After an eight-day break, the WVU women’s basketball team returns to action in the West Palm Beach Invitational against Georgia and Miami (Ohio).
In the last appearance over a week ago, West Virginia (7-2) suffered its second loss of the season in Happy Valley against Penn State.
The Mountaineers held an advantage over the Nittany Lions after the first quarter, but Penn State took the non-conference game at home by shooting nearly 50% from the field, while WVU shot just 35%.
The Mountaineers will now head to Florida to play in their second two-game tournament of the young season.
On Tuesday, West Virginia will take on SEC opponent Georgia, who has gotten off to a strong start this season. The Bulldogs are currently 10-2, with their only losses coming to Seton Hall and NC State. The Mountaineers and Bulldogs each fell short to the current No. 7 NC State Wolfpack, but Georgia played a more competitive game, only losing by 11 points, while the Mountaineers were blown out by 38 points.
Georgia is led by fifth year senior guard Diamond Battles, who is currently averaging 15.3 points and 3.5 assists per game through 12 games. Battles shoots the ball a lot for the Bulldogs, as the Florida native averages over 12 shots per game. Even on nights Battles isn’t efficient from the field, she will get herself to the free throw line to make up for it. It will be a point of emphasis for Dawn Plitzuweit’s crew to not allow Battles to score at will and restrict her to shots from the field.
The Mountaineers should be able to go pound-for-pound with Battles and the Bulldogs, as Plitzuweit’s team is also led by experienced guards.
West Virginia’s leading scorer is fifth year guard Madisen Smith, who is currently averaging 14.1 points per game and is shooting almost 40% from the field. West Virginia will need her efforts from the offensive end, but her full court defense will also be needed to take down the Bulldogs, as Smith is averaging over two steals per game.
JJ Quinerly will be another factor for West Virginia, as the sophomore guard is averaging 11.1 points per game, and like Smith, she gets after it on the defensive end, averaging over two steals per game herself. Quinerly’s defense against Georgia may be the most valuable, as she and Battles are both 5-foot-8. While Smith is a great defender who moves her feet well, she’s giving up three inches of height to the crafty Battles.
The Mountaineers’ second game of the tournament will be on Wednesday, as Miami (Ohio) will be the challenger.
The Red Hawks are currently 4-6 on the season and are coming off a home loss to Oakland on Saturday.
Miami (Ohio) is led by guard Maddi Cluse, who is averaging 17.6 points and 3.2 assists per game. Cluse can get to the basket and score, as she is shooting 50% from the field this season. Cluse is also 12-for-37 from three-point range this year, so the Mountaineers will need to move their feet and close out properly on Cluse’s shots to win game two of the tournament.
West Virgnia and Georgia will tip off at 2:30 p.m. on Tuesday, December 20 from Keiser University in West Palm Beach, Florida.
West Virginia and Miami (Ohio) will tip off at noon on Wednesday, December 21.
