SPORTS

 

DAVIDSON, N.C. — Returning to the postseason for the first time since 2012-13, the Davidson women’s basketball team will host Marshall in the first round of the Women’s Basketball Invitational (WBI) Wednesday night at 7 p.m. inside John M. Belk Arena.

The Wildcats (17-14) are making their fourth postseason appearance all-time, with this being their first invite into the WBI. The Thundering Herd (16-14) are making their second trip into the WBI after playing in the 2015 tournament, where it advanced to the second round after defeating Northern Kentucky (81-79) before falling to Mercer ( 73-71). 

Video Stream, ESPN+
The Wildcats first round game will be streamed live through ESPN+ and can be found by clicking at the link above.

Opening Tip …
•Davidson is in its 40th season and has collected 450 wins in program history.
•The ‘Cats are in their fifth year in the Atlantic 10 after a 21-year run in the SoCon.
•Davidson was picked 11th in the A-10 preseason poll, but went on to finish in a tie for fourth place.
•10 letterwinners return and three starters from a year ago, while three freshmen were added.
•Head coach Gayle Coats Fulks is in her second year (29-32) and has an 0-0 record vs. Marshall.

Last Game Out vs. Dayton, March 8 …
•Dayton shot a game-high 54.2 percent and had two 20-point scorers as Davidson fell 84-67 in the quarterfinals of the Atlantic 10 Women’s Basketball Championship.
•The Flyers hit 32-of-59 shots from the floor, including 8-of-18 from behind the arc, and went 12-for-14 at the charity stripe. In addition to the shooting performance, Dayton used a 10-0 run in the second quarter to push its lead into double digits and the ‘Cats were never able to get any closer than 11 the rest of the way.
•Justine Lyon scored 19 points on 8-of-13 shooting, while Sarah Donovan had 16 points and eight rebounds. Cassidy Gould netted 14 points to round out Davidson’s trio of double-figure scorers.

Postseason History …
•This is Davidson’s fourth all-time postseason appearance and the first in the WBI. The other three appearances were in the Women’s National Invitational (WNIT) in 2006-07, 2011-12 and 2012-13.
•The Wildcats are 1-3 in postseason games.
•The 2012-13 season was Davidson’s last postseason appearance, with an automatic bid into the WNIT. The Wildcats reached the second round that year for the first time with a win at Old Dominion before falling to cross-county rival Charlotte.  

A-10 Postseason Awards …
•The Atlantic 10 handed out its postseason awards Thursday and Davidson had three players earn honors: Sarah Donovan was named the league’s Most Improved Player of the Year and earned a spot on the A-10 All-Second Team, while Justine Lyon was named the A-10 Sixth Woman of the Year as well as All-Third Team. Katie Turnerjoined Lyon on the league’s All-Third Team.

Wildcat All-Time Record Watch …
•Justine Lyon became the 20th player in program history to reach 1,000 points last year and currently sits in 5th place all-time with 1,431. The senior also ranks in several other top-15 categories including: field goals/free throws made (8th, 523/5th, 290) and three-pointers (13th, 95).
•Kianna Speight has 134 career three-pointers for 9th-most all-time, while Katie Turner sits right behind her with 131 career three-pointers. Turner is also in the top-15 in assists with 239 (15th).

Random Notes …
•Davidson’s 17 wins this year are the most since collecting 22 during the 2012-13 campaign.
•The Wildcats’ 10 A-10 wins were a program best and the most league wins since 11 in 2013-14.
•Sarah Donovan has 11 double-doubles this season to give her 14 on her career list.
•It is the most double-doubles since Mackenzie Latt recorded 11 as a freshman in 2014-15.
•Donovan has led the team in rebounding 19 times, with 13 double-digit rebounding games.
•Katie Turner’s 132 assists and Kianna Speights’ 68 threes rank in the top-10 single-season records.
•The Wildcats are 10-4 at home, the most wins since going 12-1 during the 2011-12 campaign.
•Davidson has had at least three double-digit scorers in 26 of the 31 games this year.
•Davidson has a single season-best 206 made three-pointers, breaking the 180 set during 2007-08.
•The Wildcats top the A-10 as a team in points (66.1 per game) and are second in assists (14.1).
•Donovan is second in the league in rebounding (9.0) and Turner is first in assist/turnover (2.0).

All-Time Series vs. Marshall …
•The series is seven games old and Marshall has won all of them dating back to the mid-90’s.
•The most recent game was Feb. 22, 1997, at Davidson and the ‘Cats fell 67-66.

Scouting the Herd…
•Marshall is just 2-3 in its last five games, including dropping a 64-56 double-overtime setback to UTEP in the first round of the C-USA Tournament.
•Shayna Gore leads the team at 20.2 points per game, with 15 games of 20 or more points including four games of 30 or more points.
•Gore was was named first-team All-Conference USA, the program’s second player to earn a spot on the all-first team.
•Her 93 three-pointers are a new Herd single-season record, breaking her mark of 86 set a year ago.
•Marshall went 5-8 in road games this year, with all five wins coming against C-USA foes.
•The Herd had a 10-6 conference record, good for the sixth seed in the C-USA Tournament.
•Marshall is 11-1 this season when it scores 70-plus points and 5-13 when it falls short of that mark.
•Head coach Tony Kemper is in his second season with a 25-34 overall record.

A Look Ahead…
Should the Wildcats win, they will play the winner of UNC Asheville and Appalachian State on the road either Sunday or Monday, March 24 or 25.