WJU Women's Basketball Preview: Cardinals vs Hilltoppers

By: Michael McDonald, Assistant Sports Information Director

Women's Basketball | 1/17/2017 3:48:00 PM

WHEELING, W.Va. - Thursday night will mark one of the biggest nights on the Ohio Valley sports calendar. Wheeling Jesuit and West Liberty meet this Thursday for the first of two matches and this week's game is sure to sell out in record time. The first game will be a rematch of the 2016 Mountain East Conference championship with the night cap including two of the top six nationally ranked teams in the country on the men's side.

"You do not want to miss Thursday's action in the Academic, Sports and Recreation Complex (ASRC) on the campus of West Liberty. The women's contest tips at 5:30 with the men to follow," said Kevin Forde, WJU Director of Athletics.

Tickets can be purchased at the ASRC doors beginning one hour before tip of the women's game. Admission prices are eight dollars for an adult and two dollars for any student with a valid student ID.

The Wheeling Jesuit athletic department will be selling 50 student tickets beginning Wednesday, January 18. The tickets are on a first come, first serve basis and it is recommended that fans arrive to West Liberty early to guarantee a seat.

Women's preview:
Following its second win over a top-ranked Mountain East Conference opponent in the past week, the 19^th nationally ranked Wheeling Jesuit women sit alone atop the league standings with a 9-1 mark in conference play. The Cardinals shut down and held the high-flying offense of Glenville State to a season low in points (66) on Tuesday, January 10 before outlasting the Virginia Wise Cavaliers 64-59 on Monday, January 16. With the two conference victories, WJU climbs one game ahead of both Glenville and Wise in the league standings.

In the last ten games, WJU possesses a 9-1 record including a current four game win streak. In that 10-game stretch, the Cardinals have outscored their opponents, 723-612. Of the eight MEC opponents throughout the stretch, WJU holds a 568-480 scoring margin. In the clubs' current win streak, Wheeling Jesuit has outscored their challengers, 314-226.

Since taking over the program in 2011, Debbie Buff's key to success has been based at the defensive end of the court, and the 2016-17 Cardinals are no different. WJU ranks second in the MEC in scoring defense, allowing just over 61 points per contest. The Cardinals also occupy the second position in scoring margin, averaging a point-differential of 10.8 points per game. The WJU offense also has been a strong suit during the 14-2 start, ranking first in field goal percentage (45.0) and three-point field goal percentage (38.8). The Cardinals also hold a +5.6 rebounding margin, good for second best in the league.

Sophomore guard Monica Burns paces the Cardinal offense with 15.3 points per game, which ranks seventh in the MEC. Burns also dishes 2.7 assists and collects 2.6 rebounds on average. Junior Mariah Callen follows Burns with 13.8 points per contest (11^th in MEC) while supplying a team-best 4.6 assists, ranking sixth in the conference.

Senior forward Jaana Motton, the reigning MEC Player of the Week, averages 9.4 rebounds per game, second most in the conference. The Columbus, Ohio native also scores 12.3 points on average. Fellow post player Chenelle Moore chips in 11.3 points and 6.2 rebounds per outing.

Seniors Kylie Frizell and Chelsea Richardson have supplied the Cardinals with the leadership they need while also filling their stat lines. Frizell averages eight points, 4.6 rebounds and 2.4 assists while Richardson charts 6.1 tallies, 4.7 rebounds and 1.4 assist each outing.

West Liberty enters the game on a one-game win streak while clinching two wins in their past three outings. The 'Toppers defeated Concord, 88-76, to improve to 4-6 in league action. In the next game following a victory on the early season, West Liberty holds a record of 0-5. They currently sit at a 3-5 mark on their home court. The West Liberty women are sixth in the league in scoring offense and seventh in scoring defense. In scoring margin, the Hilltoppers occupy eighth place.

Since the MEC was formed in 2013-14, West Liberty holds the upper hand record of 4-2 against Wheeling Jesuit, but the Cardinals have gained momentum as of late. After dropping two close hard fought games during the 2015-16 regular season, Coach Buff and the Cardinals pushed ahead of the Hilltoppers in the 2016 MEC Championship game, clinching the 70-66 victory.

In 2014-15, Wheeling won the first matchup, 82-76 over the 'Toppers at West Liberty. West Liberty would defeat the Cardinals on February 28 in Wheeling, evening the regular season at one apiece. The two squads met in the conference tournament where the Hilltoppers prevailed, 68-70, in an overtime thriller. The 2013-14 season was swept by West Liberty, 67-68 and 66-71.

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Players Mentioned

#13 Monica Burns: G; 5' 6"; Redshirt Sophomore

#1 Mariah Callen: G; 5' 4"; Junior

#32 Kylie Frizell: G; 5' 10"; Senior

#21 Chenelle Moore: F; 6' 0"; Sophomore

#42 Jaana Motton: F; 5' 11"; Senior

#11 Chelsea Richardson: G; 5' 9"; Senior

Players Mentioned

#13 Monica Burns
: 5' 6"; Redshirt Sophomore
: G

#1 Mariah Callen
: 5' 4"; Junior
: G

#32 Kylie Frizell
: 5' 10"; Senior
: G

#21 Chenelle Moore
: 6' 0"; Sophomore
: F

#42 Jaana Motton
: 5' 11"; Senior
: F

#11 Chelsea Richardson
: 5' 9"; Senior
: G