BUCKHANNON — Nearly five weeks ago, the West Virginia Wesleyan women were run over by Glenville State University 100-71 in its biggest margin of defeat this season. Saturday, the tides turned and the Lady Bobcats No. 3 Mountain East Conference defense throttled the No.1 MEC offense 89-76 in Buckhannon.
Glenville’s incessant five-on, five-off substitution strategy that scrambled the Lady Bobcat defense earlier in the year, was managed by a learned defensive team that now is the conference’s leader in combined opponent rebounds with 29.8 per game. When added to Wesleyan’s newfound strategy against the full-court press, deep passes from the throw-in to players ready to score helped position the Lady Bobcat offense for victory.
As it was against West Liberty University in its last home game stand, the Lady Bobcats faced two of the conference’s top-10 scoring leaders in Hya Haywood and Lauren Calhoun and held each to their season average (16.8 and 14.9, respectively) or below.
Leading the Lady Bobcats and the game in scoring was Desiree Roy who pounded the paint for 25 points and nine rebounds by going a blistering season high 10-of-11 from the field.
The country’s No. 1, NCAA Division II leading free throw shooter Sydney Baird (.959), notched another perfect game from the charity stripe with 4-of-4 against Glenville. Overall, Baird added 22 points that included 4-of-6 from three-point land.
Wesleyan’s top scorer Emma Witt added 18 points and eight rebounds and Shelby Genes scored 10 points.
The Lady Bobcats face the conference’s No. 2 defense, University of Charleston Wednesday, Feb. 21 at Rockefeller Center. Tip is scheduled for 5:30 p.m.
