Concord Hosts Nationally-Ranked Glenville State on Senior Day

Concord Stats - Glenville State Stats - Live Stats - Live Video - Complete Game Notes

ATHENS, W.Va. - After its biggest win of the season, an 82-71 win over regionally-ranked West Virginia State, the Concord University women's basketball team looks to carry over its momentum to the final regular season game against nationally-ranked Glenville State 2:00 p.m. Saturday on Senior Day.

LIVE COVERAGE
The Concord University Sports Information Department will have live in-game statistics and live video of Saturday's game. 

SERIES HISTORY: Glenville State leads 43-12

Live Stats
Live Video

LAST FIVE MEETINGS
January 21, 2023: #2 Glenville State 78 - Concord 69 (Glenville, W.Va.)
February, 26, 2022: #1 Glenville State 96 - Concord 53 (Glenville, W.Va.)
January 22, 2022: #3 Glenville State 105 - Concord 67 (Athens, W.Va.)
February 27, 2021: Concord 97 - #17 Glenville State 86 (Athens, W.Va.)
March 7, 2020: Glenville State 70 - Concord 68 (Wheeling, W.Va.)

CONCORD AT A GLANCE
Overall Record: 12-15
MEC Record: 9-12
Home Record: 7-5
Away Record: 4-9
Neutral Record: 1-1

THE SENIOR GAME
Four Mountain Lions take to the Carter Center hardwood for the final time Saturday versus fourth-ranked Glenville State: senior forward Lauryn Avery, senior guard Emilee Beggs, graduate guard Maggie Guynn and senior guard Ale Sydnor. Avery has appeared in 53 career games with 26 of her games coming this season. She had a career-best 10 rebounds versus Notre Dame earlier this season. Avery was named a CSC Academic All-District performer as well. Beggs, a Bluefield, West Virginia native, has played in 13 career games. One of the most accomplished players in program history, Guynn is 17 points away from being the eighth-leading scorer in program history as she starts the day with 1,552 career points. Guynn suits up in career game 131 Saturday and ranks top 10 in program history in free-throw percentage, made three-pointers and three-point percentage. Over three seasons, Sydnor has played in 24 career games.

HEART & HUSTLE
Concord used its defensive prowess to down West Virginia State Wednesday night as it held the Yellow Jackets 22 points below its season average. CU grabbed a season-high 55 rebounds, including a career-best 11 boards from junior guard Nakaila Gray as part of her first career double-double (15 points, 11 rebounds). Avery came off the bench and pulled down six rebounds in 10 minutes while freshman forward Abbie Smith matched Avery. The Mountain Lions also collected a season-high seven blocks with Avery and junior guard Maddie Ratcliff each recording two. The 55 rebounds were the most for Concord since tallying 58 rebounds in the season-opening game of the 2019-20 season versus Seton Hill. CU also held West Virginia State to 30.6 percent shooting for the game.

SEAL THE GAME
Though the Mountain Lions only shot 40 percent from the field Wednesday, they were able to secure a win by hitting 85.7 percent (24-for-28) of their foul shots. The 24 free throws set a season best for Concord. CU was 8-of-10 at the foul line in the final minute of the game. Overall, Ratcliff made 7-of-8 at the charity stripe. Both Guynn and junior guard Jaisah Smith made their four attempts. The 85.7 percent was the third highest of the season for Concord when attempting at least 10 foul shots. Guynn is fourth in the conference in foul shooting (80.4 percent) while J. Smith is fifth (78.8). A. Smith ranks ninth (77.1).

BALANCED EFFORT
For the third time this season—and the first time since the January 28 home win over Alderson Broaddus—Concord had five players finish in double figures versus West Virginia State. Ratcliff netted a season-best 17 points on an efficient 4-for-8 shooting along with her effort at the free-throw line. Guynn posted a team-high 18 points. Along her first career double-double, Gray scored a career high in points. J. Smith came off the bench for 15 points to go with five assists as she scored seven of those in the fourth quarter. A. Smith tossed in 13 points for her team-leading 22^nd game of the season posting at least 10 points. Earlier this season, CU had four players in double figures at Glenville State: Both Smiths (16 each), Guynn (13 points) and senior guard Jazz Blankenship (12 points).
 
PLAYING THE BEST
When Concord fell to Glenville State 78-69 on January 21, the Pioneers were ranked second in the nation. The win for GSU was the start of a 10-game win streak—the 11^th longest active win streak in Division II. Saturday marks the fourth consecutive game between the Mountain Lions and Glenville where the Pioneers are ranked in the top 20, and the third straight game that Glenville State is a top-five team in Division II. In CU's 97-86 win over the 17^th-rated Pioneers two seasons ago, Guynn was pivotal with 23 points while J. Smith tossed in 13 points. CU shot 60.6 percent from the floor and made 10 three-pointers with Guynn and J. Smith combining for seven triples.

SAME STYLE
The Mountain Lions were able to stymy West Virginia State neutralizing WVSU's high-pressure defense and rebounding attack. Glenville State brings an identical system to the Carter Center. The Pioneers make 10 three-pointers per game and colme up with more than 15 steals per contest. GSU shoots 32 percent from three-point range. In January, Concord made it tough on the Pioneers by holding Glenville State to 36.8 percent shooting and 24.3 percent from three-point distance. And maybe most importantly, Concord only committed 15 turnovers in the first meeting with Glenville State. CU was outrebounded by the Pioneers, 42-30, in the first meeting, but is coming off a 55-45 edge on the boards versus the best rebounding team in the MEC in WVSU.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS
15- Concord is 5-1 this season when recording at least 15 assists after handing out 16 Wednesday.

85- Career wins for Guynn—the four-year seniors have 62 wins.

333- Career games played by Guynn (130), Blankenship (104) and senior guard Ashton Funderburg (99) as Funderburg suits up in her 100^th career game Saturday

GLENVILLE STATE AT A GLANCE
Overall Record: 25-2
MEC Record: 19-2
Home Record: 13-0
Away Record: 10-2
Neutral Record: 2-0

SCOUTING THE PIONEERS
During its 10-game winning streak, the defending national champions have won by an average of 22 points with only the Concord game (78-69) and the Wheeling (81-74) contest being under 10 points. Breanna Campbell (17.5 points) and Mickayla Perdue (17.4 points) are sixth and seventh in the conference in scoring. Campbell is shooting a robust 50.7 percent from the floor. Perdue's 3.1 made three-pointers per game are second in the MEC. Hya Haywood comes up with 2.4 steals per game to go with her eight points.