Undefeated WBB vs Miami

Disclaimer: I am not a hoops wiz; the below info is based mostly on looking at season stats and reading a couple of write-ups on the Miami website. I can't watch a bb game and tell you whether the offense is running a 4 out,1 in scheme; or playing the rotating unicyle offense(/s). So take everything below with a grain of salt.

The Lady Hokies play Miami at 2PM Thursday Jan 3 at Miami. The game is on ACC network.

Miami will be the first real challenge for the ladies. Miami is tall: Mompremier (6'4")averages a double double per game. Hof(6'3") averages 9 rebounds and 13.5 points per game. Five starters average more than 10 points per game. Their average rebound margin is +9.7. Average scoring margin is +16.6. Two of their losses were on the road: one in the Big 10 challenge to Purdue, 63-74, and in the finals of the WNIT preseason tournament to Iowa State, 52-75. In both losses, they shot very poorly from 3, 10% vs Iowa State, 25% vs Purdue. In the Iowa State game, they had foul trouble, Purdue shot 67% from 3. Even when they shoot poorly, their average from the field is respectable because the bigs get a lot of easy shots. Their other loss was to Central Michigan at home. CMU was very balanced and had some bigs who could shoot the three. Mompremier and Hof got tired chasing the 3 point shooters. Magarity and Baptiste are going to have to play very well to keep this Hokies in this game. Miami defense is also very good. The Hokies will have to watch their passes in this game.

Starters(I think based on minutes per game)

Beatrice Mompremier: No. 32; 6'4" Redshirt Junior forward. Plays 26.7 minutes/game. Shoots 54.3% from the field,1 for 1 from 3,51.3% FT. Contributes 11.3 rebounds and 15.9 points per game. Also averages almost 1 block and over 1 steal per game.

Emese Hof: No. 21; 6'3" Senior forward/center. Plays 26.9 minutes/game. Shoots 63.8% from the field, has no attempts from 3, 63.9% FT. Contributes 8.9 rebounds and 13.9 points per game. Also averages over 2 blocks and almost 1 steal per game.

Laura Cornelius: No. 1; 5'8" Redshirt Junior guard. Plays 29.3 minutes/game. Shoots 46.7% from the field, 47.1 from 3, 86.1% FT. Contributes 2.9 rebounds and 10.9 points per game.

Mykea Gray: No. 5, 5'4" Sophomore guard. Plays 24.1 minutes/game. Shoots 42.9% from the field, 35.7 from 3, 80.0% FT. Contributes 1.7 rebounds and 10.6 points per game.

Kelsey Marshall: No. 20, 5'9" Sophomore guard. Plays 25.4 minutes/game. Shoots 42.2% from the field, 37.8 from 3, 57.1% FT. Contributes 2.8 rebounds and 10.1 points per game.

Others with significant minutes:

Khalia Prather: No. 25, 6'1" Redshirt senior forward. Plays 13.0 minutes per game. 55.6% from the field, no attempts from 3, 0-2 FT. Contributes 1.5 rebounds and 5.0 points per game. Just back from injury; has only played in the last 2 games.

Sarah Mortensen: No. 12, 6'1" Junior guard/forward. Plays 13.9 minutes per game. 45.5% from the field, 47.7 from 3, 33.3% FT. Contributes 2.5 rebounds and 4.9 points per game.

Endia Banks: No. 3, 5'9" Sophomore guard. Plays 20.2 minutes/game. Shoots 40.3% from the field, 30.4% from 3, 42.9% FT. Contributes 3.1 rebounds and 4.2 points per game.

Taylor Mason: No. 13, 5'9" Sophomore guard. Plays 19.6 minutes/game. Shoots 30.0% from the field, 13.6% from 3, 80% FT. Contributes 2.5 rebounds and 3.9 points per game.

Jamir Huston: No. 15, 6'0" Freshman forward. Plays 10.3 minutes/game. Shoots 46.9% from the field, no attempts from 3, 47.6% FT. Contributes 2.6 rebounds and 2.9 points per game.

Rebecca Ripley: No. 23, 6'0" Redshirt freshman guard/forward. Plays 4.8 minutes/game. Shoots 36.4% from the field, 50% from 3, 2 of 2 FT. Contributes 0.4 rebounds and 1.6 points per game.

Miami is a team that tries to use its height on offense; most of their scoring is in the paint. They do have some 3 point ability; they make 8.4 three point shots per game on 21.7 attempts. Since they have Mompremier and Hof at 6'4" and 6'3", they have controlled the paint against most of their opponents. Mompremier is more of a finesse player; Hof is bigger and stronger. Neither is as good as Magarity; but that combination inside is going to be a challenge for the Hokies. The key to this game will be three point shooting by the Hokies and blocking out positioning in the paint to keep Hof and Mompremier from getting easy put backs on missed shots. Miami really has no answer if the ladies can shoot well from outside. Playing fast and wearing out their bigs can have a big impact in this game. Getting Miami bigs in foul trouble would also be a big help. The Hokies can win; but it will be a battle.