Lady Cavs Snap Streak, Play Solid over Lady Bulldogs

February 9, 2008
BOXSCORE

Wise, Va. – In the team’s best performance of the year, UVa-Wise snapped a seven-game skid with answers to Tennessee Wesleyan’s baskets for the home women’s basketball victory. The freshmen duo of Adrienne Womack and Meghan Rutherford hit for 43 points and 16 rebounds to take the Lady Cavs past the Lady Bulldogs, 84-74.

The 84 points scored are the most all season for UVa-Wise, who improves to 5-21 and 3-11 in the Appalachian Athletic Conference. Womack (Floyd, Va.) made 10 of 21 attempts for 21 points to go with six rebounds, two assists and a block. Rutherford (Bristol, Va.) posted her third double-double of the year with 22 points, nine of 15 shots, and 10 rebounds. Junior Brittany Maxwell (Whitewood, Va.) added 15 points including eight of eight from the foul line and a key late triple. Kim Norris (Eidson, Tenn.) contributed nine tallies and Lauren Jervis (Kingsport, Tenn.) chipped in six scores, six boards and six assists with two steals.

Tennessee Wesleyan (9-16/6-8 AAC) had five players in double digits. Jennifer Patterson and Leanne Pelham both netted 18 points while Lindsay Jackson, Rachel Sitzlar and Hailey Armstrong all had 10 points.

The Lady Cavs outscored the Lady Bulldogs 12-6 in the last five minutes to close the first half to lead 34-28. UVa-Wise had the answer for every Tennessee Wesleyan second half run. The visitors chipped the margin down to two points twice in the first 10 minutes only to see UVa-Wise push it back to nine points with the last at 60-51.

The Lady Bulldogs finally broke through and captured the lead on a Jackson layup, 68-66, with 5:15. UVa-Wise again raised its hand with the answer with the next 15 points to make it 81-68 at 48 seconds with a key three-pointer by Maxwell when the home team led by just two points. The Lady Cavs snapped its seven-game losing streak with the 84-74 final.

UVa-Wise will head south to Montreat College for a 5:30 p.m. tilt on Tuesday night.