Box Score
ORONO, ME – West Virginia's senior Takisha Granberry scored a career-high 30 points leading three double-figure Mountaineers past New Jersey Institute of Technology Friday afternoon in the opening round of the 16th Annual Dead River Company Classic hosted by University of Maine.
The Highlanders got a team-high 21 points from their sophomore leader Jessica Gerald in their first game all-time and first time against a Big East Conference opponent. West Virginia reached the NCAA Tournament the last two consecutives years.
Mountaineers Granberry posts her second double-double of the season with 30 points and 10 rebounds. Granberry went 10-for-15 from the field and 8-for-9 from behind the arc while pulling down 10 rebounds.
Teammate Vanessa House scored 14 points off the bench shooting a perfect 4-for-4 from behind the arc followed by sophomore guard Liz Repella, who posted her third straight double-double with 10 points and 11 rebounds. Point guard Ashley Powell was one assist shy her career-high, dishing out a game-high 10 assists.
NJIT's Gerald tied her season-high of 21 points which came against Wagner on November 18, 2008. Sophomore forward Ivana Seric combined for six points, six rebounds and a team-high three assists while twin sisters Taiwo and Kehinde Oyelola combined for eight points and eight rebounds.
The Highlanders scored the first bucket of the game on a three-pointer from the right corner by Gerald but West Virginia then took control scoring the next 24 points – led by Granberry with 14.
Gerald got the Highlanders back on the board at 9:24 hitting one-of-two from the free throw line, making the score 24-4.
With 2:34 left in the first half, freshman Melanie Griffin sparked a 6-0 run for the Highlanders. Griffin broke down the Mountaineer defense tallying her first points of the contest on a lay-up. Gerald then followed with two consecutive fast break lay-ups of her own – her second coming with 16 seconds left on the clock to close out the half.
Trailing 33-14, West Virginia started off the second half with an 11-4 spurt, led by Granberry with nine giving the Mountaineers a 48-19 lead.
NJIT scored six quick points sparked by junior Kehinde Oyelola sinking two free throws from the charity strip with 14:28 left to go. Senior Jill Dickinson hit a trey from the right wing and Seric finished the run with a lay-up.
West Virginia then stretched its lead to 60-29 at the 8:42 mark but Gerald answered back scoring the next six points.
The Mountaineers outscored NJIT, 13-7, over the last 6:57 for the 76-42 final.
The Highlanders will face host Maine tomorrow afternoon at 1:00pm at Alfond Arena wrapping up the Dead River Company Classic.
