Skip To Main Content
Mo116header
59
Virginia Wise WISE-W 13-5, 8-2 MEC
64
Winner Wheeling Jesuit WJU-W 14-2, 9-1 MEC
Virginia Wise WISE-W
13-5, 8-2 MEC
59
Final
64
Wheeling Jesuit WJU-W
14-2, 9-1 MEC
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 F
Virginia Wise WISE-W 12 14 16 17 59
Wheeling Jesuit WJU-W 15 25 11 13 64

Game Recap: Women's Basketball | | Michael McDonald, Assistant Sports Information Director

Cardinals Outlast Cavs, Claim Sole Possession of First Place in MEC

WHEELING, W.Va. – The No. 23 ranked Wheeling Jesuit Cardinals hosted the Virginia Wise Cavaliers in what would be a matchup of the top-two ranked Mountain East Conference squads. The Cardinals forced 21 turnovers and held the Cavaliers to 39 percent shooting on their way to a 64-59 victory.
 
"We grinded out the game. The first half we were patient and moved the ball to get great shots," WJU head coach Debbie Buff stressed. "In the second half we got a little impatient and tried to force a few shots. Virginia Wise is a very tough basketball team, so it is an outstanding win for our program, especially to gain sole possession of first place in the league."
 
Virginia Wise (13-5, 8-2 MEC) scored the first basket of the afternoon, a three-pointer from Taylor Sandidge, but the Cardinals (14-2, 9-1 MEC) would rattle off the next 11 points. Wise would finish the period strong by way of a 9-4 run, cutting the Cardinals lead to three, 15-12.
 
Junior Mariah Callen would add three points in the opening minute of the second quarter, followed by a pair of Chelsea Richardson free throws, growing the WJU lea to eight, 20-12.
 
WJU's first double-digit lead came with 3:27 in the second quarter when Chenelle Moore made one of two from the line. Monica Burns would later add a trey (1:39), and the WJU lead grew to 12, 36-24. Moore closed the first half's scoring with a pair of free throws, helping the hosts secure a 40-26 halftime advantage.
 
Wise began the second half scoring the first two buckets, cutting into the Cardinals lead, 40-30. Monica Burns would convert two layup on consecutive trips, including an and-one three-point play, regaining WJU's 15-point lead.
 
Kayla Carey of Virginia Wise sent in a jumper late in the third quarter before Chenelle Moore contributed a layup, and the Cardinals lead would be nine, 51-42, heading into the fourth and final period.
 
At the midway mark of the fourth quarter, Alle Moore pulled the visiting Cavaliers to within three points. Moore would add a pair of free-throws on the Cavs next possession, trimming WJU's lead to a single point, 55-54.
 
With 4:05 remaining, Burns scored two of her game-high 22 points to help the Cardinals increase their margin to three, 57-54. Wise would score the next bucket at 2:06, pulling back to within a point.
 
Senior Kylie Frizell buried a trey when her team needed her most. With 1:43 remaining, Callen found Frizell open in the right-hand corner, and Frizell would do the rest.
 
On Virginia Wise's next trip down the court, Makenzie Cluesman answered Frizell's trey with a long-distance bucket of her own. WJU would receive a pair of free-throws from Chelsea Richardson with 1:10 remaining, and later a pair from Frizell, sealing the 64-59 victory and sole possession of first place in the MEC.
 
Burns paced the Cardinals with 22 points on 8-16 shooting. The sophomore guard also swiped five steals from the Cavs. Callen added 12 points, five rebounds and four assists to the WJU stat line while Chenelle Moore finished with 11 points and five rebounds.
 
Richardson scored eight points on five shots and collected four boards. Frizell chipped in five points while the MEC player of the week, Jaana Motton, scored a bucket and grabbed six rebounds. Lydia Hyburg rounded out the Cardinal scoring with four points.
 
WJU travels to West Liberty on Thursday, January 19 to face-off with the rival Hilltoppers. The women tip off at 5:30 with the men to follow. 
 
Print Friendly Version