Wheeling, W. Va- When the Wheeling University Women's Basketball team (10-9), (5-6) drove down to the state capital, it was a defensive battle as predicted. Wheeling started out slow in the first and third quarters, but played very well in the fourth quarter, shooting at a 50.0% (9-18) clip from the field and hitting 44.4% (4-9) of their shots from behind the arc. The Cardinals played their style of game, which includes limiting turnovers,forcing steals, and passing the rock. However, Charleston came out on top 67-64, ending Wheeling's three-game win streak. The Cardinals will be looking to jump back into the winning column tomorrow when they welcome the West Virginia State Yellow Jackets for another edition of Mountain East Conference (MEC) action.
The last time Emilia Sierra Lacosta recorded 20 or more points in a game was back before winter break on December 17th against Davis & Elkins when she put up exactly 20 points. Since then, her role in the offense has not been non-existent, but rather not as potent as it was in the beginning of the season. Despite this, she spearheaded the Cardinal offense against the Golden Eagles with 21 points. The game against the Senators in December was the last time Lacosta recorded seven baskets until this past contest when she made 7-12 (58.3%) from the field. One other statistic that is worth mentioning is that over the past two games, Lacosta is perfect from the free throw line, having made all nine of her attempts. The team preaches the gospel of making foul shots, and Lacosta has embraced that belief.
After her career-high 21-point performance against West Liberty in the game prior to Charleston, Emma Reynolds put up her second double-digit scoring outing with 10 points against UC. The freshman's shot selection has been remarkable over the past four contests as she has made 17 of her last 26 field goals (65.3%) and has cashed in on six of the last 11 three-point attempts (54.5%). This season, she is shooting at a 47.8% clip from field and 35.6% from distance, which is extremely impressive as a first-year player in the league. The coaching staff loves how she is developing into not just a player who grabs the boards, but also into an offensive threat on the other side of the court.
Hillari Baker may have only played in 11 games so far this season, but her role on this team is a big one. After struggling in the early part of the season, she has finally found her rhythm again. She recorded a season-high 11 points against the Hilltoppers and nine points against the Golden Eagles in the last outing. In those games combined, she shot 6-14 (42.8%) from the field and 4-8 (50.0) from three-point land while landing four of five (80.0%) shots from the charity stripe. As the season continues on and we reach the final stretch before the tournament, role players like Baker will become increasingly more important in big moments. The Cardinals will look to her to be the "6th man" to come off the bench and produce when a starter is in foul trouble or needs to rest.
Another aspect of the game that becomes very important as the postseason creeps closer are free throws. They may not seem super important during the early parts of the game, but it is easy to look at the box score at the end of a game, look at each team's free throws, and wonder what would have happened if that team had made just a few more shots at the line. Many times, in close games, the contest is decided by whether or nota team made their shots at the line. The Wheeling coaching staff has consistently instructed this team to hit their free throws and to make it a priority in their practices and games. This focus has made the Cardinals one of the best free throw shooting teams in the conference as they have made 79.7% (212-266) of them, good enough for second in the MEC. Against UC, Wheeling missed just two free throws, 16-18 (89.9%), and only lost by three points. The Cardinals know that they can contend with the top teams in the conference with its incredible defense, but they also know that free throws play just as big of a role in their gameplan.
Charleston propelled up to third in the MEC standings after their win against Wheeling, and in turn, bumped Wheeling down to sixth. While it is unlikely their spot will change with a win, they could drop if they lose their upcoming bout to West Virginia State as Frostburg sits just below Wheeling with a 5-7 conference record. Every league game is important, and the Cardinals are committed to starting a new streak with a win tomorrow.
Yellow Jackets Can Still Sting in the Cold
West Virginia State hosted West Liberty this past Wednesday and were upset on their home court 74-61. Senior forward Imani Hickman led the Yellow Jackets with her third double-double of the season with 20 points and 16 rebounds. Behind her were senior guard Baylee Goins with 16 points and another senior guard Latisha Parris with 12 points. The word "senior" is used a lot, and it is because the Yellow Jackets' starting five are all seniors. The team has underclassmen that will come in off the bench, but the team has seven seniors in total, meaning WVSU is an experienced squad contrary to what their 4-8 conference record may indicate.
Goins sits eighth in MEC scoring, averaging 15.0 points per game. Goins is the centerpiece to the Jackets offense, slashing .424/.339/.795 while averaging 2.2 three-point field goals per game. As a team, the Yellow Jackets are best known for their rebounding numbers, averaging 40.2 rebounds per game, good for fourth best in the MEC. State is even more known for their team block and steal game with 4.44 blocks and 8.83 steals per game.
Wheeling has a slight advantage in the all-time record against West Virginia State with 20 wins and 18 losses. The Yellow Jackets broke a two-game losing streak to the Cardinals when they secured a 62-51 victory earlier this season on December 10th in Institute, WV. Lacosta put up 23 points and made 8-17 from field and 5-9 from range while State had five different players record 10 or more points. Parris and Hickman each put up 14 points while Goins, Young, and Lilian Jackson each finished with 10.
The Details
The Wheeling University Women's Basketball team hosts the West Virginia State Yellow Jackets tomorrow, January 31st, 2026. Tip-off is scheduled for 2 p.m. The game will be live streamed on the Mountain East Digital Network HERE and Live Stats will be available HERE.
