Wheeling, W. Va. - The 2023 Mountain East Conference (MEC) Tournament got kicked off on Wednesday with the first round of action. The Wheeling University Women's Basketball team (14-14, 12-10) did not play on the opening day after clinching a first-round bye but will get their action started with the MEC Quarterfinals on Thursday. They battle a team that has beat them twice already in 2022-23 in #3 seeded Charleston, but the Cardinals are looking for revenge as they move through the conference tournament field.
In their regular season finale, the team battled rival West Liberty in a game that was back and forth to the very final minutes of play. After the Hilltoppers got out to a hot start, hitting two runs over the first six minutes of play, the Cardinals would battle back and make it a 20-17 game by quarter's end. The Cardinals defense took over in the second quarter, allowing just nine points and the Cardinals would head into halftime leading 37-29. The biggest offensive quarter of the game came in the third quarter, with the teams combining for 62 points during that stretch. The Hilltoppers would gain the advantage, outscoring Wheeling 35-27 in the quarter and by the end of the game they were able to hold onto that lead as the Cardinals fell 87-83.
Senior Lauren Calhoun finished her 2022-23 campaign on a high note, picking up her 21st double double of the season to lead the way on both sides of the ball. She put up 20 points and 15 rebounds, finishing with 20+ points for the 13th time this season and finishing with 15+ rebounds for the 7th time this season. Calhoun earned First Team All-MEC honors for the second time in her career and enters the tournament as the conference's leading rebounder, averaging 11.3 rebounds per game, and the third leading scorer, averaging 18.3 points per game. Calhoun played a big role in the Cardinal's tournament success last season and will look to once again make a splash as they head into this year's tournament.
The Cardinal's other All-MEC honoree finished right behind her with 18 points and had a lot of success from the free throw line, shooting 6-8 (.750). Strayhorn earned the first All-MEC honor of her career when she was named All-MEC Honorable Mention and has upped her game in 2023, averaging 12.2 points per game since the calendar turned. The Cardinals also got a season-best effort from senior guard Emily Holzopfel. Holzopfel came off the bench and provided nine points for her team while shooting a team-best 66.7% (4-6) from the field. The Cardinals will be looking for success from their bench throughout the tournament as they try and make a deep run.
The Cardinals are no stranger to MEC Quarterfinal action, having made appearances in the quarterfinal round in each of the last four seasons. Last year, they entered the tournament as the #9 seed and would have to play their way into the quarterfinals in the first round. This season, the team got off to a hot start, winning four of their first five conference games and clinched the first-round bye on February 11th. The Cardinals side of the bracket features West Virginia State and the winner of #7 Concord and #10 Notre Dame College in the First Round. A win on Thursday would pit Wheeling against one of those three teams with a chance to play for the MEC Championship on Sunday.
The Matchup
The Cardinals and Golden Eagles are meeting for the 37th time in program history on Thursday and it will be the 6th meeting between the teams in playoff action. Charleston leads the all-time series, with a record of 28-8, and swept the season series during the regular season. In the previous five playoff meetings, the Cardinals are 1-4 against Charleston and are averaging 66.6 points per game in those playoff matchups. The Cardinals fell by double digits in each of the two regular season meetings but are looking to turn the tide in their favor for the postseason.
In their most recent matchup, Wheeling fell 86-72 on the road to the Golden Eagles back on February 1st. Lauren Calhoun led the way in that matchup, picking up a double double with 20 points and 11 rebounds. Shamia Strayhorn (16) and Shanley Woods (12) each also finished in double figures in that game as the Cardinals shot 44.2% from the floor.
The Details
Tip-off for Thursday's MEC Quarterfinal match is scheduled for 2:30 PM at WesBanco Arena in Wheeling, West Virginia. You can watch all the action live by clicking HERE or follow along with Live Stats by clicking HERE.
