MORGANTOWN —
The West Virginia University women’s basketball team and the Texas Longhorns will tip off at 7 p.m. today at the WVU Coliseum.
Both the Mountaineers (8-5, 0-2) and the Longhorns (7-6, 0-2) are in search of their first Big 12 victory as WVU has dropped its first two conference games to Oklahoma and Kansas by a combined four points. Texas enters Wednesday’s game after falling in overtime at Iowa State, 73-65, and to Oklahoma at home, 78-70, on Saturday.
The Longhorns return only two starters and seven total letter-winners from a team that went 18-13 and 13-4 last season. UT made it to the first round of the NCAA tournament last season, which was also the last meeting between Texas and West Virginia, as WVU cut the Longhorns’ postseason short with a 68-55 loss in Norfolk, Va.
Texas added seven newcomers to this season’s roster, including true freshman starter Empress Davenport with 11 starts to her name and Imani McGee-Stafford who has earned seven starts this season. McGee-Stafford rounds out the top four scorers with 10.5 points per game along with the second-highest rebounding average of 8.2 boards per game. McGee-Stafford, who stands at 6-foot-7, helps Texas to a blocking advantage as she has recorded 35 blocked shots this season for a team total of 5.9 blocks per game to lead the league.
Junior guard Chassidy Fussell leads five players averaging double-figure scoring numbers as she averages 16.6 points per game in 11 games this season. Fussell also leads Texas from 3-point range as she has hit 23-of-61 threes this season (37.7 percent).
Sophomore forward Nneka Enemkpali averages 14.8 points per game and is Texas’ leading rebounder with 11.0 boards per game, helping her team to 48.5 rebounds per game, the most in the league. Texas holds a 13.6 rebounding advantage over opponents, the second-highest margin in the Big 12.
Junior guard Taylor Palmer averages 27.0 points per game in Big 12 outings, which matches Tiffany Bias from Oklahoma State for the league-leading scoring average. In all games this season, Palmer leads WVU with 12.5 points per game and is followed in scoring by Christal Caldwell with 11.4 points per game. Ayana Dunning is the only other Mountaineer recording scoring numbers in double figures with 10.1 points per game, and also serves as WVU’s rebounding leader with 6.8 rebounds per game.
As a team, the Mountaineers have held league opponents to only 27.8 percent shooting from 3-point range, the third-lowest percentage in the league, however, averaging 7.0 threes a game, WVU holds the third-highest 3-point field goal average per game.
WVU holds the 1-0 advantage in the all-time series with Texas. It will be the first meeting in the WVU Coliseum.
Sports
WVU women host Texas
- Sports
-
-
FSHS glides past Braxton, 11-0: PHOTOS
Fairmont Senior High School’s baseball team leveled Braxton County in the Class AA semi-regionals Tuesday evening, 11-0.
The Polar Bears were led by their cleanup hitter, Johnny Kesling, and starting pitcher, Fletcher DeVaul. -
HERTZEL COLUMN: Bill Stewart is missed, remembered
It was Monday, the first anniversary of Bill Stewart’s sudden death while playing the 16th hole of a charity golf tournament with West Virginia University’s former athletic director and his former boss, Ed Pastilong.
-
Miles granted release from WVU
Junior forward Keaton Miles, who suffered through a disappointing sophomore season as West Virginia fell below .500, has been granted a release and will seek a transfer, according to published reports.
-
WVU baseball team helps those in tornado’s path
In so many ways it was a day that called for celebration.
Randy Mazey’s West Virginia baseball team, the team that was supposed to finish last in its first Big 12 season, was sitting in third place on what should have been the eve of the conference tournament. -
Horton signs with Fairmont State
One Fairmont Senior basketball player’s dreams of playing in college has become a reality.
On Tuesday, Travon Horton signed his letter of intent to play basketball at Fairmont State University.
He said staying in Fairmont means a lot because of the support he has. -
FURFARI COLUMN: WVU should reinstate men’s track — not golf
West Virginia University has not had a men’s golf team since 1982 in its sports program.
But Oliver Luck, who’s been the school’s athletic director going on three years, reportedly is talking about bringing back that sport “because it’s cheap.” -
Pirates beat Cubs, 5-4, behind Snider’s grand slam
Travis Snider hit a pinch-hit grand slam during a five-run sixth and the Pittsburgh Pirates spoiled a strong return to the mound for Matt Garza with a 5-4 win over the Chicago Cubs on Tuesday night.
-
Rogers making the move from Grafton to Fairmont State
Grafton’s standout tennis player is now off the market.
Hailey Rogers is an official member of the Fairmont State Fighting Falcon tennis squad, and she is ecstatic to call Fairmont home. -
HERTZEL COLUMN- Catastrophes make you stop and think
The scenes have been gruesome, devastation everywhere, words flowing from the mouths of reporters that are as difficult to comprehend as are the images on the eyes.
-
Anderson gives Senators a chance
Craig Anderson has his game back, and just in time to give the Senators a chance.
- More Sports Headlines
-
