WISE – The Highland Cavalier women's basketball team avenged an earlier loss to Catawba as they used a third quarter run to pull ahead and never look back in the 70-60 win over the Catawba Indians Saturday afternoon.
It was Senior Day and the team honored
Brooklyn Frazier before the start of the game.
The win was the 80thh conference win for Coach
Jamie Cluesman, and the team's 105thh in the Prior Center, dating back to 2011. They are now 105-84 in the facility.
INSIDE THE MATCHUP
Result: UVA Wise 70, Catawba 60
Records: UVA Wise (16-12, 13-9 SAC); Catawba (12-15, 10-12 SAC)
Location: Wise, VA | David J. Prior Convocation Center
HOW IT HAPPENED
- The game began with the Cavaliers quickly establishing a lead as
Alissa Cheek scored on a fast-break layup at 8:49, assisted by
Madison Looney. Cheek continued her scoring streak, hitting back-to-back 3-pointers at 7:50 and 7:17, pushing the Cavs ahead. The Catawba Indians responded with Mary Spry contributing key baskets, including a jumper to tie the game at 8 and a fast-break layup at 6:41. The quarter concluded with Catawba's Spry draining a three-pointer with 11 seconds remaining, narrowing the Cavs' lead to 19-18.
- In the second quarter, the Cavaliers gained momentum, outscoring the Catawba Indians 21-16. Brooklin Ingram kicked off the quarter with a 3-pointer for Catawba at 9:46, giving Catawba the lead. However, the Cavs responded with a strong offensive push. Cheek's layup and free throw at 6:55 narrowed the gap, followed by
Mia Nienaber's 3-pointer at 6:17, which brought them within one point. With a three from
Emilea Preece at 2:16 and consecutive layups from
Jalie Ruehling in the final minute, the Highland Cavaliers finished the half leading 40-34.
- Preece led the Cavs with key plays early in the third quarter, hitting a three-pointer at 9:31 to extend the lead to 43-35. Catawba responded with a layup by Kaira Dixon-Booker at 8:51, cutting the deficit to four points. The period saw an intense back-and-forth, highlighted by Preece's fastbreak three-pointer with 2:39 left, reclaiming the lead for the Cavs at 49-48. Ruehling was instrumental in maintaining the lead, converting four consecutive free throws starting at 1:09 as the Cavs scored the final six points of the quarter on free throws.
- In the fourth quarter, the Cavaliers maintained a steady lead over the Catawba Indians, culminating in a 70-60 victory. Key plays included a fast-break layup by
Katy Hoover at 6:41, assisted by Cheek, putting the Cavs ahead 58-50. Preece extended the lead with a 3-pointer at 6:12, assisted by
Kyndra West.
Shelby Higgins added a pair of free throws with 33 seconds left, increasing the margin to 69-56.
Brooklyn Frazier scored the last Cavalier point of the game with a free throw with 12 seconds remaining. Catawba's Ingram hit a 3-pointer with two seconds left to finalize the result at 70-60.
GETTING WISE
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Emilea Preece led the Cavs with 19 points, including four three-pointers, as well as six rebounds.
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Alissa Cheek scored 16 points and pulled down four rebounds. She also had two steals.
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Jalie Ruehling had eight points and six assists. She showed why she was one of the top rebounding point guards in the SAC as she had eleven rebounds.
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Shelby Higgins and Mia Niebaber also chipped in eight points apiece.
- The Cavs dominated the boards by a 46-34 margin.
UP NEXT
UVA Wise will face Carson-Newman in the SAC Tournament Quarterfinals in Rock Hill, South Carolina, Thursday at Noon. The teams split the regular season meetings this season.
