Wheeling, W. Va. – The 2023-2024 season is coming down to its final day for the Wheeling University Women's Basketball team (17-10, 11-8) as the 2024 Mountain East Conference (MEC) Tournament kicks off next week. The Cardinals are battling for seeding and they welcome in Ohio County rival West Liberty for the second edition of "The Battle for Wheeling" on Saturday with tip-off at 2 PM. The Cardinals will be looking for a first round bye for the second consecutive season and a win would put them in the driver's seat for doing just that.
Last time out, the Cardinals wrapped up their non-conference schedule when they hit the road to face Salem. It was a battle of runs early on as the team',# traded the first 20 points of the game and the score sat tied at 10-10. The battle would continue into the second quarter, but it would be Salem who would break through, outscoring the Cardinals 20-14 in the quarter. The Cardinals went into the halftime break trailing 30-24 and were looking to generate more efficient shots after shooting under 30% in the first half. They would hit their stride in the third quarter, scoring 31 points, equaling their highest quarter total so far during the 2023-2024 season. Their defense would carry them through the rest of the game, allowing seven points in the fourth quarter and the Cardinals were able to hold on for the 73-51 win.
Leading the way for the Cardinals was junior Briarley Rogers, who had a breakout showing with 23 points in the contest. Rogers has consistently been one of the Cardinal's top scorers this season, averaging 12.3 points per game to sit second on the team. Over her last four games, Rogers has been the model of consistency for the Cardinals, scoring 13 points or more in all four of those games. She has averaged 17.0 PPG during that stretch and has seen a lot of her success come from three-point range.. The junior has hit at least two three-pointers in each of those games and has shot 43.3% from beyond the arc during that stretch. With the MEC Tournament starting next week, the Cardinals will look to Rogers to be a leader for the Cardinals on their quest for an MEC Championship.
Behind Rogers, the Cardinals also got big efforts from both Shamia Strayhorn and Rachel Wilson, who each finished with 15 points on the night. Strayhorn has been the Cardinal's top scorers this season, averaging 14.3 points per game this season. She has come up big in some of the team's biggest games of the year and has been especially strong as of late. She has scored 20 or more points in two of her last three games and has averaged that same 20.0 PPg this season. Rachel Wilson had a strong game under the net against Concord, scoring in double figures for the 11th time this season and the second time in the past four games. With several teams in the conference having strong bigs, Wilson and her fellow forwards will play a big role in the team's success under the net.
With the regular season coming down to its final day, there is a lot yet to be decided in the crowded MEC Women's Basketball standings. There are a total of five games separating the top team from the #7 team as seeding will be played out throughout the day. The Cardinals currently sit tied for the #5 spot with Glenville State at 11-8. They hold a one-game lead over Concord and currently hold the tiebreaker after splitting with the Mountain Lions, as they defeated Fairmont State earlier this season. A win guarantees the Cardinals a first round bye and can get them as high as the #5 seed in the upcoming tournament. A win and a Glenville State loss to Concord would award them the #5 seed. However, if Wheeling falls to West Liberty or Glenville State defeats Concord, the Cardinals will enter the tournament as the #6 seed.
The Matchup
The Cardinals and Hilltoppers continue their historic rivalry, meeting for the 53rd time in program history on Saturday, and the second time this season. West Liberty leads the all-time series, with a record of 38-14, however, the Cardinals have faired much better at home, going 9-12 in 21 all-time matchups. The Cardinals have gotten the better of the Hilltoppers as of late, winning two of the last three matchups and look to continue that trend on Saturday.
In the first meeting of the season, Wheeling went into the ARSC and were able to walk out of their with an 83-78 victory. It was a big showing for graduate student Jacqui Hinesmon, who scored a career-best 22 points and shot 8-12 from the floor in the game. Five different Cardinals would end the day with double digit points as Graci Fairman, Shaia Strayhorn, Rachel Wilson, and Bryana Henderson each hit double digits in that game.
The Details
Tip-off for Saturday's game is scheduled for 4 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.
