MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — The West Virginia women’s basketball team has completed their final practice 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 instance the Mountaineers will host on this stage and the first in 34 years.
“I’m really excited, and I know the players are excited to get to play here,” WVU coach Mark Kellogg said. “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 said scouting the opponent and preparing for the contest in Morgantown has been a lot of fun.
Not having to live out of a suitcase is a huge benefit 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 said. “It’s a big deal to not have to pack your bags and sleep in your own bed.”
Jordan Harrison, also a senior guard recently honored as Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year who came with Kellogg from Stephen F. Austin, declared on senior night her team would play another game in Hope Coliseum.
She reflected on conversations with Kellogg in the past about the possibility of playing in a game like this and said she is prepared.
“I wasn’t even sad on my senior night because I just felt like we were going to be back here,” Harrison said. “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.
They’ve earned that record with tough defense and potent offense that includes several contributors up and down the roster.
“We know they come with a lot of scoring ability, and they are very aggressive on defense,” Shaw said. “We need to take care of the ball and applying pressure, playing our kind of basketball, will be our focus.”
Kellogg said the team is prepared for the contest, and he hopes his team isn’t overly eager.
“They’re used to winning right now, they’re playing with a ton of confidence, and they can shoot it offensively,” Kellog said. “It looks to me like they’ve been known for what they do on the defensive end and now maybe in the third year this is the best offensive group they’ve had- they can spread you, space you, and they shoot at all five 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 conference video provided by NCAA)
