Lady ‘Cats sign three recruits
June 5, 2006

BUCKHANNON, W.Va.-The Lady ‘Cats signed three recruits for the 2006-07 season. All are from beyond West Virginia’s borders, with two from Pennsylvania and one from Ohio. These incoming freshman bring with them strong talent and should make a smooth transition from high school to the college level.

Head coach Steve Tierney commented, “We are extremely pleased to have these three quality young ladies join us at WVWC. With a strong group returning for next year, it was very important to find the right pieces to go with the upper class. I believe we found them. All three are good students and well-thought of at their respective schools and communities. They will help us continue our reputation as a respected team both on and off the court. We look forward to their positive impact on campus.”

Pittsburgh, Pa.
Coming off a nearly flawless record, Angela Tassari will continue her basketball career with the Lady Bobcats. The 6’2’’ forward/center helped Oakland Catholic High School to the WVIAL championship title and the PIAA semi-finals last season. Her team ended the year with a 30-2 record.

For the season, Tassari averaged 6.6 rebounds per game, 6.3 points per game, and 2.3 blocks per game. She was also selected to the All-Tournament Naples, Fla. Daily News Shootout team.

About Tassari, Coach Tierney said, “Angela comes to us from one of the best, if not the premier high school girls’ basketball program in Pennsylvania. She has received outstanding coaching during her career and has solid fundamentals. Oakland Catholic has been a perimeter oriented team the past couple of seasons and as Angela becomes more comfortable in a ‘go-to’ role, she has the potential to be an elite player in the WVIAC.”

Erie, Pa.
Kristen Fournier, a 5’10’’ forward, comes to Wesleyan with an impressive background. This first team all-region player led Mercyhurst Prep Academy to a 10-3 region record for the past season. Fournier posted 12.3 points per game and 6.9 rebounds per game. For the year, she totaled 42 assists and 43 steals.

Fournier was also honored with the city/county all-star award and nominated as an Arby’s Scholar Athlete. The Sister Maura Smith Outstanding Athlete Award, which is based on character, leadership, academics, and athletic ability, was bestowed on Fournier this year. Additionally, she was named the most athletic female in her 2006 class.

“Kristen is an active player who goes to the offensive board very well,” stated Tierney. “She can also hit the outside shot which will help loosen the defense. Kristen understands the game extremely well, which will be a big plus learning our motion offense.”

Sterling, Ohio
A four year varsity starter for Norwayne High School, Carlee Gault leaves Ohio to play for the Lady Bobcats. This 5’11’’ guard/forward departs Norwayne High with her name in the books. Currently, she holds the record highs for steals per game (13) and three-pointers in a game (five).

Also under Gault’s awards belt is All-Ohio Special Mention, First-team All-WCAL (for two years), First-team District 4, Honorable Mention District 4, First-team Daily Record, and Gatorade Rookie of the Year. Gault ended her senior year with a 17.2 points per game average.

When asked about the Ohio native, Tierney commented, “Carlee is an athletic wing player with three-point range. Her strength right now is her versatility: she has the length to be effective inside while she possesses the skill set of a perimeter player. We look for her to develop into a player that will give opponents fits as they try to find the right match-up for her.”

CHARLESTON, W.Va.-Freshman guard Sarah Van Horn (Malta, Ohio) earned a spot on the 2006 WVIAC All-Tournament team. She was the lone Lady Bobcat named to the team.

In Wesleyan’s two tournament games, Van Horn averaged 59.1 percent from the field and shot five for seven from the line. Against Concord University, she was the game’s leading rebounder with 13. In round two, Van Horn led her team in points with 18 when Wesleyan matched-up with the University of Charleston.

Van Horn notched double-double stats in both contests. She also averaged two steals and three assists per game.

2006 WVIAC Women's Basketball
All-Tournament Team

MVP: Lisa Lee (Charleston)
Leading Scorer: Sarah Setcavage (Wheeling Jesuit) 68 points in three games, 22.7 ppg
George Springer Individual Sportsmanship Award: Laura Kinsler (Charleston)
Commissioner's Heart & Hustle Award: Rachel Redick (Glenville State)

PRINCETON, W.Va.-Junior guard Sarah Grab (Erie,Pa.) was named to the All-WVIAC first team. Grab led the Lady Bobcats this year with 15.5 ppg and passed the 1,000 career mark this season. She also heads Wesleyan in field goals made, 3-point field goals made, and free throws made.

In the WVIAC, Grab is ranked 11th in points per game and 14th in free throw percent (75.9%). Among her other honors, she was nominated to the All-OrthoCarolina Invitational team at this season’s Wingate Tournament and she was selected to last year’s All-WVIAC second team.

Teammate Sarah Van Horn (Malta, Ohio) made the all-freshman team for the WVIAC. In her debut year, she notched double-doubles in 11 games and was the top rebounder for Wesleyan. She captured 92 steals for the season which was 46 more than the second leading stealer on her team.

For the conference, Van Horn was second in steals behind junior Katie Repicky. Van Horn was also the second leading freshman scorer (12.6 ppg) in the WVIAC. Her 8.3 rebounds per game placed her 4th in the conference and first when looking at only freshman.

