WEST LIBERTY, W.Va. - The West Liberty University women's basketball team is finally home! The Hilltoppers begin their home slate this evening against Notre Dame College after four straight road games to begin the season.

THE BASICS
5:30 pm | Academic, Sports, and Recreation Complex (West Liberty, W.Va.) | 2022-23 Home Opener
Notre Dame (1-3, 1-0 MEC) vs. West Liberty (2-2, 1-0 MEC)
Live stats and video links can be viewed here.

THE HILLTOPPERS
West Liberty battled to a 2-2 record in its four-game road stretch to start the season and enters tonight on the heels of a conference-opening win over Alderson Broaddus (82-73).

The 'Toppers went to extra time in both games at the MEC/PSAC Challenge on opening weekend, winning one (108-107) in double overtime over Mercyhurst and dropping the season-opener (70-67) against California (Pa.). Last Wednesday, costly fourth quarter turnovers resulted in a 79-68 loss at Ohio Dominican.

West Liberty is averaging 81.3 points per game and allowing 82.3 for a narrow -1 margin. Beyond the arc, WLU is converting 32.7% of their 101 attempts, while holding opponents to just 29 tries and a 13.8% conversion rate. On the glass, the Hilltoppers have held the margins near neutral and have held advantages on the offensive end each of the last two games.

For the first time this season, the 'Toppers won the turnover battle (14-19) against Alderson Broaddus, a good bounce back from a shaky start that featured 25+ turnovers in each of the first three games.

Karly McCutcheon has led the team in scoring three of the four games and still scored 30 points in the other game (Mercyhurst). She is coming off a 24-point performance at AB, where she tied her early season-high with four threes off a season-most 14 tries. The sophomore guard is averaging 22 points and 5.0 rebounds per game, while also leading the team with 17 assists.

Arriana Manzay has created a dynamic duo with McCutcheon in the early going, averaging 20.3 of her own points per game. They are the only two 'Toppers in double figures. Manzay commands the boards averaging 8.5 per game and has grabbed 12 of her 34 on the offensive end. Her first double-double of the season came in the last outing at AB with 23 points and 11 rebounds. On the season, Manzay is shooting 75.6% from the field.

THE FALCONS
Notre Dame broke a three-game losing streak to start the season on Saturday in its conference opener against Wheeling in the home confines. The MEC-opener featured 11 lead changes and three ties, but timely scoring by NDC gave them 55-51 win in the lowest-scoring game of their season so far.

In non-conference play to start the season, Notre Dame lost to a trio of PSAC opponents, Edinboro (92-72), Gannon (70-58), and Slippery Rock (76-63).

Redshirt sophomore Alana Ellis led the way on Saturday with 22 points and is averaging 17.8 points in the early season, the lone Falcon in double-digits. Lilee Carlson was the only other Falcon to net a 20-point game so far, scoring 21 in the season opener against Edinboro, and joined Ellis in double figures in the MEC opener with 13.

The Falcon team is averaging 62 points a game and allowing 72.3 for a -10.3 margin throughout the first four games. On the boards, NDC is -6.5 only out-rebounding Edinboro in game one by three. Notre Dame has hauled in double-digit offensive rebounds in three of their four games but has allowed 13 or more in every contest. Rebounding by committee is the mojo for the Falcons, with eight players averaging multiple boards led by Noel Weathers at 6.0, Lizzie Imrie at 4.0, and Ellis at 3.8. Cencere McDaniel has 11 rebounds on the season with a team-leading eight on the offensive glass.

Opponents have shot 22 more three pointers and convert at a 34.3% clip compared to 31.3% for NDC, while from the floor the Falcons are shooting 38.3% and allowing 43.4% of makes. Marina Adachi leads the outside shooting for NDC, shooting 46.2%, while Ellis has made three triples in back-to-back games.

In the turnover battle, Notre Dame averages 19.8 and takes 21.8 from opponents.

THE SERIES
Notre Dame holds the 11-9 advantage all-time. The teams split the season series last season with West Liberty winning the most recent meeting, 112-78 inside the ASRC in late February. The Hilltoppers have gone 5-4 since the 2013-14 season at home against NDC.

NEXT UP
West Liberty will be back home for its next MEC contest in just over a week on Wednesday (November 30) against West Virginia Wesleyan. Tip off inside the ASRC is scheduled for 5:30 pm.

Follow Hilltopper basketball all season online at HilltopperSports.com and on Twitter (@WLU_Hoops | @WLathletics), Instagram (@wlu_wbb | @wlu_athletics), and Facebook.