributing crucial points for the Cavs. Anderson briefly regained the lead with a jumper from Kyla Cain at 2:04, but the Cavaliers closed the quarter strong.
Emilea Preece's jumper at 1:23, assisted by
Kyndra West, and a free throw by Mullins with 30 seconds left, secured a 17-15 lead for the Highland Cavaliers at the end of the first quarter.
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Katy Hoover sparked the Cavs' offense early in the second quarter with a layup at 9:39 and followed with a three-pointer at 8:54, assisted by Mullins, establishing a brief lead over Anderson. Preece added a jumper shortly after, contributing to the visitors' momentum. Anderson's Ciara Harris kept the Trojans in contention with a layup at 9:13, though they struggled with turnovers, committing 10 in the quarter.
Mia Nienaber's 3-pointer at 3:37 and Looney's layup at 1:12 helped UVA Wise extend its lead. In the closing seconds, Ashlyn Sheridan hit a three-pointer for Anderson, bringing the score to 33-26 at the end of the first half.
- Ashley Hill's free throws at 9:45 and subsequent layup at 8:52 helped the Trojans narrow the gap early in the third quarter. Nienaber responded for the Cavaliers with two free throws, maintaining a five-point margin. Anderson then went on a 9-0 run, highlighted by Jaida Brooks' consecutive 3-pointers, taking the lead at 36-35. Looney's 3-pointer at 6:00 for the Highland Cavaliers tied the game at 38-38, and she later added a layup with 2:25 remaining to reclaim the lead for the visitors. Mullins secured the quarter for UVA Wise with a jumper in the paint with just 8 seconds left, as the Cavs ended the quarter with a 46-41 advantage.
- In a tightly contested final quarter, UVA Wise managed to hold off the Trojans with a narrow 65-63 victory. Mullins was instrumental for the Cavs, contributing with crucial free throws and a jumper late in the game.
Alissa Cheek added important points with a 3-pointer at the 5:51 mark, boosting their lead. Anderson fought back, with Cain scoring several points in the paint, but ultimately fell short. Mullins sealed the win with two free throws at 11 seconds remaining, and a last-second garbage three-pointer by Harris for Anderson was ruled to have beaten the buzzer but had no effect on the outcome.
GETTING WISE
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Madison Looney led all scorers with 19 points. She also had seven rebounds.
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Caroline Mullins had her eighth double-double of the season with 17 points and 11 rebounds. She has now scored in double figures in every game this season. She also led all players with five assists.
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Jalie Ruehling had five steals, two assists, and two rebounds.
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Katy Hoover,
Alissa Cheek, and
Mia Nienaber had seven points apiece.
UP NEXT
UVA Wise will close out the regular season with a pair of home games next week. First up is #19 Lincoln Memorial Wednesday at 5:30 p.m.