Charletson’s Lisa Lee earned the WVIAC Women’s Basketball Player of the Year honors. Ohio Valley newcomer Britney Brooks was announced as Freshman of the Year. And Wheeling Jesuit’s Joe Key was voted by his peers as Coach of the Year.

For more information about the 2005-06 WVIAC women’s basketball selections, please visit the link 2005-06 All WVIAC: Women’s Basketball.

Courtney Thomas, the game’s leading scorer, and Lisa Lee guided Charleston to the 75-61 victory over Wesleyan. Lee sunk the 18 points she needed to become the WVIAC’s all-time leading scorer.

At half, the Lady ‘Cats were down 39-25. Wesleyan could not make up their fourteen point deficit despite keeping with Charleston in the second period. Both teams netted 36 points after halftime.

Sarah Van Horn (Malta, Ohio) headed up the Lady Bobcats. She was the only player of the game to notch a double-double with 18 points and 12 rebounds. Teammates Sarah Grab (Erie, Pa.) and Brandi Wynn (Hyattsville, Md.) helped on the offensive front.

Charleston moves on to the semifinal round of the tournament. They play Wheeling Jesuit today at 1:00 p.m.

Shepherdstown, W.Va.-The Lady ‘Cats fell to the Lady Rams on Saturday, Feb. 25. It was the last regular season game for both teams. The 82-65 loss split Wesleyan’s conference record 9-9 and placed them seventh in the WVIAC.

From the game’s start, Shepherd took immediate control. With 1:15 left in the first half, the Lady Rams gained their largest advantage at 45-22. The period ended with the Lady ‘Cats down by 18.

In the second half, Wesleyan could not recover from their deficit. Shepherd was shooting 52.3 percent from the field compared to Wesleyan’s 37.9.

Five of the Rams’ players hit points in the double digits while only Sarah Grab (Erie, Pa.) and Sarah Van Horn (Malta, Ohio) from the Lady ‘Cats were able to do so. Van Horn was the game’s scoring leader with 18 points.

Tonight Wesleyan hosts Concord University in the first round of the WVIAC Tournament. The #10 Mountain Lions went 8-10 in the conference. The two teams last met on Jan. 25 with Wesleyan taking the 75-55 win. Tip-off is set for 7:30 p.m. at Rockefeller Center.

Ticket prices for all spectators are $5.00 for adults and $2.00 for students with a valid WVIAC I.D.

Come out and support the Lady Bobcats!

February 24, 2006 - Box Score

Buckhannon, W.Va.-For the second time this season, Wesleyan and Davis and Elkins battled it out on the court. Unlike the previous match-up, Wesleyan captured the win on their Senior Night.

For the first part of the half, the Senators controlled the board with Kate Bright heading up the shots. Brandi Wynn (Hyattsville, Md.) hit a couple of key jumpers to revive Wesleyan’s game. Lucia Darling (Indianapolis, Ind.) was there for both assists.

With the help of Wesleyan's leading scorer Sarah Van Horn (Malta, Ohio) and their senior center Julie Bell (Sharon, Pa.), the Lady Bobcats took a steady lead.

The Wynn-Darling combo scored 11 points in the last few minutes of the first period to give Wesleyan a 46-30 lead at halftime.

Despite being down by 16, the Senators never gave up. They slowly closed the point gap and with five minutes left on the clock took the lead 61-59.

At the 2:17 mark, Sierra Holstein (Strongsville, Ohio) sunk her two free throws to keep D&E within reach. The Senators gave Wesleyan five more points from the line and the Lady ‘Cats sealed the game 71-66.

Davis and Elkins totaled in 22 fouls compared to Wesleyan’s 12. Two of the Senators' key playmakers ended the game early with 5 fouls apiece.

The Lady Bobcats had more than twice the steals as the Senators.

Tomorrow, Wesleyan plays their final regular season game at Shepherd University. The Lady ‘Cats narrowly beat the Rams 74-73 the last time they met. Tip-off is set for 2:00 p.m.

Philippi, W.Va.-In their second match-up of the season, Wesleyan walked away with another victory against Alderson-Broaddus. Despite getting off to a slightly rocky start, the Lady Bobcats were able to pull through for the 89-72 win.

The Battlers were quick to get on the board and scored seven points before the Lady ‘Cats could even net a shot. Wesleyan worked down their deficit, and Sarah Grab (Erie, Pa.) hit a three-pointer to tie the game 7-7. A-B’s Tiffany Thompson, however, sunk her three-point shot to maintain the lead.

Wesleyan remained down until Sarah Martin (Bellbrook, Ohio) was able to re-tie the score 20-20 with 11:18 left in the first period. The Lady Bobcats picked up their momentum and were able to gain a 14 point advantage by halftime.

In the second period, Wesleyan dominated the court. A five point spread was the closest the Battlers could get to the Lady ‘Cats.

Overall, the Lady Bobcats shot 52.3% from the field and 87.5% from the line. 25 points came from turnovers compared to the Battlers’ 16. Wesleyan hit a season high of 30 assists for the night, with Lucia Darling (Indianapolis, Ind.) capturing a third of those assists.

Grab and Sarah Van Horn (Malta, Ohio) were the game’s leading scorer with 21 points apiece. Van Horn notched in the only double-double for the contest.

