By: Bryan Shepherd, Sports Information Director
Game Preview: West Virginia State vs. Charleston
Date/Time: January 25, 2025, at 2:00 PM
Location: Walker Convocation Center, Institute, WV
Game Type: Mountain East Women's Basketball
University of Charleston: 10-7 Overall, ranked 5th in the Mountain East Conference with a record of 6-4. The Golden Eagles are 4-3 on the road this season.
West Virginia State: 8-8 overall, ranked 8th in the MEC with a conference record of 4-6. The Yellow Jackets are 2-5 inside the Walker Convocation Center this season.
WVSU Player Highlights:
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Zakorrah Russell: Averaging 11.2 points per game, Russell is a consistent offensive force.
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Emyah Fortenberry: Leading the team with 11.8 rebounds per game and adding 11.2 points per game, Fortenberry is a key contributor on both ends of the floor.
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Emily Anthony: Leading the team in assists with 4.7 per game, Anthony facilitates the offense effectively.
Team Statistics Summary - WVSU:
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Scoring: Averaging 78.3 points per game with a +3.9 scoring margin.
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Rebounding: Averaging 47.1 rebounds per game with a +0.8 rebounding margin.
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Turnover Margin: +6.8, with an impressive 18.8 steals per game.
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Struggles:
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Field Goal Percentage: Ranked 10th in the MEC at 35.4%, highlighting scoring inefficiency.
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Rebounding Defense: Allowing 46.38 rebounds per game, ranked 10th in the MEC.
Charleston Player Highlights:
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Harper Annarino: Averaging 11.5 points per game, shooting 43.5% from the field, and leading the team with 7.4 rebounds per game.
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Jamia Nesmith: Adding 11.2 points per game on 49.6% shooting and contributing 6.7 rebounds per game.
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Sydney Bolles: Providing 8.6 points per game while playing a team-high 28.8 minutes per game.
Team Statistics Summary - Charleston:
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Scoring: Averaging 77.8 points per game with a +4.6 scoring margin.
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Rebounding: Averaging 42.5 rebounds per game with a +2.1 rebounding margin.
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Field Goal Percentage: 45.2% (2nd in MEC).
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Struggles:
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Turnover Margin: Last in the MEC with a -4.88 margin, struggling with ball control.
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Steals: Last in the MEC, averaging just 4.82 steals per game.
Head-to-Head History:
The all-time series between Charleston and WVSU leans heavily in favor of Charleston, with a 41-11 record. However, WVSU came away with a 84-37 victory in their most recent game on March 2, 2024. WVSU will look to extend its streak at home.
Coaching Matchup:
