BabHorn
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This will be the second meeting between West Virginia (8-5, 0-2) and Texas (7-6, 0-2). WVU defeated Texas 65-55 last March 17 in the first round of the NCAAs. Texas has started the Big 12 season 0-2 with losses to ISU and OU. WVU fell to OU and Kansas. Both teams will be looking for their first Big 12 win and the first league win for their respective coaches.
WVU’s Taylor Palmer (# 2, 5-9 Jr. G) is the Big 12 leading scorer at 27.0 ppg. Christal Caldwell (# 1, 5-9 Jr. G) is the Mountaineers second leading scorer in conference games at 10.0 ppg. Averee Fields (# 5, 6-0 Soph. F) scored 14 pts against KU to bring her Big 12 scoring average to 9.0 ppg. The Big 12 ran a spotlight story on Fields. Palmer is scoring 43% of WVU’s pts. As expected, she leads the team in several offensive categories: FGs made/attempted (18-31); FG% (58.1)l 3pters made/attempted (12-20); 3pt% (60.0); FTs made (6-6) & FT% (100). Akilah Bethel (# 3, 6-0 Soph. G)is also perfect from the FT line at 3 of 3. Fields matchs Palmer in number of FTs made (6) and leading in FTs attempted (8). She is second in FT% at 75.0%. Aside from Brooke Hampton (# 4, 5-9 Jr. G) who has hit her only FG attempted—a 3pter, Fields is second in FG% at 50.0% (6-12).
WVU has several players averaging between 3 and 5 rpg. Jess Harlee (# 14, 6-1 Jr. F) leads with a 5.0 rpg. Fields is second at 4.0 rpg. Ayana Dunning (# 33, 6-3 Sr. C) and Linda Stepney (# 32, 5-7 Soph. G) both average 3.5 rpg while Christal Caldwell (# 1, 5-9 Jr. G) grabs 3.0 rpg. Stepney has nine of WVU’s 20 assists. Dunning with three is second in assists. Four players have one block each. Palmer, Caldwell and Dunning each have three steals.
Eleven players have played for WVU in their two Big 12 games. However, only eight average double digit minutes with the other three averaging between 3.5 and 4.5 mpg. Palmer leads the team with 36 mpg and Stepney 32.5 mpg. Stepney, Caldwell, Fields and Dunning have started all 13 WVU games to date, including both Big 12 games. Palmer has started 12 of 13 games, including both Big 12 games. Harlee has started the one game that Palmer did not.
Dunning at 6-3 is the tallest Mountaineer on the squad. Asya Bussie (6-4 C) has missed this season with an ACL suffered before the season began. 6-5 freshman Lanay Montgomery has yet to play this season as she recovers from an injury that sidelined her all of her senior season in high school. Bria Holmes (# 23, 6-1 Fr. G), WVU’s top signee, has averaged just over 12 mpg during the season but only 3.5 mpg in the first two Big 12 games.
Horns have four players averaging double figures in scoring after two Big 12 games: Chassidy (14.5 ppg); Nneka (13.0 ppg); Ashley )11.0 ppg) and Cokie (10.0 ppg). Imani’s 57.1% from the field (8-14) leads the team in shooting percentage. Both Ashley and Cokie are at 50% (7-14) from the field. Empress is shooting 46.7% (7-15). Nneka (12-33, 36.4%) and Chassidy (11-31, 35.5%) have taken the most FGs for the Horns. From BTA the arc, Ashley (5-10, 50.0%) and Chassidy (5-15, 33.3%) have been the main threats. Nneka (1), Brady (1) and Celina (4) have all taken 3s but have yet to hit one in league play. The team is hitting a poor 53.1% from the FT line. Ashley (3-3) and Brady (4-4) are perfect from the FT line. Cokie has been the FT line the most in league play (6-12, 50.0%).
Nneka (8.5 rpg) leads three others who are averaging at least 5 rpg: Chassidy (7.5 rpg), Empress (6.5 rpg) and Imani (5.0 rpg). Empress leads with 8 assists (4.0 apg) while Celina has 7 (3.5 apg)and Ashley six (3.0 apg). Imani has 5 blocks to top the team in that category. Chassidy’s 2 blocks rank second. Chassidy also leads the team in steals with 7 (3.5 spg) while Celina is second with 4 (2.0 spg) and Brady’s 3 (1.5 spg) are third.