Returning to Rockefeller Center, Wesleyan will play Davis and Elkins on Thursday, Feb. 23. In the previous match-up, the Lady ‘Cats fell to the Senators and are now looking to avenge this loss on their home court. Tip-off is set for 5:30 p.m.

Five Glenville players posted points in the double digits. Wesleyan's Sarah Grab (Erie, Pa.) was the game’s leading scorer with 22 points. With 19 points, Brandi Wynn (Hyattsville, Md.) was right behind. Together, the two of them netted over half of the Lady Bobcats’ points for the night.

The Pioneers maintained a steady lead throughout the contest. In the first half, Wesleyan came within a point of Glenville but the Pioneers soon gained a solid advantage. At halftime, the Lady ‘Cats were down 44-29.

With 8:33 left in the game, Wesleyan headed up an eight-point scoring run and came within six of Glenville. The 67-61 score, however, was the closest the Lady ‘Cats could come to the Pioneers.

The Lady Bobcats return to the road and will play the Battlers Monday, Feb. 20. Wesleyan won the last match-up 90-66. Tip-off is set for 5:15 p.m.

Assistant coach, Karyn Woloszynek, commented, “Everyone stepped up when we needed them to, but it was Lu’s shot that sealed the game for us. It takes a special kind of athlete to withstand that kind of pressure.”

Stepping up is what Wesleyan needed to do as they were down 39-34 at halftime. The Rams out-rebounded the Lady ‘Cats 23 to 12 in the first period and Shepherd shot 48.1% from the field compared to Wesleyan’s 40.0%.

In the second half, Brandi Wynn (Hyattsville, Md.) started things off with a jumper that knocked the Lady Bobcats’ deficit down to three. A lay-up by Julie Bell (Sharon, Pa.) followed by one from Sarah Grab (Erie, Pa.) put Wesleyan in the lead.

Wesleyan and Shepherd struggled back and forth for control, but neither team could gain much of an edge. At 8:41, Grab sunk a lay-up and then made her free throw, giving the Lady ‘Cats a six-point advantage. Grab was the game’s top scorer for the night with 23 points.

The Rams, however, whittled down the Lady Bobcats’ lead and took control 66-64. Sarah Van Horn (Malta, Ohio) tied the game 66-66 with 4:41 left on the clock. Van Horn notched the only double-double of the evening.

Shepherd then turned over the ball, and Bell grabbed a lay-up and the lead 68-66. For the game, Wesleyan captured 26 points off turnovers and had 15 steals to the Rams’ seven.

With a minute to go, the Lady Bobcats found themselves down 73-72 after Rebecca Frece netted her shot. Shepherd then blocked Wesleyan’s retaliation effort, and the Rams were back on offense.

Tiffany Acker missed her 1-1 free throw, and Darling aggressively ripped the rebound away from a Shepherd player. 17 second later, Darling nailed her shot for the 74-73 lead. The Lady ‘Cats held back the Rams with a press and prevented them from getting a solid shot attempt.

Remaining on their home court, Wesleyan will play Glenville State on Saturday, Feb. 18. Tip-off is set for 4 p.m. at Rockefeller Center.

BUCKHANNON, W.Va.-The Lady Bobcats hit the 90-point mark in today's game against the Battlers. This contest puts Wesleyan back up to .500 for conference games.

Sarah Grab (Erie, Pa.) took little time in gaining control of the board. With points by Sarah Van Horn (Malta, Ohio) and Brandi Wynn (Hyattsville, Md.), Wesleyan increased the point gap to six.

Alderson-Broaddus, however, was not ready to give the game away. Tiffany Thompson hit a three-pointer, reducing her team’s gap to only two. This two point spread was the closest the Battlers got to the Lady Bobcats. With ten minutes down in the first half, Wesleyan was up by 13.

Capturing a double-double in stats by halftime, Van Horn ended the period with 13 points and 11 rebounds. She was the lone player of the game to record a double-double.

Fifteen points separated Wesleyan and A-B at the beginning of the second half. The 45-30 score soon grew to 90-66 as the Lady ‘Cats dominated the remainder of the contest.

The Battlers’ Kim Nakamura put in strong effort as the game’s leading scorer with 24 points. Van Horn captured the most points for her team with 21.

Also heading up the stats for the Lady Bobcats was Lucia Darling (Indianapolis, Ind.). Darling posted eight assists, which ties her season high in that category.

As a team, Wesleyan shot 57.4 percent in field goals. They scored a season high of 90 points, and out-rebounded Anderson-Broaddus by 30.

The Lady 'Cats hit the road to play the Pioneers on Saturday, Feb. 11. Glenville is currently ranked second in the WVIAC conference. Wesleyan will return home on Monday, Feb. 13 to go up against Shepherd University.

BUCKHANNON, W.Va.-Wesleyan was outlasted 73-50 by Wheeling Jesuit in last night’s match-up. The Lady ‘Cats saw their WVIAC record fall to 5-6, while the Cardinals rose to 9-1 in the conference.

During the first period, the Lady Bobcats kept with the Cardinals. Sarah Van Horn (Malta, Ohio) led the half in points for both teams. She was the only player of the contest to notch double-double stats with 13 points and 11 rebounds. Van Horn also led her team in assists and steals.

