Concord Stats -
WVSU Stats -
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Complete Game Notes
ATHENS, W.Va.- The Concord University women's basketball team opens Mountain East Conference play with road tilt with West Virginia State Wednesday evening at 5:30 p.m.
COVERAGE:
Live Stats
Live Video
HISTORY:
Series History vs. WVSU: Concord leads 38-24
Last Five Meetings vs. WVSU
February 26, 2025: WVSU 98 - Concord 67 (Institute, W.Va.)
November 26, 2024: WVSU 70 - Concord 63 (Athens, W.Va.)
March 9, 2024: WVSU 73 - Concord 62 (Wheeling, W.Va.)
February 28, 2024: WVSU 72 - Concord 63 (Athens, W.Va.)
November 21, 2023: Concord 70 - #13 WVSU 57 (Institute, W.Va.)
TALE OF THE TAPE: Concord vs. West Virginia State
| Concord |
Statistical Category |
WVSU |
| 3 |
Wins |
2 |
| 76.0 |
Points Per Game |
72.8 |
| 79.7 |
Points Allowed Per Game |
74.4 |
| 39.0 |
Rebounds Per Game |
39.2 |
| 13.0 |
Assists Per Game |
12.2 |
| 8.8 |
Steals Per Game |
8.2 |
| 3.0 |
Blocks Per Game |
6.4 |
| 45.1 |
Field Goal Percentage |
43.8 |
| 32.7 |
Three Point Percentage |
30.9 |
| 70.5 |
Free Throw Percentage |
73.1 |
Concord Leaders:
Points Per Game: Abbie Smith (17.5),
Kenyah Stubbs (14.8),
Olivia Ziolkowski (10.7)
Rebounds Per Game: Abbie Smith (10.5),
Olivia Ziolkowski (5.7)
Assists Per Game: Kiley Smich (2.7),
Kennedy Scales (2.5)
Blocks Per Game: Abbie Smith (1.2),
Olivia Ziolkowski (1.2)
Steals Per Game: Kiley Smich (2.3)
Field-Goal Leader: Abbie Smith (59.7)
Three-Pointers Made: Olivia Ziolkowski (8)
Free-Throw Percentage: Abbie Smith (80.0)
West Virginia State Leaders:
Points Per Game: Baylee Goins (15.2),
Imani Hickman (13.6),
Ahjanae Young (11.8)
Rebounds Per Game: Lillian Jackson (11.4),
Imani Hickman (6.2)
Assists Per Game: Baylee Goins (2.8),
Lillian Jackson (2.4)
Blocks Per Game: Lillian Jackson (3.0)
Steals Per Game: Imani Hickman (2.6)
Field-Goal Leader: Baylee Goins (55.3)
Three-Pointers Made: Baylee Goins (12)
Free-Throw Percentage: Lillian Jackson (100.0)
OPENING TIP
The Concord University women's basketball team wraps up a two-game road trip with the start of Mountain East Conference play 5:30 p.m. Wednesday at West Virginia State.
BACK IN ACTION
Though she was forced to miss the first three games of the season, junior guard
Alexis Frazee has made an impact for the Mountain Lions since returning to the court prior to the UVa.-Wise road game. Slowly working her way back into the rotation, Frazee has only played 34 minutes in three games, but saw action for a season-high 14 minutes in Monday's game at Ferrum. The Vincent, Ohio native scored 11 points on 4-for-5 shooting, including knocking in three three-pointers. It was Frazee's best game over her last nine, dating back to last season when she had 12 points at West Virginia Wesleyan. Monday was the seventh time in 20 career games at CU that Frazee has scored 10 or more points.