Nine players have gotten into the two league games. There 11 available with Gigi, Anne Marie, and Chelsea day to day. Chassidy (37.5 mpg), Empress (36.5 mpg), Nneka (33.5 mpg), and Ashley (30.0 mpg) have played the most minutes per game. The other five are all averaging at least 10 minutes a game. Chassidy, Nneka, Imani, and Empress have started both Big 12 games with Ashley and Cokie splitting starting the two games.
In the Big 12, as a team, Horns are third in scoring at 67.5 ppg; second in rebounding at 42.5 rpg; second in rebounding margin at a plus 9.5; third in blocked shots (4.5 bpg); second in assists (15.5 apg); third in steals with 10.5 steals per game; tied for fourth in TO margin at +1.00 and second with an A/TO ratio of 0.97.
Individually, four Horns are in the top 25 in scoring: Chassidy (#10, 14.5 ppg), Nneka (#14, 13.0 ppg), Ashley Roberts (tied for #19, 11.0 ppg) and Cokie (tied for #25, 10.0 ppg); in rebounding, Nneka is #5 (8.5 rpg), Chassidy is #7 (7.5 rpg), Empress is tied for 11 (6.5 rpg) and Imani is tied for #20 (5.0 rpg); Imani’s 57.1 FG% is tied for 8th while Ashley and Cokie are tied for 13th with several others with a FG% of 50.0%. In assists, Empress is tied for 7th with 4 apg, Celina is tied for 11th with an 3.5 apg while Ashley is tied for 14th at 3.0 apg. Brady is tied for first with a FT percentage of 100. Chassidy is second in the league with an average of 3.5 steals per game while Celina is tied for tenth at 2.0 spg. Ashley is tied for 6th in 3pt FG% at 50%. Chassidy is 13th with her 3pt FG% of 33.3%. Both are tied with others for third with an average of 2.5 3s made per game. Imani is tied for first with 2.5 blocks per game. Chassidy is tied for eighth with 1 bpg while Cokie and Nneka average 0.5 bpg, good for a tie for 15th. Three Horns are in the top four in assist/turnover ratio: Ashley tied for first with a ratio of 999.00, Empress at 3rd with a ratio of 2.67 and Celina is tied at #4 at 2.33.
Projected starting lineup based on last game:
[pre]
Texas WVU
Chassidy (5-10 Jr. G) Caldwell (5-9 Jr. G)
Nneka (6-1 Soph. F) Fields (6-0 Soph. F)
Imani (6-7 Fr. C) Dunning (6-3 Sr. C)
Ashley (5-8 Jr. G) Stepney (5-7 Soph. G)
Empress (5-7 Fr. G) Palmer (5-9 Jr. G) [/pre]
Dunning is a load inside but has not been effective in the two Big 12 games, averaging 3 ppg and 3.5 rpg. Her most likely replacement, Crystal Leary (# 32, 6-2 Soph. F), has yet to score in league play and averages 2 rpg. Horns should be able to control the post. The defensive focus for Texas will be on Palmer who has been on fire from BTA. WVU will look to control the touches the Texas posts get as well as deny Chassidy any open looks. Both teams will look to run. WVU guards are good at penetrating and dishing to a teammate for a layup when the D collapses or just taking it in for a layup. Horns will need to stop penetration and keep Palmer from getting any open looks. Cokie and Imani will need to stay out of foul trouble. If they do, Dunning will have trouble stopping them in close. They will need to establish position deep in the paint, turn and shoot without putting the ball on the floor. Empress will have her hands full with Palmer but havig guarded OU’s Ellenberg should help her in this.
WVU plays in your shirt D a ton but not all game. Lots of reaching, bodying up, slapping at the ball, etc. They average 36.5 fouls per their two Big 12 games resulting in 29.5 FT attempts for their opponents. If Horns can get to the FT line, they will need to make more than 53% to maximize their chances there. WVU is hitting 70% from the FT line so Horns can’t afford to send them the line like they did ISU (38 FT attempts).