Wesleyan was able to briefly take the lead from Wheeling twice before halftime. But the Cardinals pushed on, and with 10:23 left in the first period Wheeling gained a 12 point gap with a three-pointer by Lindsey Piar.

A three-point field goal by Sarah Grab (Erie, Pa.) near the close of the half helped decrease Wesleyan’s deficit. The period ended with the Lady ‘Cats down 32-25.

Grab opened up the second half with a jumper that put her team within five points of the Cardinals. Wheeling, however, surged ahead. With ten minutes left on the clock, the Cardinals commanded the game. Shots by Katie Repicky and Sarah Setcavage expanded the point gap to 19.

The contest closed with Wheeling up 73-50.

Grab and Van Horn were the night’s top scorers with 13 points each.

The Lady Bobcats get a week off from games before they match up against the Battlers on February 9. Tip-off is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. at Rockefeller Center.

CHARLESTON, W.Va.-The Lady Bobcats fell to the Golden Eagles 81-59 in last night’s match-up. The loss snapped Wesleyan’s three-game winning streak.

Despite finding themselves down 11-1 five minutes after tip-off, the Lady ‘Cats were able to fight back to an 11-10 score. Wesleyan’s leading scorer for the night, Sarah Van Horn (Malta, Ohio) netted in six of the nine point spree.

Wesleyan kept with the University of Charleston until about eight minutes to go in the first half. Thanks to a 12 point run, the Golden Eagles were able to get a 33-19 advantage. By the end of the first period Charleston was up 41-27.

Lisa Lee and Rachel Pike contributed nearly half of the Golden Eagles points for the night.

For the Lady Bobcats, sophomores Lucia Darling (Indianapolis, Ind.) and Brandi Wynn (Hyattsville, Md.) joined Van Horn in the offensive strike. Darling trailed Van Horn by two points on the board, and Wynn led in assists. Wynn also captured five steals, the most of anyone in the game.

The contest ended 81-59, keeping Charleston undefeated in the WVIAC conference.

Wesleyan returns to Rockefeller Center to play Wheeling Jesuit University on Feb. 2. Tip-off is set for 5:30 p.m.

The Lady Bobcats defeated the Bears 61-55 on Saturday, January 28. This game bumped Wesleyan’s conference record to 5-4.

Sarah Martin (Bellbrook, Ohio) started the scoring off for the Lady ‘Cats, netting the first five points of the match. Wesleyan increased their lead to 11-2 with shots by Sarah Van Horn (Malta, Ohio) and Brandi Wynn (Hyattsville, Md.).

Tech, however, did not let Wesleyan walk away with the lead. The Bears rallied a seven point run, coming within two points of the Lady Bobcats.

Leading scorer Sarah Grab (Erie, Pa.) knocked in nine points that helped Wesleyan push up the score 36-25. Grab also led the stats in assists and steals, with five and three respectively. Wynn captured three steals as well.

Coming into the second half, the Lady Bobcats were slow to score. It took them nearly three minutes to begin posting points, but the Bears could not get closer than a three point span.

Van Horn kept Wesleyan’s defense strong, notching 12 rebounds, eight of which were defensive. She was the only player of the game to mark double-double stats.

Julie Bell (Sharon, Pa.) also helped the Lady Bobcats maintain their lead over the Bears, scoring eight of her 10 points in the second half.

Wesleyan hits the road and will take on the University of Charleston tonight. The Golden Eagles are currently undefeated in the WVIAC conference. Tip-off is set for 6:00 p.m.

The Lady ‘Cats victory over the Mountain Lions was even sweeter as junior guard Sarah Grab (Erie, Pa.) hit the 1,000 point mark with 8:37 left in the game. Grab had 722 career points pre-season, and with last night’s match her current career total rose to 1,002.

Grab also led the scoreboard with 18 points in yesterday’s win over Concord.

The Mountain Lions came out with a fight, keeping the match close for the first part of the half. Concord was able to gain a four point lead, but Wesleyan was not about to give them complete control. The Lady Bobcats tied the game 9-9 with a jumper by Grab.

From there, Wesleyan took the permanent lead. They ended the first period up 33-19.

When the Lady ‘Cats took the court second half, they were intent on increasing their fourteen point advantage. The closest Concord could come was within nine points of Wesleyan. Jessica Ferguson netted in 17 points for the Mountain Lions, but it was not enough to stay with the Lady ‘Cats.

On rebounds, the Lady Bobcats were solid. They captured 17 more than the Mountain Lions did.

Julie Bell (Sharon, Pa.) and Sarah Van Horn (Malta, Ohio) led their team in rebounds. Bell was a huge part in cutting off Concord’s second chance shots, grabbing nine of her 11 rebounds on defense. Van Horn did the opposite, as she created those shot opportunities for Wesleyan. Over half of her 10 rebounds were offensive. Both Van Horn and Bell earned double-doubles in the stats.

Brandi Wynn (Hyattsville, Md.) helped the Lady ‘Cats on the offensive front, snagging six assists and scoring 10 points.

