Published: November 18, 2009 01:01 pm      

Golden Bear women win pair of games

Victories over Bluefield State College (67-54 on Thursday) and Virginia Intermont (62-49 on Saturday) propelled the WVU Tech women to a 2-0 record. Tech last started 2-0 in 2007-08.

Against Virginia Intermont, the Golden Bears jumped out to an early lead and repeatedly took advantage of junior Shyla Jones’ solid play down low to emerge with a 34-26 lead at halftime.

The host Cobras tried to keep pace in the second half but still wound up on the losing end of the 13-point decision.

WVU Tech’s defense forced the Cobras into their lowest offensive output of the season, dropping them to 0-5. Leading the charge for the Tech defense was junior guard Kerin Roche, who snagged six steals to accompany her six-point offensive output. Freshman Kaygan Hutchinson also got active on the defensive end, recording three steals. Rachel Weatherly and Kelli Morgan added two thefts apiece to the tally, with Morgan also contributing nine points.

Jones’ dominant performance included 24 points and six rebounds. She shot 8-of-14 from the line. Ashley Blaney supplied 11 points and eight rebounds to the cause for the winners.

In the earlier win over Bluefield, Jones registered a 14-point, 13-rebound effort for Tech. Style Harper contributed 14 points, five assists and four steals, and Blaney had 10 points and eight boards.

Other scorers were: Morgan, 8; Roche, 8; Tori Eagle, 4; Sharnage Young, 4; Merissa Pruitt, 2; and Amber Tully, 3.



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The women suffered their first loss Monday night, an 83-53 decision to visiting Davis and Elkins College at the Baisi Center.

The Bears tied the game three times in the game’s early stages before they experienced heavy foul trouble and lost some momentum.

After trailing by seven points at halftime, Tech pulled to within five points on a Shyla Jones field goal with 17 minutes remaining, but the Senators hit the offensive boards hard and gradually extended their lead.

Jones finished with 10 points and three steals. Style Harper also contributed 10 points. Freshman Tori Eagle had a perfect night shooting for the Golden Bears, going 2-for-2 from the field and hitting all four of her free throws for nine points. Eagle also dished out a pair of assists, and Kerin Roche distributed a team-high four assists.



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WVU Tech (62)

Kelli Morgan 2-5 5-6 9, Shyla Jones 8-12 8-14 24, Style Harper 0 1-2 1, Kerin Roche 2-9 0-0 6, Ashley Blaney 4-5 3-4 11, Tori Eagle 2-3 0-0 5, Rachel Weatherly 0-2 2-2 2, Merissa Pruitt 0-0 0-0 0, Amber Tully 0-1 0-0 0, Kaygan Hutchinson 0-1 0-0 0, Jessica Johnson 2-3 0-0 4. Totals: 20-41 19-28 62.

Virginia Intermont (49)

Heather Odle 1-5 0-0 3, Priscilla Moseh 1-7 2-2 4, Ashley Grimm 1-5 0-0 2, Haley Odle 1-7 1-2 3, Morghan Arnold 0-3 0-0 0, Kendra Haskins 0-0 0-0 0, Angela Brown 1-4 2-2 5, Alicia Cook 8-15 2-4 20, Ca’Star Harper 5-6 2-3 12. Totals: 18-52 9-13 49.

WVT 34 28 — 62

C 26 23 — 49