HARTFORD – The West Virginia women’s basketball team’s run at the 2011 BIG EAST Championships was ended in the second round with a 59-51 defeat at the hands of St. John’s, Saturday.
Three Mountaineers (23-9) put up point totals in double figures, with senior first team all-BIG EAST member Liz Repella recording a double-double of 10 points and 11 rebounds. Senior Sarah Miles led all players with 15 points and four assists, while sophomore Asya Bussie chipped in 12 points and had the second-most rebounds for WVU with seven.
St. John’s scoring was led by Da’Shena Stevens with 14 points, while Shenneika Smith and Centhya Hart had 13 and 11 points, respectively.
The Mountaineers were more accurate from the field as they shot 39.6 percent (19-of-48), but did not get as many attempts as the Red Storm (21-9) put up 58 attempts, shooting 34.5 percent (20-of-58).
St. John’s out-rebounded WVU, 38-33, and won the battle off second chance points, 12-4, and points off turnovers with 21 to the Mountaineers’ 14. WVU turned the ball over 20 times to the Red Storm’s 13.
“I think it’s very simple, if you don’t get points off turnovers and second chance points; if you look at those two stats, I think it’s the difference in the game,” coach Mike Carey said. “They wanted it more than we did. We turned the ball over and they were quicker to the ball.”
The largest lead held by either team was single digits, with WVU’s largest lead a three-point one (12-9) at the 13:38 mark in the opening half and St. John’s largest lead was an eight-point lead, twice in the final three minutes. The game was tied eight times between the teams and the lead changed six times.
The Mountaineers will find out if they have earned a spot as one of 64 teams in the NCAA Tournament as the NCAA selection show will take place on Monday, March 14 at 7 p.m., live on ESPN.
Discussion about this post