Overall, Wesleyan shot 45.9% for field goals. From the line, they made 16 of their 18 free throws. The Lady Bobcats ended the game with a 75-55 victory.

Wesleyan remains at home and will play again on Saturday, Jan. 28. They match-up against WVU Tech at 2:00 p.m. The game will take place at Rockefeller Center.

Bluefield, W.Va.-On Saturday night, the Lady ‘Cats got off to a rocky start in their match against the Lady Blues. After the first five minute of play, Wesleyan found themselves trailing Bluefield State 21-1.

A 14 point scoring spree for the Lady Bobcats, however, helped turn the game for them. With 9:07 left in the first period, Wesleyan was down 29-11. Wesleyan then held Bluefield scoreless until they were within four points of the Lady Blues.

Sarah Grab (Erie, Pa.), who notched 22 points for the game, fueled her team in the comeback. The other leading scorer for the Lady Bobcats was freshman Sarah Van Horn (Malta, Ohio). She hit in 13 points along with snagging 12 rebounds.

Van Horn and Concord’s Jennetta Smith were the only two players of the night to post double-double stats. Julie Bell (Sharon, Pa.) just missed the mark with 10 points and nine rebounds.

With two minutes to go till halftime, the game was tied 32-32. Wesleyan gained control and ended the period up 37-32.

In the second half, the Lady ‘Cats left no question as to who would be the victor. Wesleyan scored 34 more points and held Bluefield to only 22. With an 18 point cushion, the Lady Bobcats walked away with the 72-54 win.

Wesleyan returns home to play Concord University on Wednesday, Jan. 25. Both teams enter the match with 3-4 conference records. Tip-off is set for 5:30 p.m. at Rockefeller Center.

Institute, W.Va.-In last night’s match-up, the Lady Bobcats were edged out by the Yellow Jackets 83-75. Mallory Grogg, the game’s leading scorer, put her team on the board 30 seconds into play. West Virginia State increased their lead to 8-1, but Wesleyan refused to let State have more than this seven point gap.

Lucia Darling (Indianapolis, Ind.) netted a jumper with 16:30 left in the half. This shot sparked Wesleyan's offense. Brandi Wynn (Hyattsville, Md.) and Sarah Grab (Erie, Pa.), who led the Lady ‘Cats with 15 points each, decreased Wesleyan’s deficit and helped gain control of the game. At 14-13, the Lady Bobcats took the lead for the first time.

The contest remained close for the rest of the period with the advantage switching back and forth between the two squads. Neither the Lady ‘Cats nor the Yellow Jackets could get more than a six point lead. The half ended with Wesleyan up 38-34.

In the second half, West Virginia State took over 41-38. Emily Facemyer (Sissonville, W.Va.) and Julie Bell (Sharon, Pa.) retaliated to grab a 42-41 lead.

Rebounding efforts by Sarah Van Horn (Malta, Ohio) helped reduce the Yellow Jackets' second chance opportunities and generate these shots for the Lady Bobcats.

With 9:01 left on the clock, Facemyer tied the game 58-58. From there, however, West Virginia State surged ahead to 73-62. The Lady Bobcats could not come back from this 11 point hole, and the Yellow Jackets took the game 83-75.

Wesleyan continues on the road and will play Bluefield State College tomorrow. Tip-off is set for 5:15 p.m.

Elkins, W.Va.-The Senators slid past the Lady ‘Cats 78-71 in last night’s rival match-up. Wesleyan was unable to stop Davis and Elkins' leading scorer Nikki Yokum who netted 22 points.

At half, the Lady Bobcats found themselves down 35-27. Offensive efforts by Julie Bell (Sharon, Pa.), Sarah Van Horn (Malta, Ohio), and Lucia Darling (Indianapolis, Ind.) helped narrow the Lady 'Cats' deficit. Despite Wesleyan outscoring Davis and Elkins 44-43 in the second half, it was not enough to gain the advantage.

Helping to keep the Senators from grabbing more of an edge, Van Horn notched 13 rebounds and seven steals. With her rebounds and 15 points, she was the only player of the game to post double-double stats.

Wesleyan continues on the road as they travel to go up against West Virginia State University. The Yellow Jackets are currently 3-3 in WVIAC conference play. The game will take place Jan. 19 at 5:15 p.m.

Tonight the Lady ‘Cats gave their fans a show as they triumphed over the Hilltoppers, who until today were undefeated in the WVIAC.

West Liberty was the first team to get on the scoreboard with a lay-up by Charity Street. The deficit for the Lady Bobcats, however, was brief. Emily Facemyer (Sissonville, W.Va.) made her next two shots to put Wesleyan up 4-2.

The Hilltoppers struggled for control, gaining a lead on the Lady ‘Cats four more times in the first half. With 12:26 left in the period, Julie Bell (Sharon, Pa.) hit her lay-up which sparked an eight point scoring spree for her team. It was at this marker Wesleyan took permanent control of the game.

Sarah Van Horn (Malta, Ohio), the Lady ‘Cats leading scorer for the night, put in the last shot of the period. Wesleyan held a 40-36 edge at halftime.

Wesleyan’s defense came out strong in the second half, fighting for every rebound and steal. The Lady ‘Cats ended the game with 15 more rebounds and five more steals than the Hilltoppers. Bell had the game high in total rebounds with nine, while Sarah Grab (Erie, Pa.) led with four steals.

