MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — The West Virginia ladies’s basketball crew has accomplished their ultimate follow in preparation for Saturday’s opening-round NCAA Tournament matchup with Miami (Ohio) at Hope Coliseum.
The 5 p.m. contest airing on ESPNU marks the second such occasion the Mountaineers will host on this stage and the primary in 34 years.
“I’m really excited, and I know the players are excited to get to play here,” WVU coach Mark Kellogg stated. “Pressure? I don’t know. It’s a privilege, I guess, if that is such a thing. I’m sure I’ll have the same anxious butterflies I have before every game.”
Senior guard Sydney Shaw stated scouting the opponent and getting ready for the competition in Morgantown has been a whole lot of enjoyable.
Not having to reside out of a suitcase is a big profit for Shaw and her teammates.
“Every time I put my head on my pillow, I go to bed with a big smile on my face and giggle myself to sleep because I’m so excited,” Shaw stated. “It’s a big deal to not have to pack your bags and sleep in your own bed.”
Jordan Harrison, additionally a senior guard lately honored as Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year who got here with Kellogg from Stephen F. Austin, declared on senior evening her crew would play one other sport in Hope Coliseum.
She mirrored on conversations with Kellogg previously about the opportunity of enjoying in a sport like this and stated she is ready.
“I wasn’t even sad on my senior night because I just felt like we were going to be back here,” Harrison stated. “For this to come true is exciting, and I’m just so excited about it.”
The RedHawks are 28-6 on the season with a Mid-American Conference championship to their credit score.
They’ve earned that report with powerful protection and potent offense that features a number of contributors up and down the roster.
“We know they come with a lot of scoring ability, and they are very aggressive on defense,” Shaw stated. “We need to take care of the ball and applying pressure, playing our kind of basketball, will be our focus.”
Kellogg stated the crew is ready for the competition, and he hopes his crew isn’t overly keen.
“They’re used to winning right now, they’re playing with a ton of confidence, and they can shoot it offensively,” Kellog stated. “It seems to me like they’ve been recognized for what they do on the defensive finish and now perhaps within the third yr that is the perfect offensive group they’ve had- they will unfold you, area you, and so they shoot in any respect 5 positions.
Prior to WVU’s matchup with Miami (Ohio), No. 5 Kentucky takes on No. 12 James Madison with a 2:30 p.m. tip time.
(Press convention video offered by NCAA)
