WVU Women's Basketball Looks to Bounce Back Against Ranked Louisville

The West Virginia University (WVU) women's basketball team is preparing to face off against a determined Louisville team, who will be seeking their first win against a ranked opponent this season. The Mountaineers, now 19-2 and 6-1 in the Big East Conference, are looking to rebound from a disappointing performance against Seton Hall on Wednesday, where they shot just 34% and lacked energy.

Key Takeaways:

• WVU coach Mike Carey expects Louisville to come in fired up and play a physical game, citing their previous matchup against Georgetown as an example.
• Carey has been impressed with Louisville's frontcourt trio, consisting of center Keshia Hines and forwards Monique Reid and Ashley Rainey, who average 15.7 points and 9.1 rebounds per game.
• Forward Madina Ali, who has played only 12 minutes in the past two games due to a high-ankle sprain, is a game-time decision and may not play against Louisville.
• WVU guard Vanessa House will move into the starting lineup if Ali is unable to play, while Korinne Campbell will shift into Ali's power forward spot.
• Louisville's leading scorer Becky Burke averages 15.8 points per game, while Angel McCoughtry, the team's previous All-American, has moved on to the WNBA.
• WVU needs to play better defensively and on the boards to have a chance against Louisville, who has been physical in their games.

Statistics:

• WVU's record against ranked teams this season: 0-0
• Louisville's record against top-16 teams this season: 0-1
• WVU's shooting percentage against Seton Hall: 34%
• Louisville's average points per game: 68.4
• Becky Burke's average points per game: 15.8
• Monique Reid's average points and rebounds per game: 15.7 and 9.1

Sources:

• The Dominion Post
• McClatchy-Tribune Information Services
• WVU Women's Basketball Team website (mentioned as "The Mountaineers")