West Virginia Mountaineers Vs. Elon Phoenix Preview: NCAA Women’s First Round

OPENING THOUGHTS

Wow.

What a run in the Big 12 Tournament by these girls!

Tynice Martin is on fire and I think that the Mountaineers have the potential to go as far as the Elite Eight if this run can continue.

I did a bracket on the Women’s Tournament Challenge, and here’s what I have:

Elon. Maryland. Duke.

No doubt that the Mountaineers can win those three games.

Just not UConn.

Ain’t nobody beating UConn, right?

WHEN/WHERE

Date: Friday, March 17th

Tip-Off Time: 2:30 PM ET

Where: XFINITY Center, College Park, MD

Derik Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports

Tickets: General Public (includes the Maryland-Bucknell game at Noon ET)

WATCH/LISTEN

TV: ESPN2 (West Virginia, North Carolina, western Pennsylvania, Garrett County MD)

Streaming Video: WatchESPN (or the ESPN app for smartphones)

Radio: WZST Variety 101 (100.9 FM in Morgantown) and the Mountaineer Sports Network from IMG (Radio Affiliates)

Streaming Audio: Mountaineer Sports Network from IMG on TuneIn Radio (or the TuneIn Radio app for smartphones)

BRACKET

THE ENEMY

Where are they from? Elon, North Carolina

Series History: WVU leads the series 4-0

Last Time: West Virginia 67, Elon 57 on December 28, 2015 in Morgantown

Record: 27-6 (16-2 CAA)

Head Coach: Charlotte Smith

KEYS TO THE GAME

• Let Tynice Martin keep doing Tynice Martin things. This should be self explanatory.
• Don’t doubt the Phoenix. Elon played North Carolina and Duke tough and cruised through the CAA conference schedule (losing only to James Madison twice, another 20+ win team). They’ll be ready to play, so should West Virginia.

HOW AFRAID SHOULD WE BE (ON A SCALE OF 1-10)?

Seven. I’m as afraid of Elon as I am of thinking about thinking of the WVU-Oklahoma football game.

PREDICTION THAT WILL BE WRONG

It will be a battle throughout, but I think WVU will come through at the end with some free throw shooting heroics. On to play Maryland/Bucknell (probably Maryland)!!

West Virginia 71, Elon 63