Women's Basketball 1/5/2017 11:57:00 PM

Jacket Women Earn Upset, Men Threaten But Fall

Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 Wheeling Jesuit sent a pair of nationally ranked basketball teams to West Virginia State's Walker Convocation Center Thursday night.

The Yellow Jackets defeated one and threw a scare into the other.

In the opening game the WVSU women pulled away in the fourth quarter to upset the #18 Cardinals 90-70. The men did not fare as well but continued to prove that they can play at a high level before falling 95-85 to Wheeling's #8 ranked men's squad in the nightcap.

It looked like it was going to be a long night for the Yellow Jackets in the early going as the women fell behind early, trailing by one after a quarter and by six at halftime.

But the Jacket's full court pressure and constant offensive attack gradually wore down the Cardinals. WVSU pulled to within two by the end of the third period at 57-55.

The Jackets then proceeded to absolutely own the final 10 minutes, outscoring the visitors 18-4 midway through the period and 35-13 overall in the fourth quarter.

"That's what we do," junior point guard Shae Hines said. "We like to push the ball, go fast pace."

The constant defensive pressure forced Wheeling Jesuit (10-2, 5-1 in MEC) into 21 turnovers compared to the Yellow Jackets' 10.

On the offensive end WVSU was continuously able to find an open teammate which led to the Jackets hitting a scorching 15-of-28 shots, 53.6 percent, from 3-point range.

But with the Yellow Jackets constantly applying defensive pressure the Cardinals could hit just 3-of-18, 16.7 percent, from outside.

Hines likes the direction she sees her team moving right now.

"This is what we have been preparing for the whole time coming in with a new coach and making all of these adjustments," she said. "It was great to beat the first place team in the conference and a nationally ranked team."

Hines finished the game with 16 points and seven assists.

Freshman Sydney Bates led all scorers with 25 points, Jasmine Davis added 14 and Tatyana Reynolds 13 for WVSU.

WVSU improves to 7-5 overall and 5-1 in Mountain East Conference play with the win. That puts the Jackets in a four-way tie for first place with the Cardinals, Glenville State, and UVa-Wise.

"Especially being young I think we are doing a great job of learning and picking up the new things and putting them into play," said Hines. "If we keep playing the way we are and working hard I think we have a great chance at getting that conference championship."

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Even though they came out on the short end of the score Thursday night the WVSU men's team once again showed for the second time this week that it can play with the best teams in the conference and country.

Wheeling Jesuit (11-1, 5-1 in MEC) shot a blistering 58.8 percent overall from the field and 58.3 percent from 3-point range to take a 10-point lead into halftime.

That would prove to be the difference in the contest as the squads played dead even in the second half.

Normally hitting 38 percent from 3-point range the Yellow Jackets saw just 16.7 percent, 4-of-24, of their long range shots go in the bucket Thursday.

Still, WVSU pulled to within six points twice in the closing minutes,

Freshman Jayson Hankins paced WVSU with 21 points. Ernest Jenkins added 16, Brent Bauer 14 points and six assists, and Mohammed Camara added13 points and pulled down eight rebounds.

Both teams travel to Shepherd this weekend for Sunday games.

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Players Mentioned

#3 Brent Bauer: G; 5' 8"; Sophomore

#15 Mohammed Camara: C; 6' 7"; Junior

#10 Jayson Hankins: F; 6' 5"; Freshman

#1 Ernest Jenkins: G; 6' 2"; Freshman

#20 Sydney Bates: G; 5' 9"; Freshman

#11 Jasmine Davis: F; 5' 11"; Junior

#12 Tatyana Reynolds: G; 5' 8"; Junior

Players Mentioned

#3 Brent Bauer
: 5' 8"; Sophomore
: G

#15 Mohammed Camara
: 6' 7"; Junior
: C

#10 Jayson Hankins
: 6' 5"; Freshman
: F

#1 Ernest Jenkins
: 6' 2"; Freshman
: G

#20 Sydney Bates
: 5' 9"; Freshman
: G

#11 Jasmine Davis
: 5' 11"; Junior
: F

#12 Tatyana Reynolds
: 5' 8"; Junior
: G