The efforts of West Liberty’s Lena Kalvans, who scored nearly half of her team’s points, could not match Wesleyan’s total teamwork. Bell, Facemyer, and Grab all joined Van Horn in the double digits for points. Lucia Darling (Indianapolis, Ind.) and Brandi Wynn (Hyattsville, Md.) helped on the attack, grabbing seven and five assists, respectively, for the Lady ‘Cats.

As the second period progressed, so did the Lady Bobcats' momentum. They surged ahead, gaining a nineteen point lead over West Liberty with 2:52 to go. The game closed with the Lady ‘Cats up 76-59.

On Monday, Jan 16, Wesleyan travels to play Davis and Elkins. The game is set for 5:30 p.m.

In the Lady ‘Cats first home game of the season, they fell 76-56 to the Fighting Falcons. Fairmont’s Danielle Cornish opened up the scoring for the night with a lay-up a little over a minute into the contest. While Wesleyan’s Emily Facemyer (Sissonville, W.Va.) retaliated with a jumper, the 2-2 tie did not last long.

Fairmont surged ahead to gain a nine point edge (23-14) with the help of leading scorers Ashley Reed and Cornish. With 7:45 left in the first half, Wesleyan’s Brandi Wynn (Hyattsville, Md.) helped regenerate her team’s momentum with a jump shot. Wynn led her team in points for the night.

The game tied up 23-23 when Sarah Grab (Erie, Pa.) made her lay-up. The Falcons, however, fought back for the advantage. The period ended with Wesleyan down 32-27.

When the second half started, Fairmont took little time to push up the score and Wesleyan was unable to hold them off. The Falcons dominated the period, walking away with their third conference win of the season.

Wesleyan remains at home as they play West Liberty State College on Saturday, Jan. 16. The Toppers are currently undefeated in the WVIAC conference. Tip-off is set for 4:00 p.m. at Rockefeller Center.

Box Score vs. Gannon University
Box Score vs. Mercyhurst College

Erie, Pa.-In the first set of games played over winter break, the Lady Bobcats traveled to Erie, Pa to match up against the Knights (Dec. 10) and the Lakers (Dec. 12).

Against Gannon University, Sarah Van Horn (Matla, Ohio) netted the first points of the game, putting her team on the board 2-0. Brandi Wynn (Hyattsville, Md.) made the next shot with only 57 seconds gone from the clock. And a lay-up by senior Julie Bell (Sharon, Pa.) gave Wesleyan a 6-0 lead.

While the Knights were a little slow to get on the board, they worked their way up to an 11-10 advantage with a three pointer by Carrie Nolan. Gannon managed to hold onto their lead over Wesleyan for the remainder of the first period. The Lady Bobcats briefly tied things up 37-37, but the Knights surged to a 44-38 halftime score.

In the second half, points made by Wynn and Van Horn gave Wesleyan a short-lived lead of 45-44. Gannon quickly countered with a three-pointer made by Christina Jackson at the 16:36 mark. Three minutes later, Wynn gained control of the game for her team 50-49.

The two teams battled on the scoreboard, with Gannon taking the lead and then Wesleyan tying things up. Efforts by Sarah Grab (Erie, Pa.) and Bell helped their team stay within reach of Gannon. Van Horn hit a free throw to give the Lady Bobcats their last advantage of the game 73-72. The Knights broke away with less than four minutes left in the game and edged the Lady ‘Cats 85-77.

Top scorers for Wesleyan were Grab with 23 points, Van Horn with 19, and Wynn with 14. Grabbing the rebounds were Van Horn and Bell, both with nine each. On defense, Bell had the lone block for her team. Van Horn and Wynn headed the Lady Bobcats in steals.

Two days later, Wesleyan played Mercyhurst in an even tighter game. The Lakers won the game 68-65.

The Lady ‘Cats held a slight upper hand for the majority of the first period, but the Lakers were never more than a few points down. A lay-up by Emily Facemyer (Sissonville, W.Va.) gave her team an eight point lead of 15-7 with 14:14 left on the clock. But Mercyhurst kept within reach of Wesleyan, despite baskets by Grab and Wynn. At 9:19, Lucia Darling (Indianapolis, Ind.) hit her jumper for another eight point advantage 22-14.

Nine points was the largest lead the Lady Bobcats could muster when Grab nailed her shot, putting the score 28-19. The Lakers whittled away the Lady ‘Cats advantage in the final minutes of the first half, eventually tying the game 34-34. With 1:28 left on the clock, the Lakers’ Cassie Seth managed a one point halftime lead for her team. The first period closed 38-37.

In the second half, the Lady Bobcats and the Lakers fought for the lead. The score teetered with no more than a three-point gap between the two teams. On offense, Grab, Van Horn, and Wynn netted in shots for Wesleyan. Helping on the attack were Crystal Johnson (Clinton, Md.) and Darling who topped the stats in assists. Rebounding efforts by Bell, Facemyer, and Wynn kept Wesleyan’s defense strong. Nabbing steals for the Lady ‘Cats were Van Horn and Wynn.