SECOND 20
Through six games, Concord has routinely become a second-half team. The Mountain Lions have been outscored by 39 points in the first halves of games this season, but have outscored the opposition by 17 points in the second half. Some of the second-half rallies include erasing an 11-point halftime deficit versus Bluefield State, and outscoring BSU by 13 points in the second half November 19. On November 15, CU overcame a seven-point margin against Lock Haven and bettered the Bald Eagles by 16 points in the second half. And Monday evening, Concord was down 14 points at halftime before cutting the margin to six points to start the fourth quarter. The Maroon and Gray has been particularly strong in the third quarters this season as they shoot 49.1 percent (52-for-106) out of the locker room.
INSIDE OUT
Senior forwards
Abbie Smith and
Olivia Ziolkowski have proven to be a tough 1-2 combination for opponents this season as Concord's two starting forwards. Smith is third in the MEC in scoring (17.5) and fourth in rebounding (10.5). While Ziolkowski has proven her worth as a rebounder (5.7), she has also made an impact on both ends of the floor. The Beckley, West Virginia native leads CU in made three-pointers (eight) and is tied with Smith for the team lead in blocks (seven). The duo is tied for fourth in the MEC in blocks per game (1.2). Ziolkowski has two games of three blocks this season, including Monday night at Ferrum.
SNAP THE STREAK
Concord enters Wednesday night's matchup with West Virginia State having lost the last four games to the Yellow Jackets—the Mountain Lions' last win came in November 2023, 70-57, when WVSU was ranked 13th in Division II. Prior to losing four in a row to West Virginia, CU had won nine of the previous 10 contests versus the Yellow Jackets. In last year's first meeting, the Mountain Lions dropped a 70-63 decision. Smith notched 11 points and 13 rebounds. She added 22 points and 12 rebounds in the February meeting last season. Senior guard
Kennedy Scales provided eight points in the latest matchup. Frazee was the only other current Mountain Lion to score in the game as she netted four points in 20 minutes off the bench.
LOW POST LIMBO
The MEC opener features four of the best post players in the conference in Concord's tandem of Smith and Ziolkowski going up against West Virginia State's
Lillian Jackson and
Imani Hickman. Smith is averaging a double-double in eight career games against the Yellow Jackets, scoring 14.9 points and snatching 10.5 rebounds per game. Smith's best career game versus WVSU came in the 2023 MEC Tournament when she went for 29 points and 15 rebounds. Smith and Ziolkowski are combining for 28.2 points per game and 16.2 rebounds per contest. Meanwhile, Hickman (13.6) and Jackson (11.6) average over 25 points per game. Jackson grabs 11.4 rebounds per game, second in the MEC, with Hickman chipping in 6.2 boards per contest. Hickman, a former Mountain Lion, tallied 15 points and 11 rebounds versus her current squad in last year's first contest between the schools.
TURN UP THE HEAT
Over the last handful of years, both Concord and West Virginia State have been known for their full-court pressure. Though WVSU has backed off the press some with new head coach Whitney Bays, but both teams average better than 18 turnovers forced per game. Concord is third in the MEC in turnover forced per game (18.8) while WVSU turns the opponent over 18.0 times per game, fifth in the league. CU's 8.8 steals per game are third in the MEC while the Yellow Jackets rank fifth (8.2). Hickman is fifth in the MEC in steals per game (2.6) while Concord's junior guard
Kiley Smich is eighth (2.3). West Virginia State is averaging the most turnover per game (23.8) in the MEC.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
4 - Career-high assists for Smith in Concord's game at Ferrum.
42.1 - Ziolkowski is shooting 42.1 percent from three-point range this season (8-of-19).
83 - Career blocks for Smith which is now top five in program history.
SCOUTING THE YELLOW JACKETS
Hickman and Jackson are the top shot blocking duo in the MEC. Jackson averages 3.0 blocks per game while Hickman has seven blocks in five games. West Virginia State's leading scorer is
Baylee Goins as her 15.2 points per game ranks eighth in the conference. West Virginia State has alternated wins and losses this season. The Yellow Jackets have been off for a week after an 83-79 loss at Pitt-Johnstown prior to Thanksgiving. WVSU ranks third in the MEC in field-goal defense (39.5) while Concord ranks second in field-goal offense (45.1).
