Wheeling, W. Va. – Throughout the early part of the season, Wheeling University Head Women’s Basketball Coach Anna Kowalska has tested her team with a tough non-conference schedule. Their season-opening four-game road trip comes to an end on Tuesday when they travel to Crestview Hills, Kentucky to take on Thomas More at 5 PM. The Cardinals look to build off their momentum from the win against UPJ and get back to .500 before returning home.
On Wednesday, the Cardinals played their third straight road game to start the season with a trip to the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown. It was a fast start that got the Cardinals going as they scored 16 first quarter points and never looked back. They would shoot 38.89% from the floor over the first 10 minutes, but UPJ continued to battle throughout the half. They would outscore the Cardinals 17-13 over the final 10 minutes and the two teams went into the locker room deadlocked at 29-29. The Mountain Cats had Wheeling on the ropes late in the game, holding a three-point lead heading into the fourth quarter, before Wheeling’s defense locked things down. The Cardinals allowed just six points over the final 10 minutes and walked away with the 65-50 win.
The Cardinal’s freshman continue to lead the way for the team and on this night it was Kristel Rattasepp leading the charge. The freshman scored 19 points to lead the Cardinals on the court, Of those 19 points, ten of those came in the second half as she led the Cardinals to a comeback victory. It was the second time this season that the freshman has hit double digits, putting up 11 points in the season opener against Edinboro. She is shooting 43.8% from the floor this season and has been one of the many freshman who has been stepping up for the Cardinals this season. Rattasepp looks to continue being a leader for the Cardinals as they continue through their non-conference schedule in the week before Thanksgiving.
Under the net, the Cardinals had Rachel Wilson step up, picking up her second double-double in the first three games. She set a new career-high with 15 rebounds while adding 12 points in the effort. After having a breakout season last year, Wilson is looking to take it a step further in her Redshirt sophomore season. She is nearly averaging a double-double on the season, with 9.7 PPG and 10.0 REB/G, and has been a strong presence under the net for the Cardinals. Graci Fairman rounded out the big day for the Cardinals, finishing with 15 points off the bench for the Cardinals. It was her first double digit effort of the season, shooting 40% from the floor and 2-7 from three-point range. Fairman was a spark off the bench and looks to continue to provide that spark this season.
Tuesday’s game wraps up what has been a four-game road trip to start the season for the Cardinals. It is the first game where the team does not see a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) as they head to the Great Midwest Athletic Conference (G-MAC). Kowalska has put together a tough non-conference schedule so that they can prepare for what is to come in the MEC schedule. Wheeling has two more non-conference games ahead of them before officially opening the MEC schedule on November 26th at Point Park. They look to get over .500 for the first time this season before they make their push for a spot in the MEC Tournament.
The Matchup
The Cardinals and Saints are meeting for the second time in program history, with Wheeling winning the only previous meeting. It will be the Cardinal’s first trip to Crestview Hills, Kentucky, after they welcomed Thomas More to Wheeling last season. The Cardinals scored 78 points in the first meeting between the two teams and they look to keep the offense going on Tuesday.
They last met on November 14th, 2023, in a game the Cardinals won 78-72. Leading the way for the Cardinals was former Cardinal Shamia Strayhorn, who finished with 16 points while going 7-16 from the floor. She was one of five Cardinals to hit double digits on the day, with Bryana Henderson (14), Gravi Fairman (12), former Cardinal Briarley Rogers (10), and Kenzie Dalton (10) each reaching the mark.
The Details
Tip-off for Tuesday night’s game is scheduled for 5 PM inside the Connor Convocation Center on the campus of Thomas More University. You can watch the game live by clicking HERE or follow along with Live Stats by clicking HERE.
