Seven BIG EAST women’s basketball teams were in action on Saturday, including No. 7/8 West Virginia which remained perfect on the season at 11-0. The Mountaineers beat St. Francis (Pa.) 83-55 and extended their home win streak to 26 games.
Senior Madina Ali led the Mountaineers with 18 points along with seven rebounds. Sophomore Asya Bussie added a season-high 17 points. WVU held St. Francis to just 28.3 percent shooting and less than 60 points. The Mountaineers have held all 11 of their opponents to less than 60 points this season to rank third in the BIG EAST in scoring defense, allowing just 47.4 points per game.
Marquette (9-2) rolled over UNC-Asheville 75-46 behind a school-record eight 3-points from senior Courtney Weibel. She shot 8-of-11 from the floor and totaled a game-high 24 points. Marquette shot a season-high 50-percent from 3-point range (12-of-24) and never trailed, leading 41-15 at halftime.
No. 18/18 St. John’s (10-1) earned its ninth straight win with an 81-50 victory over Southern Mississippi in the semifinals of the St. John’s-Chartwells Holiday Classic at Carnesecca Arena. Sophomore guard Eugeneia McPeherson scored a career-high 23 points, shooting 9-of-15 from the floor.
St. John’s played the final 2:13 with only four players on the court due to injuries and foul trouble.
USF (8-4) opened a three-game tournament with a win as it beat host UNLV 59-54 in overtime in the Basketball Travellers Classic in Las Vegas. Junior transfer Andrea Smith led the way for the Bulls with 19 points. Senior Porche Grant added 11 points and a career-high 20 rebounds. The Bulls play SMU on Sunday and Texas on Monday.
Also in Las Vegas, Louisville (8-4) lost to Marist in the Duel in the Desert tournament held at Cox Pavilion. Freshman Shoni Schimmel led the Cardinals with 26 points in the loss. Louisville faces Houston on Sunday and Nebraska on Monday.
Cincinnati (5-4) lost to Wright State 65-50 at home. Senior Shelly Bellman scored a season-high 22 points. It was the highest point total for the sixth-year senior since Dec. 10, 2006.
Seton Hall (5-7) lost to Hofstra at home 76-65 despite a double-double from Kandice Green. The junior scored 18 points and grabbed 15 rebounds and tied for the league lead with her fifth double-double of the season.
Material from interviews, the Associated Press wire service as well as league and team sources was used in this report.
