Wheeling, W. Va. - For the second year in a row, the WesBanco Arena served as the host site for the 2025 Mountain East Conference (MEC) Basketball Media Day. Wheeling University Head Women's Basketball Coach Ella Skeens and Head Men's Basketball Coach Chris Richardson represented Cardinal basketball as they took the podium to preview the 2025-2026 season. Both have newer look rosters this year, and both are excited to see their teams grow on the court and compete to get back to WesBanco in early March.
The event began with MEC Commissioner Reid Amos taking the podium to address the state of the conference as a whole. He announced the renewal of a three-year contract between the conference and WesBanco Arena that will bring the tournament back to Wheeling for the next three years. He highlighted the number of coaches who have made the jump to NCAA Division I after spending time with the MEC, including former Wheeling University Head Women's Basketball Coach Anna Kowalska who made the move to Utah State this offseason. He is proud to have the tournament back in the city of Wheeling and WesBanco Arena and thanked the city and all the officials who helped make it possible.
"I am very proud to be announcing today that the Mountain East Conference (MEC) has reached a three-year extension with the local organizing committee and the city of Wheeling, keeping the MEC Basketball Championship at WesBanco through 2028," said Amos. "We are proud that our championships are here in Wheeling and that our basketball has become synonymous with excellence, and that this venue has become a true home for basketball at its best."
Following commissioner Amos's comments, the 11 MEC Head Women's Basketball coaches would take the podium to preview their teams. After being picked in a tie for eighth in the 2025 MEC Women's Basketball Preseason Poll, Skeens was the Word head coach of the day to take her turn at the podium. She started by thanking the MEC commissioner and all the officials who helped make the event possible. And highlighted the makeup of the team with seven freshmen, two transfers, and 10 returners as she fields between young talent and growing veterans. Highlighting her group is senior guard Kenzie Dalton, who earned the his first ever Defensive Player of the Year honor. She would leave the team in both assists (124) and steals (90). She also went on to highlight senior Graci Fairman, who has played in several different roles for the Cardinals throughout her career. In 2024-2025, she would primarily come off the bench for the team she averaged 3.5 points per game while finishing the 15 steals And 20 assists.
Along with her senior class, Skeens would also point out the rising sophomore class and the heightened rules they will take on on this year's team. Leading that group is Emilia Sierra Lacosta, who is the Cardinals leading returning score from last year. She just missed averaging double-digit points per game, putting up 9.4 PPG, while being one of the teams most effective. Three-point shooters. Sierra Lacosta shot 31.7% from beyond the arc, And 35.8% from the floor as she looks to build on both numbers in her sophomore season. Leading a forward group this year will the fellow sophomore Layla Merriweather, who saw increased playing time off the bench as the season went on. She finished the year with 88 points and 26 rebounds, most of that coming in the second half. The Cardinals also welcome in a talented young core with seven freshmen highlighting this year's recruiting class. Many of those will be competing for playing time right away.
While the program has been growing, Skeens has grown right along with it and is excited to take all she has learned as she leads this team into the future.
"I have been fortunate to have grown in this program, to have had a great mentor in [former] Head Coach Anna Kowalska, and to have people around me who truly believe in me," said Skeens. "We talked about stepping into the moment this preseason, we have challenge our team, and they have really embraced it. I am not new to this conference, but I know every game we have to show up ready to compete. Overall, we have a nice balance of experience and youth, our seniors set the tone, our returners are growing into their roles, and our newcomers are ready to contribute. It's a group that competes everyday, plays for each other, and wants to keep moving this program forward."
After the women's press conference concluded, it was time for the 11 Head Men's Basketball coaches to take their turn at the podium. Like the women, the men's basketball team was also picked in a tie for 8th in the annual preseason poll, and Richardson would be the fourth coach to take the podium. He started his address by talking about all the food happening on Wheeling's campus, and thanking President Dr. Dianna Vargo as well as Chairman of the Board David Hendrickson for their leadership on campus. Also, like the women, the men's team has several returners of their own. Leading the way is junior Tee Harris Jr., who came into his own during his sophomore season. He set new career highs with 10.4 PPG and 6.2 rebounds per game as he transitioned into a full time role with the Cardinals. He was also one of the team's most efficient shooters, making 47.7% of his shots from the floor. Joining him will be a cast of players who have been with the program for four years in Caleb Murray and Alex Smith.
Smith was the Cardinal's top player on the defensive side of the ball, leading the team in both rebounds and steals during the season. He would average 8.9 rebounds per game, and was just four rebounds away from the single game rebounding record when he pulled in 20 rebounds against CAL-U. Smith also led the team with 44 steals on the season, setting new career highs in both categories. When the team needed someone off the bench, the first call would go to Caleb Murray, who provided a spark on the offensive side of the ball. Murray would make 37.7% of his shots from the beyond the arc during the year. He will be called on once again in several roles for the Cardinals as he moves into his senior season. Richardson has called this team one of his deepest squads since taking over as Head Coach six years ago, and he looks to create a winning culture where everyone plays for everyone else on the court.
"Thus far, our team has been very receptive to our concepts, and much more receptive to how we are doing things and staying committed to being your best," said Richardson. "We probably wont have one go to guy like we have had in the past and I think this team will be a bit more balanced with a lot of unselfish play. What I do know about our team so far is we got great kids that really care about each other and care about our program and campus. They have been very committed to getting better and very committed to each other as well. Even though we have a long way to go this is going to be an exciting year with this group."
The Wheeling University Men's Basketball team tips off their season on Friday, November 14th, when they battle CAL-U at the West Liberty Classic. The Women's Basketball team begins their season on the same day when they host the Vulcans.