A jump shot by Jena Schafer at the 43 second mark put her team up 66-65. With 16 seconds left in the game, Stephanie Prischak hit her two free throws to give Mercyhurst the 68-65 win.

Box Score vs. Northern Kentucky University
Box Score vs. Virginia Union University

Highland Heights, Ky.-Wesleyan traveled to Kentucky to play in the Northern Kentucky University Tournament on Dec. 19 and 20. Both games ended in a loss for the Lady ‘Cats, setting their record to 1-7.

Northern Kentucky jumped to an early lead nine seconds into the game with Karyn Creager netting a 3-pointer. The Norse maintained their advantage over the Lady Bobcats, ending the contest 68-48.

Despite scoring efforts by Grab with 14 points, Wesleyan could not close the deficit. Leading the stats in rebounds for the Lady Bobcats were freshman forwards Van Horn and Maria Milfeit (Allision Park, Pa.) who notched 6 and 5, respectively.

The next day Wesleyan fell to Virginia Union University. In the first period, the two teams pressured each other, with neither squad gaining more than a six point advantage. At halftime, the Lady ‘Cats were only down by three.

Quickly gaining control in the second period, the Panthers increased their 26-23 lead. Despite shot efforts by Grab and Bell, Wesleyan fell to 44-28 with nine minutes erased from the clock.

Sierra Holstein (Strongsville, Ohio) led with nine rebounds for her team. But these defensive efforts could not keep the score margin from widening.

A three-pointer by senior guard Sarah Martin (Bellbrook, Ohio) with 7:48 left on the clock helped reduce the Lady Bobcats’ gap to 46-33. Martin was the top scorer for the game, hitting her shots near the closing of the contest.

Virginia Union pushed hard in the final minutes of the game, overcoming Wesleyan 60-41.

Shippensburg University Box Score

Shippensburg, Pa.-The new year was unable to snap the Lady Bobcats losing streak as they lost their first game of 2006. On Jan. 4, Wesleyan traveled to play Shippensburg University and fell 64-59.

Grab netted the starting basket of the game but the 2-0 lead only last 15 seconds as the Raiders quickly retaliated to a 14-2 lead. Their 14 point run ended when Van Horn made her lay-up six minutes into the match. Van Horn ended the game as the Lady Bobcats top scorer with 14 points.

Shots by Wynn, the game’s leader in assists, and Milfeit whittled down Shippensburg’s lead. With 5:59 left on the clock, Holstein tied the game 21-21. In the last minutes of the first half both teams struggled to gain control. Wynn and Van Horn worked together to keep the Lady ‘Cats fighting for an edge, scoring a combined eight points. The Raiders ended the half with a 31-29 advantage.

Starting the second half like the first, Shippensburg came out strong, taking command of the game. Holstein managed to tie the score briefly 33-33, but the Raiders pounded ahead. At 7:19, Wesleyan found themselves down by 12 as the scoreboard read 53-41. Working back from this hole, the Lady Bobcats pushed in the final minutes. Down 61-51, Van Horn and Grab led the efforts to try and overcome Shippensburg. The Raiders, however, managed to maintain a five point lead, taking the win 64-59.

Salem International University Box Score

Salem, W.Va-In their first WVIAC match-up, the Lady Bobcats took home a win. Wesleyan edged past Salem International 71-68 in overtime.

Facemyer started off the scoring for her team, putting them up 2-0. Bell, the game’s top scorer, followed up with a couple of baskets to put the Lady Bobcats up 6-0. The Tigers, however, were not about to let the Lady ‘Cats walk away with the game. Salem pounced back, and LaKeisha Bowsman’s jumper took the lead 14-13 with eight minutes to go in the first period.

As the Tigers continued to shoot, Facemyer fought hard on defense for the rebounds. She ended the game with 11 defensive rebounds.

Wesleyan ended the first half up 32-28. The Lady ‘Cats lead soon dropped as the Tigers took control less than two minutes into the second round.

A lay-up by Van Horn finally put Wesleyan back on top 49-48 with seven minutes to go. The score bounced back and forth between the teams, and the game was sent into overtime to determine the victor.

Wesleyan took a 63-62 lead with 3:25 left in the overtime period. The Tigers were unable to get control, and the Lady ‘Cats took home the 71-68 win.

Ohio Valley University Box Score

Vienna, W.Va.-On Monday, Jan. 9 the Lady Bobcats faced off with the Fighting Scots. This was the second WVIAC game for Wesleyan, but unlike their first this one ended with a loss.

The game remained tight in the first half, with Ohio Valley taking an early lead 13-6. Weslyan’s Holstein made a jumper that started the comeback. Grab, the game’s leading scorer, then made a three-pointer and two more jumpers to give the Lady ‘Cats a 15-13 advantage.

Both teams fought for the edge, and with eight minutes left, Ohio Valley took control of the scoreboard for the remainder of the first half. The Lady Bobcats were on the heels of the Fighting Scots, and the period ended 37-35 Ohio Valley.

Grab and Facemyer started the scoring in the second half, and Wesleyan gained control 43-41. As the game counted down, Ohio Valley managed to take Wesleyan in the last five minutes.

The Fighting Scots netted their shots for a nine-point lead that ended the game 81-72.

