Wheeling, W. Va- The Wheeling University Women's Basketball team (11-10), (6-7) are coming off a heartbreaking 60-59 overtime loss to the West Virginia Wesleyan Bobcats. The Cardinals will try to shake off the defeat and get back in the win column against the Davis & Elkins Senators tomorrow afternoon.
Kenzie Dalton has been hot as of the past two games. She scored 23 points against West Virginia State on January 31st and then 26 in her most recent outing against Wesleyan. With those figures, Dalton is averaging 24.5 points and has made 51.4% (18-35) of her shots from the field across both games. Additionally, she has recorded at least five assists and five steals in those games, placing her seventh in Division II for assists and ninth nationally for steals.
After having a slow start following the new year, Emilia Sierra Lacosta has recorded 10 or more points in six of the last seven contests when she finished with 15 points against the Bobcats. The sophomore sits among the top 15 in the MEC scoring race, averaging just a hair under 14 points per game. Lacosta has been a secondary source of offense behind Dalton, but she has proved that both can lead the Cardinal offense when they are on the floor together.
Wheeling was primed for an upset on Wednesday night. The Cardinals forced the Bobcats to play their game on their floor. Wheeling forced Wesleyan to turn the ball over 19 times and limited the league's top three-point shooting team to only one made shot from distance. However, the game was decided primarily by not landing their shots when it mattered the most. The Cardinals are a young, talented team that can compete with the conference's finest, but it is very difficult to simulate those big moments in practice to prepare for when the lights shine the brightest. The only way to prepare for that is simply with experience.
The Matchup
Davis & Elkins continue to struggle as they have all season long, winning just one game overall and none in MEC play. Despite that, they almost pulled off a road upset over West Liberty on Wednesday evening, but the Hilltoppers came out in the end, 66-61. Sophomore guard Jahniya Marion and sophomore forward Kylie Morris each posted 23 points. Morris recorded her first double-double of the season by adding 16 rebounds after sinking nine shots from the field.
Wheeling is 24-6 all-time against D&E, with the Cardinals winning the last seven contests. The Senators have not won a contest against them since 2022. In their last matchup on December 17th of this season, Wheeling dominated with a 71-50 win inside the McDonough Center. Four Cardinals finished in double figures, including Lacosta with 20 points, Dalton with 16, Graci Fairman with 14, and Layla Merriweather ending with 10.
The Details
The Wheeling University Women's Basketball team will hit the road tomorrow, February 7th, 2026, to take on the Davis & Elkins Senators at the McDonnell Center. Tip-off is scheduled for 2 p.m. The game will be streamed live on the Mountain East Digital Network HERE and Live Stats will be available HERE.