Stats listed are for Big 12 games:
TEAM STATISTICS UT WVU
-------------------------------------------------- SCORING................. 135 127 Points per game....... 67.5 63.5
Scoring margin........ -8.0 -2.0
FIELD GOALS-ATT......... 54-137 47-121
Field goal pct........ .394 .388
FGs made per game..... 27.0 23.5
FGs att per game...... 68.5 60.5
FG % Defense.......... .443 .419
2 POINT FG-ATT.......... 44-106 33-86
2-point FG pct........ .415 .384
2-pt FG made per game. 22.0 16.5
2-pt FG att per game.. 53.0 43.0
2-pt FG % Defense..... .448 .456
3 POINT FG-ATT.......... 10-31 14-35
3-point FG pct........ .394 .400
3-pt FG made per game. 5.0 7.0
3-pt FG att per game.. 15.5 17.5
3-pt FG % Defense..... .436 .278
FREE THROWS-ATT......... 17-32 19-27
Free throw pct........ .531 .704
F-Throws made per game 8.5 9.5
FTs att per game...... 16.0 13.5
REBOUNDS................ 85 62
Off. Rebs. Per game... 19.0 11.5
Def. Rebs. Per Game... 23.5 19.5
Rebounds per game..... 42.5 31.0
Rebounding margin..... +9.5 -8.0
ASSISTS................. 31 20
Assists per game...... 15.5 10.0
TURNOVERS............... 32 35
Turnovers per game.... 16.0 17.5
Turnover margin....... +1.0 +3.50
Assist/turnover ratio. 1.0 0.57
STEALS.................. 21 17
Steals per game....... 10.5 8.50
BLOCKS.................. 9 4
Blocks per game....... 4.5 2.00
ATTENDANCE.............. 3842 4012
Home games-Avg/Game... 1-3842 1-4012
SCORE BY PERIODS: 1st Ave. 2nd Ave. OT Ave. Total Ave.
------------------------- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ----- ----
Texas.................... 53 26.5 76 38.0 6 3.0 135 67.5
West Virginia............ 70 35.0 57 28.5 - - 127 63.5
Both teams like to run. They want to use their D to create scoring opportunities. WVU had no trouble using a zone against Kansas and likely will use it against Texas at least part of the game. Texas is likely to win the rebounding battle and should be able to score on second chance points as WVU is last in rebounding margin. An area where WVU will have a distinct advantage will be 3pt defense where they rank 3rd in the league while WVU’s Palmer is probably salivating at facing a Texas defense that is allowing 43.6% of treys. Texas will need to work hard to get their 3pt shooters open looks, especially Chassidy.
WVU is guard oriented (remember Texas last year?) while Texas is more balanced as their top four scorers in league play are two guards and two posts. They also make a more concerted effort to get the ball inside as they average 10 more shots inside the arc than WVU.
texassports.com game preview
WVU’s FREE streaming video of the game.
Make sure that you note the starting time for this game: it’s 6 PM CST.
For those traveling to the game, The Weather Channel forecasts a high of 49 and a low of 33 for Wednesday with 10% chance for rain and wind speed of 8 mph.
WVU’s Taylor Palmer (# 2, 5-9 Jr. G) is the Big 12 leading scorer at 27.0 ppg. Christal Caldwell (# 1, 5-9 Jr. G) is the Mountaineers second leading scorer in conference games at 10.0 ppg. Averee Fields (# 5, 6-0 Soph. F) scored 14 pts against KU to bring her Big 12 scoring average to 9.0 ppg. The Big 12 ran a spotlight story on Fields. Palmer is scoring 43% of WVU’s pts. As expected, she leads the team in several offensive categories: FGs made/attempted (18-31); FG% (58.1)l 3pters made/attempted (12-20); 3pt% (60.0); FTs made (6-6) & FT% (100). Akilah Bethel (# 3, 6-0 Soph. G)is also perfect from the FT line at 3 of 3. Fields matchs Palmer in number of FTs made (6) and leading in FTs attempted (8). She is second in FT% at 75.0%. Aside from Brooke Hampton (# 4, 5-9 Jr. G) who has hit her only FG attempted—a 3pter, Fields is second in FG% at 50.0% (6-12).
WVU has several players averaging between 3 and 5 rpg. Jess Harlee (# 14, 6-1 Jr. F) leads with a 5.0 rpg. Fields is second at 4.0 rpg. Ayana Dunning (# 33, 6-3 Sr. C) and Linda Stepney (# 32, 5-7 Soph. G) both average 3.5 rpg while Christal Caldwell (# 1, 5-9 Jr. G) grabs 3.0 rpg. Stepney has nine of WVU’s 20 assists. Dunning with three is second in assists. Four players have one block each. Palmer, Caldwell and Dunning each have three steals.
Eleven players have played for WVU in their two Big 12 games. However, only eight average double digit minutes with the other three averaging between 3.5 and 4.5 mpg. Palmer leads the team with 36 mpg and Stepney 32.5 mpg. Stepney, Caldwell, Fields and Dunning have started all 13 WVU games to date, including both Big 12 games. Palmer has started 12 of 13 games, including both Big 12 games. Harlee has started the one game that Palmer did not.