Stat leaders for Wesleyan’s offense were Grab with 27 points and Van Horn with five assists. Van Horn was also strong on defense, capturing five steals and seven rebounds. Facemyer took in seven rebounds as well.

The Lady Bobcats play their first home game tonight at 5:30 p.m. They will match up against Fairmont State University who is 10-2. The action will take place at Rockefeller Center.

Box Score vs. Carson-Newman College
Box Score vs. Wingate University

Wingate, N.C.-On Friday, December 2, the OrthoCarolina Invitational kicked-off. The Lady Bobcats matched up against Carson-Newman College on the first day of the tourney.

Wesleyan got off to a sluggish start, getting outscored by Carson-Newman 46-31 in the first half. With 2:55 left in the game, the Lady ‘Cats were able to come within nine points of the Eagles (69-60). Despite holding C-N to only 30 points in the second half, WVWC ended the game with a 76-67 loss.

Leading the scoreboard for Wesleyan was Sarah Grab (Erie, Pa.). Grab notched 18 points for the game and had the stat highs for field goals, three-pointers, and free throws. Emily Facemyer (Sissonville, W.Va.) and Sarah Van Horn (Malta, Ohio) also hit their shots for the Lady ‘Cats with 12 and 10 points, respectively.

On the assisting side, Crystal Johnson (Clinton, Md.) recorded her team’s high with five.

Defensively, the Lady Bobcats were headed up by Julie Bell (Sharon, Pa.) who tallied eight rebounds and Brandi Wynn (Hyattsville, Md.) who made three steals.

The next day (Dec. 3) Wesleyan played Wingate University. The Bulldogs shot out to an early lead and defeated the Lady ‘Cats 95-51. Grab netted 21 points for the game, more than any player on both teams.

Freshman Maria Milfeit (Allison Park, Pa.) topped the stats in rebounds with seven total (five offensive and two defensive). Facemyer led the assists with four.

Despite the two losses, Grab was named to the All-OrthoCarolina Invitational team for her play over the weekend. Other players announced to the team were Celeste Trahan (Elizabeth City State), Giovanni Booker (Carson-Newman), Amanda Ray (Carson-Newman), Tanetra Barrett (Wingate), and Veronica Taylor (Wingate). Taylor was selected as the overall MVP.

The Lady 'Cats next head to Pennsylvania where they will play Gannon University on Dec. 10 and Mercyhurst College on the 12.

Box Score vs. Seton Hill University
Box Score vs. University of Southern Indiana

Greensburg, Pa.-Wesleyan opened their season with a win against Seton Hill on Tuesday, Nov. 22. Despite going into overtime, the game ended with the Lady ‘Cats up 76-71.

Julie Bell (Sharon, Pa.) got Wesleyan on the scoreboard 56 seconds into the game, giving them the 2-0 advantage. The Knights’ Elena Radenkovic tried to tie things up but she missed her shot, and Bell grabbed the rebound. With an assist by Emily Facemyer (Sissonville, Ohio), Sarah Van Horn (Malta, Ohio) netted her jumper for the 4-0 lead.

But Seton Hill fought to get on the board, and with less than ten minutes left in the first half, the Knights were ahead 20-10. A three-pointer from Sarah Grab (Erie, Pa.) helped Wesleyan begin to close the gap, but at halftime Seton Hill was up 31-24.

It was not until 9:29 was left in the second half that the Lady ‘Cats took the lead over the Knights. Sierra Holstein (Strongsville, Ohio) nabbed a field goal to put her team up 48-47. Both Wesleyan and Seton Hill battled for a clear advantage but neither squad was able to gain more than a five point lead.

With 15 seconds remaining in the game, Van Horn netted a three-pointer to put the Lady Bobcats up 62-59. The Knights, however, were determined not to let up and Autumn Himes sent the game into overtime with her shot.

In the five minute OT period, Wesleyan was able to outscore Seton Hill 14 to nine. Holstein came through for the Lady ‘Cats, scoring more than half of their points in the extra period.

Grab came off the court as the both the Lady Bobcats top scorer (28 points) and assist maker (nine assists). Defensive standouts for Wesleyan were Van Horn with 11 defensive rebounds (13 total) and Holstein with ten defensive rebounds (12 total). Van Horn also headed the stats in steals with five.

Evansville, Ind.-On Sunday, Nov. 27, Wesleyan traveled to play Southern Indiana. In their second game of the season, the Lady ‘Cats found their record split 1-1. The Screaming Eagles took the win 73-60.

In the first half, Facemyer opened up Wesleyan’s board with their first five points. Southern Indiana, however, gained a 10-5 lead. The point gap widened, and at halftime the Lady Bobcats were down 37-26.

Despite efforts by Van Horn and Bell, who led Wesleyan’s stats in points with 12 apiece, the Lady Bobcats could not get within range of Southern Indiana. Lucia Darling (Indianapolis, Ind.) had the high for Wesleyan assists with seven. Bell captured the rebounds with a total of ten.

The Lady ‘Cats continue to play on the road, next headed to Wingate, N.C. for a tournament over Dec. 2 and 3. They will match-up against Carson Newman College (Tenn.) and Wingate University.