Wheeling, W. Va. - Just over two weeks ago, the Wheeling University Women's Basketball team (6-17, 6-13) welcomed Frostburg State to the Alma Grace McDonough Center and fell 59-47. On Saturday, they hit the road for a rematch with the Bobcats on Saturday with tip-off at 2 PM. The Cardinals and Bobcats currently hold the #9 and #10 seeds in the Mountain East Conference (MEC) Playoff picture and Wheeling is hoping to keep their advantage over the Bobcats and string some wins together before the tournament.
The last time that Wheeling took the court was on Wednesday when they fell to Fairmont State 89-53 on their home court. The teams battled back and forth through the first quarter of play, but a 30-point second quarter for Fairmont State put the game out of reach. Wheeling finished the night shooting 32% from the floor and were shooting 40.4% through the first three quarters. However, they shot just 11% in the third quarter as they dropped their 13th conference game of the season before they head on the road for the final time in 2022.
Lauren Calhoun continued her strong junior campaign, picking up her eighth double-double in her last nine games with 20 points and 11 rebounds. She is averaging 1.9 points per game higher than the rest of the MEC with 19.9 Points Per Game, and over her last nine contests that average is up to 22.6 points per game. Calhoun is a big part of Wheeling's offense, and she will be looking to play some of her best basketball of the season down the stretch.
However, for the offense to be clicking on all cylinders, they will look for contributions from some of their bench players. Throughout the season, Wheeling has seen players like Ally Ziegler, Ava Lickliter, and Annie Hunt make contributions off the bench that has added another dimension to the offense. Lickliter and Ziegler got involved against Fairmont State on Wednesday, scoring four and three points, respectively. The Cardinals bench contributions will go a long way towards their offensive success down the stretch.
With three games left on the regular season schedule, Wheeling has a hold of the #9 seed in the tournament, sitting two games ahead of Frostburg State and three games ahead of Davis & Elkins. A win on Saturday or a Davis & Elkins loss would guarantee them at least the #9 seed in the 2022 MEC Tournament. They sit three games behind Alderson Broaddus for the eighth seed and would have to win out and get some help down the stretch to move up to the #8 seed. There is still a lot to sort out over the final three games, and Wheeling will work to be playing their best basketball down the stretch.
The Matchup
The Cardinals and Bobcats will be meeting for the sixth time overall and the second time this season. Wheeling has led the series so far, going 4-1 against Frostburg State, but took a loss earlier this season 59-47. Wheeling has won each of the two games played in Frostburg in the series and is average 72.5 points per game in those contests. Before the loss earlier this season, Wheeling had won the first four games of the matchup and look to get back to their winning ways.
In the game earlier this season, Wheeling had a big day from Calhoun who scored 23 points while grabbing 17 rebounds. Freshman Shamia Strayhorn also scored double digits in the game with 12 points and finished with seven rebounds. Wheeling shot 32% from the floor in that game and looks to improve that shooting percentage this time around.
The Details
Tip-off for Saturday afternoon's game is scheduled for 2 PM in Frostburg, Maryland. You can watch the game live by clicking HERE or follow along with Live Stats by clicking HERE.