Dunning at 6-3 is the tallest Mountaineer on the squad. Asya Bussie (6-4 C) has missed this season with an ACL suffered before the season began. 6-5 freshman Lanay Montgomery has yet to play this season as she recovers from an injury that sidelined her all of her senior season in high school. Bria Holmes (# 23, 6-1 Fr. G), WVU’s top signee, has averaged just over 12 mpg during the season but only 3.5 mpg in the first two Big 12 games.
Horns have four players averaging double figures in scoring after two Big 12 games: Chassidy (14.5 ppg); Nneka (13.0 ppg); Ashley )11.0 ppg) and Cokie (10.0 ppg). Imani’s 57.1% from the field (8-14) leads the team in shooting percentage. Both Ashley and Cokie are at 50% (7-14) from the field. Empress is shooting 46.7% (7-15). Nneka (12-33, 36.4%) and Chassidy (11-31, 35.5%) have taken the most FGs for the Horns. From BTA the arc, Ashley (5-10, 50.0%) and Chassidy (5-15, 33.3%) have been the main threats. Nneka (1), Brady (1) and Celina (4) have all taken 3s but have yet to hit one in league play. The team is hitting a poor 53.1% from the FT line. Ashley (3-3) and Brady (4-4) are perfect from the FT line. Cokie has been the FT line the most in league play (6-12, 50.0%).
Nneka (8.5 rpg) leads three others who are averaging at least 5 rpg: Chassidy (7.5 rpg), Empress (6.5 rpg) and Imani (5.0 rpg). Empress leads with 8 assists (4.0 apg) while Celina has 7 (3.5 apg)and Ashley six (3.0 apg). Imani has 5 blocks to top the team in that category. Chassidy’s 2 blocks rank second. Chassidy also leads the team in steals with 7 (3.5 spg) while Celina is second with 4 (2.0 spg) and Brady’s 3 (1.5 spg) are third.
Nine players have gotten into the two league games. There 11 available with Gigi, Anne Marie, and Chelsea day to day. Chassidy (37.5 mpg), Empress (36.5 mpg), Nneka (33.5 mpg), and Ashley (30.0 mpg) have played the most minutes per game. The other five are all averaging at least 10 minutes a game. Chassidy, Nneka, Imani, and Empress have started both Big 12 games with Ashley and Cokie splitting starting the two games.
In the Big 12, as a team, Horns are third in scoring at 67.5 ppg; second in rebounding at 42.5 rpg; second in rebounding margin at a plus 9.5; third in blocked shots (4.5 bpg); second in assists (15.5 apg); third in steals with 10.5 steals per game; tied for fourth in TO margin at +1.00 and second with an A/TO ratio of 0.97.
Individually, four Horns are in the top 25 in scoring: Chassidy (#10, 14.5 ppg), Nneka (#14, 13.0 ppg), Ashley Roberts (tied for #19, 11.0 ppg) and Cokie (tied for #25, 10.0 ppg); in rebounding, Nneka is #5 (8.5 rpg), Chassidy is #7 (7.5 rpg), Empress is tied for 11 (6.5 rpg) and Imani is tied for #20 (5.0 rpg); Imani’s 57.1 FG% is tied for 8th while Ashley and Cokie are tied for 13th with several others with a FG% of 50.0%. In assists, Empress is tied for 7th with 4 apg, Celina is tied for 11th with an 3.5 apg while Ashley is tied for 14th at 3.0 apg. Brady is tied for first with a FT percentage of 100. Chassidy is second in the league with an average of 3.5 steals per game while Celina is tied for tenth at 2.0 spg. Ashley is tied for 6th in 3pt FG% at 50%. Chassidy is 13th with her 3pt FG% of 33.3%. Both are tied with others for third with an average of 2.5 3s made per game. Imani is tied for first with 2.5 blocks per game. Chassidy is tied for eighth with 1 bpg while Cokie and Nneka average 0.5 bpg, good for a tie for 15th. Three Horns are in the top four in assist/turnover ratio: Ashley tied for first with a ratio of 999.00, Empress at 3rd with a ratio of 2.67 and Celina is tied at #4 at 2.33.
