By Kendrick Jackson, Contributing Writer
Mountain East Conference defending champs Glenville State travels to the hilltop this Saturday for an inter-conference matchup. With home-court advantage, the Lady Toppers will seek to dethrone the Lady Pioneers as the top team in the Mountain East Conference.
After splitting both games in the MEC/PSAC Crossover and winning Wednesday night against Ursuline College, the Lady Toppers sit at 2-1.
A couple Lady Toppers put up some big numbers during the crossover. Senior forward Marissa Brown poured in 38 points and added 15 rebounds in the lost to Cal. U (Pa.). However, the Black and Gold would bounce back in its win against Mercyhurst as junior guard Taylor Johnson dropped 33 with nine dimes.
Head Coach Kyle Cooper and his team will face a tall order Saturday when West Liberty takes on Glenville State. Their last win against the Lady Pioneers came during the 2015-16 season. The Black and Gold almost did the impossible last season when Brown erupted for a career night. In a record-breaking performance, Brown’s 43 points and 25 rebounds wasn’t quite enough in the 103-106 loss.
This will be a big game for the Hilltoppers. It will be a test to see how good this year’s team is and the team can see how they measure up against one of the best teams in the MEC.
Aiming for their third straight MEC championship, Glenville State currently sits at 3-0. There are high hopes for a Pioneer team that advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament a year ago. Even without two-time MEC Player of the Year Paris McLeod, Glenville State is still projected to finish first in the MEC.
In her third season at the helm, Pioneers Head Coach Kim Stephens has established a winning culture for the Lady Pioneers. Coach Stephens has compiled a record of 58-8 and her Pioneer teams remain undefeated at home.
After averaging 10.2 points-per-game last season, junior forward Emily Stoller seems to have emerged as the new leader for the Lady Pioneers. As of Nov. 12, Stoller is averaging 21 points, including a 26-point performance against Chowan.
Tip-off will begin at 2 p.m. on Saturday. For live stats and updates, go to WLU’s athletic website. For more game previews and recaps, make sure to pick up your copy of the Trumpet!
Photo Credit: Hilltoppersports.com
