Concord Opens 2014 on Road at WLU and WJU

Complete Game Notes – Live Video (WLU) – Live Stats (WLU) – Live Video (WJU)


LIVE COVERAGE
The West Liberty Sports Information Department will provide both live video and live in-game statistics for the Concord-West Liberty game. A live video feed for the Concord-Wheeling Jesuit contest will also be available courtesy of the WJU Sports Information Office.

MOUNTAIN LION NOTES
• Concord will return to the hardwood for the first time since its win against West Virginia Wesleyan on Dec. 7.

• The Mountain Lions were paced by junior guard Melea Smith in the 70-62 victory against the Bobcats.

• Smith had career highs in points (14), made three pointers (three) and free throws made (five).

• Junior guard Rachel Artrip led CU in scoring with 15 points vs. WVW.

• The final Mountain Lion to finish in double figures for Concord against the Bobcats was junior forward Andrea Bertrand, who scored 10 points. She has now scored at least 10 points in 10 consecutive games dating back to last season.

• For the season, Bertrand is averaging team-highs of 17.9 points per game and 8.6 rebounds per contest.

• Bertrand is tied for fourth in the Mountain East Conference in points per game while also sitting fifth in rebounds.

• Freshman guard Olivia Morgan made her first career start against West Virginia Wesleyan. Morgan's biggest impact was felt on defense where she came away with four steals, a team and career-high.

• As a team against the Bobcats, Concord came away with a season-high 12 steals.

• In fact, it had been almost a whole calendar year since CU had 12 or more steals in game. The last time it happened was Jan. 3, 2013 against the University of Charleston.

• Along with Morgan stealing the ball four times against West Virginia Wesleyan, senior center Sammi Webster and junior guard Ashley Brown each collected three steals.

• Throughout the season, Concord has owned the offensive glass; the Mountain Lions rank third in the MEC in offensive rebounding at 17.2 offensive rebounds per contest.

• Bertrand and fellow junior forward Jacqueline Kestner rank among the league's best at controlling the offensive boards.

• Bertrand grabs an average of 3.86 offensive rebounds, ranking her first in the conference. Meanwhile, Kestner pulls down 3.29 offensive rebounds per contest, placing her seventh in the MEC.

• Junior guard Sissy Wagner ranks second for CU in scoring (16.2 ppg) and first in both assists (5.5 per game) and free throws made (27).

• The Mountain Lions appear to match-up well in their upcoming match-ups with West Liberty and Wheeling Jesuit.

• West Liberty enters the contest at 5-5 (2-2 MEC).Even though CU hasn't had great success against West Liberty, four of the last five contests between the two teams has been decided by eight points or less.

• Last year in their only meeting, CU was led by Artrip and Wagner with 15 points apiece.

• This season, West Liberty has five players that average at least 10 points per contest.

• Hilltoppers guard Liz Flowers leads the way in scoring 15.6 points per game and shooting 44.7 percent from three-point range. 

• Wheeling Jesuit will enter league play this weekend with a record of 3-5 and still in search of their first MEC win.

• The Cardinals have a quick turnaround as they will host UVa.-Wise on Sunday afternoon before playing Concord Monday afternoon.

• Wheeling Jesuit's best player is guard Breanna Butler, who averages 15.6 points per game while shooting 88 percent from the foul line and 41.2 percent from three-point range.

A CONCORD WIN WOULD
• A win over West Liberty would be Concord second all-time against the Hilltoppers dating back to 1994-1995.

• A win over Wheeling Jesuit would be the fifth for Concord in its last six match-ups with the Cardinals

• A win over both West Liberty and Wheeling Jesuit would move CU back to .500 (3-3) in Mountain East Conference play.

UP NEXT
Following Concord's two-game road trip, the Mountain Lions will return home to host the University of Charleston at 5:30 p.m. on Jan. 9.