Projected starting lineup based on last game:
[pre]
Texas WVU
Chassidy (5-10 Jr. G) Caldwell (5-9 Jr. G)
Nneka (6-1 Soph. F) Fields (6-0 Soph. F)
Imani (6-7 Fr. C) Dunning (6-3 Sr. C)
Ashley (5-8 Jr. G) Stepney (5-7 Soph. G)
Empress (5-7 Fr. G) Palmer (5-9 Jr. G) [/pre]
Dunning is a load inside but has not been effective in the two Big 12 games, averaging 3 ppg and 3.5 rpg. Her most likely replacement, Crystal Leary (# 32, 6-2 Soph. F), has yet to score in league play and averages 2 rpg. Horns should be able to control the post. The defensive focus for Texas will be on Palmer who has been on fire from BTA. WVU will look to control the touches the Texas posts get as well as deny Chassidy any open looks. Both teams will look to run. WVU guards are good at penetrating and dishing to a teammate for a layup when the D collapses or just taking it in for a layup. Horns will need to stop penetration and keep Palmer from getting any open looks. Cokie and Imani will need to stay out of foul trouble. If they do, Dunning will have trouble stopping them in close. They will need to establish position deep in the paint, turn and shoot without putting the ball on the floor. Empress will have her hands full with Palmer but havig guarded OU’s Ellenberg should help her in this.
WVU plays in your shirt D a ton but not all game. Lots of reaching, bodying up, slapping at the ball, etc. They average 36.5 fouls per their two Big 12 games resulting in 29.5 FT attempts for their opponents. If Horns can get to the FT line, they will need to make more than 53% to maximize their chances there. WVU is hitting 70% from the FT line so Horns can’t afford to send them the line like they did ISU (38 FT attempts).
Stats listed are for Big 12 games:
TEAM STATISTICS UT WVU
-------------------------------------------------- SCORING................. 135 127 Points per game....... 67.5 63.5
Scoring margin........ -8.0 -2.0
FIELD GOALS-ATT......... 54-137 47-121
Field goal pct........ .394 .388
FGs made per game..... 27.0 23.5
FGs att per game...... 68.5 60.5
FG % Defense.......... .443 .419
2 POINT FG-ATT.......... 44-106 33-86
2-point FG pct........ .415 .384
2-pt FG made per game. 22.0 16.5
2-pt FG att per game.. 53.0 43.0
2-pt FG % Defense..... .448 .456
3 POINT FG-ATT.......... 10-31 14-35
3-point FG pct........ .394 .400
3-pt FG made per game. 5.0 7.0
3-pt FG att per game.. 15.5 17.5
3-pt FG % Defense..... .436 .278
FREE THROWS-ATT......... 17-32 19-27
Free throw pct........ .531 .704
F-Throws made per game 8.5 9.5
FTs att per game...... 16.0 13.5
REBOUNDS................ 85 62
Off. Rebs. Per game... 19.0 11.5
Def. Rebs. Per Game... 23.5 19.5
Rebounds per game..... 42.5 31.0
Rebounding margin..... +9.5 -8.0
ASSISTS................. 31 20
Assists per game...... 15.5 10.0
TURNOVERS............... 32 35
Turnovers per game.... 16.0 17.5
Turnover margin....... +1.0 +3.50
Assist/turnover ratio. 1.0 0.57
STEALS.................. 21 17
Steals per game....... 10.5 8.50
BLOCKS.................. 9 4
Blocks per game....... 4.5 2.00
ATTENDANCE.............. 3842 4012
Home games-Avg/Game... 1-3842 1-4012
SCORE BY PERIODS: 1st Ave. 2nd Ave. OT Ave. Total Ave.
------------------------- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ----- ----
Texas.................... 53 26.5 76 38.0 6 3.0 135 67.5
West Virginia............ 70 35.0 57 28.5 - - 127 63.5
Both teams like to run. They want to use their D to create scoring opportunities. WVU had no trouble using a zone against Kansas and likely will use it against Texas at least part of the game. Texas is likely to win the rebounding battle and should be able to score on second chance points as WVU is last in rebounding margin. An area where WVU will have a distinct advantage will be 3pt defense where they rank 3rd in the league while WVU’s Palmer is probably salivating at facing a Texas defense that is allowing 43.6% of treys. Texas will need to work hard to get their 3pt shooters open looks, especially Chassidy.
WVU is guard oriented (remember Texas last year?) while Texas is more balanced as their top four scorers in league play are two guards and two posts. They also make a more concerted effort to get the ball inside as they average 10 more shots inside the arc than WVU.
texassports.com game preview
WVU’s FREE streaming video of the game.
Make sure that you note the starting time for this game: it’s 6 PM CST.
For those traveling to the game, The Weather Channel forecasts a high of 49 and a low of 33 for Wednesday with 10% chance for rain and wind speed of 8 mph.
