Weekend Preview – WJU Women’s Basketball Hosts Urbana

By: Michael McDonald, Assistant Sports Information Director

Women's Basketball | 1/20/2017 2:53:00 PM

WHEELING, W.Va. – The Urbana Blue Knights travel to Wheeling, West Virginia to take on the nationally ranked Cardinals in a Saturday afternoon contest. Since the forming of the MEC in 2013, WJU holds a 6-1 mark against Urbana, including a 3-0 mark on their home court.

The two league opponents met once earlier this season, as the Cardinals defeated the Blue Knights, 91-70. Junior point guard Mariah Callen led WJU with a season-best 23 points against Urbana, as the Morgantown, West Virginia native buried five of her eight attempts from long range. Megan Beechy led Urbana scorers with 18 points and four rebounds.

WJU enters Saturday on a one game skid, coming off a 79-72 loss to the rival West Liberty Hilltoppers, falling into a tie with Virginia Wise atop at the Mountain East at 9-2. The Cardinals are 4-1 in their last five MEC games, with victories over West Virginia Wesleyan, Glenville State, Concord and Virginia Wise.

Monica Burns continues to lead the Cardinal offense with 15.5 points per contest, ranking seventh within the MEC. Callen averages 13.6 points, three rebounds and 4.6 assists per game. Forwards Jaana Motton and Chenelle Moore supply WJU with 12.5 and 11.3 points per night, respectively. Motton collects a team-best 9.5 rebounds per game and is second in the MEC in both rebounding and double-doubles (7). Seniors Kylie Frizell and Chelsea Richardson give the Cardinals a combined 13.9 points each game, 7.8 and 6.1 respectively.

As a squad, the Cardinals rank second in scoring defense and scoring margin, allowing just 62.4 points per game and outscoring their opponents by an average of 9.8 points. WJU has held nine of its 11 league opponents to less than 70 points.

Urbana comes into Saturday on a three-game losing streak including Thursdays' loss to Notre Dame, 81-67. Saturday's contest marks the beginning of a four-game road stretch for Urbana, beginning with WJU and ending at Charleston on February 1. Urbana's last victory came on January 10 at Concord, where the Blue Knights prevailed, 82-73. Urbana leads the MEC in team free-throw percentage, shooting 77 percent.

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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