Wheeling, W. Va. - The Wheeling University Women's Basketball team (2-0, 0-0) has gotten to enjoy some home cooking in the early part of the season after hosting a pair of games against Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) opponents. The Cardinals continue that home stretch on Tuesday evening when they host Thomas More in non-conference action with tip-off at 5 PM. The Cardinals look to keep their early season success rolling as they get set for the start of Mountain East Conference (MEC) play later this week.
After picking up the win against Edinboro to start the weekend, the Cardinals were looking for the sweep as they hosted Mercyhurst in the weekend finale. Early on, the two teams went back and forth with Mercyhurst getting a slight lead early and running with it. Every time the Cardinals punched, the Lakers punched back, and they would head into halftime with a 33-27 lead. However, a three-pointer in the final minutes of the first half would give Wheeling the momentum they needed, and they scored the first nine points of the third quarter to take a 36-33 lead. They would give the Lakers the lead back just one more time for the rest of the game as they outscored them 36-24 over the final 20 minutes of play. Wheeling would pick up the 64-57 victory and got two big regional wins to start off the season.
It was an impressive Cardinal debut for junior Briarley Rogers, who led the Cardinals with 25 points throughout the weekend. She nearly hit her first double-double of the season against Mercyhurst, putting up nine points and nine rebounds to finish tied for second in scoring and first in rebounds on the day. She shot 40% from the floor against Mercyhurst and added a 4-4 effort from the free throw line as she played big on both sides of the ball. Through the first two games of the year, Rogers is shooting 40% from the floor and 33.3% from three-point range. Rogers looks to continue her success into the first full week of the season as she leads the Cardinals through their non-conference schedule.
The Cardinals were able to spread the ball around throughout the weekend, with four different Cardinals finishing with a double figure average. In the first game against Edinboro, it was junior Shamia Strayhorn who stood out as she put up 20 points in the team's 74-61 victory. It was two points shy of her career-best of 22, which she set on February 18th of last year against Frostburg State. Strayhorn was the lone returning All-MEC honoree from a year ago and looks to keep her success going into her junior year. Also averaging in double figures are Rachel Wilson (11.0) and Jacqui Hinesmon (10.5) after both played big both on offense and under the boards throughout the weekend.
As the Cardinals wrap up their preseason non-conference schedule this week, they look to keep their success going on the floor. Wheeling has now started 2-0 in each of its first two seasons under Head Coach Anna Kowalska and are looking to entire MEC play with momentum on their side. The Cardinals picked a heavy in region schedule to start the year as they look to help their standing when it comes to the NCAA DII Regional Tournament later in the year. The Cardinals look to keep stacking wins early as they try and defy the #9 ranking, they earned in the annual MEC Preseason Poll.
The Matchup
The Cardinals and Saints will be meeting for the first time in program history on Tuesday night, as Thomas More embarks on their first season as a NCAA Division II program. The Saints played in the NAIA for the past several seasons and are coming off a 31-4 overall record and a 20-2 conference record a season ago. They made a run to the NAIA National Tournament, where they would fall in the National Championship game to Seed Clark University 63-52.
They have played two games so far as a NCAA Division II program, splitting the contests so far. They defeated University of Wisconsin-Parkside 75-68 in their NCAA Division II debut and they fell to #8 University of Minnesota Duluth last time out 69-59. The Cardinals look to welcome Thomas More to MEC play and open up the series with a win.
The Details
Tip-off for Tuesday night's game is scheduled for 5 PM inside the Alma Grace McDonough Center. You can watch the game live by clicking HERE or follow along with Live Stats by clicking HERE.
