Wheeling, W. Va. - Entering Wednesday night's game against Notre Dame College, senior Wheeling University Women's Basketball player
Lauren Calhoun needed just 17 points to reach the 1,000 point mark for her career. She got that and more as she finished with 21 points on the night and helped lead the Cardinals (10-7, 8-3) to an 86-53 victory over the Falcons. Her 1,000th point came with just over four minutes left to play in the first half as she became the 29th player in program history to accomplish the feat.
After grabbing the rebound on the defensive side of the floor, Calhoun and the Cardinals brought the ball up to their offensive zone.
Graci Fairman pulled up for a jumper from the free throw line and missed the mark, but Calhoun was there to grab the rebound. She quickly banked the next shot up and in to give her 17 points on the night and put her at 1,000 for her career. Head Coach Anna Kowalska would call a timeout following a Notre Dame shot as the fans recognized Calhoun for her highlight moment. She finished the night with 21 points and brought her career total to 1,004 as she now has her sights set on climbing the all-time scoring list for the Cardinals. It was a big first half overall for the team with the offense scoring and the defense holding the opposition.
However, early on, it was the Cardinals who struggled to get going, not scoring through the first four minutes of play. Notre Dame College wouldn't fare much better as they scored just four points during that stretch as the game sat at 4-0 with 6:27 showing on the clock. Freshman
Fatima Mohammad got the Cardinals offense going with a big three-pointer that made it a 4-3 game. That would remain the score as teams entered into the media timeout.
Graci Fairman would give the Cardinals their first lead of the night with a pair of free throws and began the run that created separation early. Wheeling scored the next 17 points of the quarter and with 29 seconds left in the quarter, the Cardinals were on top 20-4. They would end up holding the Falcons to just six first quarter points and led 20-6 after one.
The Cardinals would combined to score 43 points over that first half and allowed single digits in each of the first two quarters to go into halftime up 43-13. Coming out of the third quarter, the team's went dead even with the team's scoring seven points a piece. Notre Dame would end up winning the run with a layup and the score sat 50-24 at the 6:19 point of the quarter.
Shamia Strayhorn got the ball back on Wheeling's side with a three-point play and
Fatima Mohammad hit a layup to make it 55-24. Notre Dame College had their biggest offensive run of the game to end the third quarter, outscoring Wheeling 7-6 over the final four minutes of play. However, Wheeling entered the fourth quarter up 61-31 and got the chance to go to their bench over the final 10 minutes of play.
Mohammad and Fairman got the Cardinals going in the quarter, scoring four points each as Wheeling made it a 70-36 affair. It would continue to be Mohammad and Fairman driving the bus over the first five minutes of the quarter, with both players hitting threes and at the final media timeout it was 79-40 in favor of the Cardinals. Head Coach Anna Kowalska would then go deeper into her bench with Lucia Gonzales de Las Cuevas checking into the game. She would take advantage, hitting her second three pointer of the season while also picking up her first career assist.
Carla Torrubia Cano, who missed the last few games, would end the night with a pair of layups that brought the game to its final score of 86-53.
Leading the way for the Cardinals was
Lauren Calhoun as she wrapped up her big night with her 11th double-double of the season. She finished with 21 points and 17 rebounds, falling one shy of her season high and picking up 17 rebounds for the third time this season.
Graci Fairman was next in the list, finishing with 14 points off the bench and continuing her strong 2023 portion of the schedule.
Shanley Woods rounded out the Cardinal's double figure scoring effort, finishing with 13 points including nine from three-point range. Overall, nine Cardinals got in on the scoring action, including four of the team's five starters. They now move to 8-3 in MEC play this season, as they continue this three-game home stretch.
The Wheeling University Women's Basketball team is back in action on Saturday, January 21st, when they host West Liberty with tip-off at 2 PM.
