MEC Tournament Preview – Cardinals Ready to Defend Title

By: Michael McDonald, Assistant Sports Information Director

Sam Santilli

Women's Basketball | 3/1/2017 11:46:00 AM

WHEELING, W.Va. – The defending champs are set to defend their Mountain East Conference title. The Wheeling Jesuit Cardinals begin their title defense Thursday afternoon with a 12 p.m. tip-off.

WJU's opponent is yet to be determined, as Cardinals will play the winner of the Shepherd Rams and the West Virginia Wesleyan Bobcats, who play Wednesday at 12 o'clock.

For the second consecutive year, WJU enters Charleston as the second seeded team. In the 2016 tournament, the Cardinals knocked off the top-seeded West Liberty Hilltoppers, 70-66, claiming the MEC trophy.

WJU enters championship week coming off a 59-58 victory over the 'Toppers Saturday afternoon. Chenelle Moore and Lydia Hyburg led the way with 12 points apiece while Jaana Motton scored 11. The Cardinals outscored the Hilltoppers by eight in the fourth period, 19-11, to clinch the victory.

The Cardinals swept the season series against both the Shepherd Rams and the WVWC Bobcats. On the season, WJU outscored Shepherd, 159-129, and West Virginia Wesleyan, 154-96.

The Rams and Bobcats split their season's meetings, one apiece, with the home teaming winning each time.

Shepherd is led by All-MEC First Team member Cara Mason while Wesleyan is guided by Mari Stewart, who earned All-MEC Honorable Mention.

The Cardinals placed three players on the All-MEC teams. Monica Burns earned a spot on the All-MEC First Team as she led WJU in scoring with 15.4 points per game. Mariah Callen (13.3 points, 4.8 assists) and Jaana Motton (12.8 points, 9.5 rebounds) joined the All-MEC Second Team.

Aside from the three All-MEC members, Chenelle Moore contributes 10.7 points and 5.4 rebounds on average while senior Kylie Frizell chips in 8.9 points and 4.5 rebounds per game.

For all information regarding to the 2017 Mountain East Conference women's basketball tournament, please visit the following tournament central page.

Tournament Central

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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

#33 Lydia Hyburg: F; 6' 2"; Senior

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

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

#33 Lydia Hyburg
: 6' 2"; Senior
: F

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

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