West Liberty, W.Va. – The West Liberty University women's basketball team continues their early season home schedule with a match-up against Kentucky State. The Hilltoppers and Thorobreds will meet for the first time on the hardwood at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday evening.

GAME DETAILS

• Location: West Liberty, W.Va. (Academic Sports & Recreation Center "ASRC")
• Tip-Off: 5:30 P.M.

WEST LIBERTY STORYLINES

• West Liberty opened the season by going 1-1 in the Atlantic Region Crossover, defeating Mercyhurst 74-71 in overtime before falling to Edinboro 72-69.
• Through two games, the Hilltoppers are averaging 71.5 points, 41.5 rebounds, 15.0 assists, 10.0 steals, and 3.5 blocks per game, while shooting the ball 35.2 percent from the field, 36.7 percent from 3-point range, and 67.3 percent from the free throw line.
• The Hilltoppers are led by three players who are averaging double figures as Karly McCutcheon averages 17.0, Corinne Thomas 14.0 and Jenna Riccardo 10.0
• McCutcheon and Thomas each posted a double-double in the season opener, their second and fourth of their career. They both lead the way with six 3-pointers made on the year, shooting 50.0 and 40.0 from beyond the arc respectively.
• Thomas is averaging a team-best 7.5 rebounds per game after she grabbed 12 boards in the season opener, she Is followed by McCutcheon who has 6.5 while Riccardo has 6.0.
• In her return from injury, Bailee Smith has continued to be the floor general and lead the offense. She averages a team0hgih 3.5 assists while McCutcheon has added 3.0.
• Thomas has made her presence known on the defense side of the ball as she has forced 3.0 steals per game and McCutcheon has made it difficult for the opponents to get shots off by averaging 1.5 assists per game.
• Kyle Cooper is in his seventh season as the head coach at West Liberty with a career record of 93-74 with the Hilltoppers.

KENTUCKY STATE STORYLINES

• Kentucky State opened their season with a 74-48 victory over Simmons College to move to 1-0 on the year, following an 88-71 exhibition loss at Kentucky.
• After going 16-11 (12-7 SIAC) in 2022-23, the Thorobreds were picked to finish third in the Western Division of the SIAC Women's Basketball Preseason Coaches' Poll for 2023-24.
• After one game KSU is averaging 74.0 points, 50.0 rebounds, 17.0 assists, 13.0 steals, and 6.0 blocks per game while shooting the ball 43.3 percent from the field, 27.3 percent from 3-point range, and 76.9 percent from the free throw line.
• Gracen Kerr was tabbed as a Second Team All-SIAC Preseason selection by the coaches, she opened the season by recording 15 points, six assists, five steals, and three rebounds in the season opening win over the Falcons.
• Mondrea Williams grabbed ten rebounds against Simmons, to go along with seven points and a pair of blocks and assists.
• Taleah Dilworth leads the team in scoring after one game thus far, as she scored 16 points on 6-of-11 shooting from the field while also collecting six rebounds, three steals, and two assists.
• Ten of the 15 members of the team for the Thorobreds are either a senior or graduate student, and nine of them have transferred in from another school.
• Armani Williams is in her first season as the head coach at Kentucky State with her first career win occurring in the season opener to move to 1-0.

SERIES HISTORY

• Wednesday evening will mark the first-ever meeting between West Liberty and Kentucky State in women's basketball.