After a week-long break after playing its first four games in seven days, WKU will head to Atlanta to battle Mercer and Georgia State in the Georgia State Thanksgiving Classic on Friday evening at 5 p.m. (CT) and Sunday afternoon at 1 p.m. (CT).
In its last time out, WKU rallied from a 15-point third-quarter deficit behind a career-best 25 points from Whitney Creech, but fell just short, 73-71, at Indiana as the Hoosiers knocked down the game-winning shot with less than three seconds to play. All four of WKU’s opponents are currently either ranked or receiving votes.
Tashia Brown (21.3 points per game) is one of four Lady Toppers averaging double figures through four games, joined by Whitney Creech (15.0), Ivy Brown (12.0) and Dee Givens (11.5).
Mercer (3-1) is led by 18.8 points per game from Kahlia Lawrence and six boards per outing from Amanda Thompson. Georgia State (0-3) has squared off against three Power 5 opponents in Florida, Mississippi State and Georgia Tech. The Panthers, former Sun Belt rivals of WKU, are led by Jada Lewis’ 15.5 points per game and Shay Fluker’s 8.5 rebounds per game. WKU’s Friday battle against Mercer will be the first meeting between the two sides.
Following this weekend’s tournament, WKU will be back in action inside E.A. Diddle Arena against Evansville on Thursday, Nov. 30, at 7 p.m. for its second home game of the season.
GAME #5 – RV/NR WKU VS. MERCER
RV/NR WKU (1-3, 0-0 C-USA) vs. Mercer (3-1, 0-0 SoCon)
November 24, 2017 | 5:00 p.m. (CT)
Atlanta, Ga. | GSU Sports Arena (3,854)
GAME #6 – RV/NR WKU AT GEORGIA STATE
RV/NR WKU (1-3, 0-0 C-USA) at Georgia State (0-3, 0-0 Sun Belt)
November 26, 2017 | 1:00 p.m. (CT)
Atlanta, Ga. | GSU Sports Arena (3,854)
QUICK SHOTS
– Raneem Elgedawy was named the C-USA Freshman of the Week on Nov. 20 after strong performances against Power 5 opponents Notre Dame and Indiana. The Egyptian native averaged 9.5 points and 8.5 rebounds against top competition and also added three assists, two blocks and two steals.
– Tashia Brown, Kayla Smith and Nichel Tampa will be playing in the state of Georgia for the first time in their careers. WKU has not traveled to Georgia since defeating Georgia State, 79-63, on March 8, 2014.
– Ivy Brown enters the weekend needing only two points to become the 39th member of WKU’s 1,000-point club. Of the 38 current members, five (Kendall Noble, Chastity Gooch, Alexis Govan, Tashia Brown and Micah Jones) have joined under Michelle Clark-Heard.
– With two weekly awards (Tashia Brown’s Player of the Week on Nov. 13 and Raneem Elgedawy’s Freshman of the Week on Nov. 20) this season, WKU has already matched its total from the entire 2016-17 campaign.
– With its near-miss of a 15-point comeback at Indiana, WKU continued a strong trend under Michelle Clark-Heard of being able to rally from large deficits. Since the beginning of the 2015-16 season, WKU owns 10 victories when trailing at the halftime break and four wins when down with five minutes to play in regulation.
– Already tied for 16th in program history with 1,416 career points, Tashia Brown is looking to move even further up the charts during her senior season. To move into the top 10 in school history, Brown would need to score 347 more points during her final season on The Hill.
– For the third consecutive year, WKU earned a victory over a ranked opponent by taking down No. 16 Missouri, 79-76, on Nov. 10 in the Hawkeye Challenge. With the victory, WKU secured its first streak of three seasons with at least one ranked victory since 1990-91 through 1992-93, a span that saw the Lady Toppers reach three NCAA Tournaments and make a Final Four appearance.
– Under Michelle Clark-Heard, WKU owns a 3-7 record against ranked opponents with wins over Louisville (2015-16), Indiana (2016-17) and Missouri (2017-18).
– WKU has started a true freshman at least one time in each of the last four seasons. Tashia Brown earned five starts in 2014-15, Kayla Smith drew 31 starts in 2015-16, Sarah Price appeared in the starting lineup five times in 2016-17 and Raneem Elgedawy has started WKU’s first four games this season.
– WKU owns an impressive record under Clark-Heard when breaking the 80-point barrier. The Lady Toppers have posted a near-perfect 48-2 mark when scoring 80 or more since the 2012-13 season.
– In games immediately following a loss since Michelle Clark-Heard took over in 2012-13, the Lady Toppers are 32-8 and suffered their first consecutive losses in the same season in nearly three years against Iowa and Notre Dame.
– Michelle Clark-Heard’s 130 wins over her first five seasons with the program are the most in that category of any coach in school history, surpassing the legendary Paul Sanderford’s mark of 127 from 1982-83 through 1986-87.
– The breakout star of the 2017 C-USA Tournament, junior Sidnee Bopp has continued her momentum into the 2017-18 season, knocking down seven three-pointers across WKU’s first four games of the season. Dating back to the final five games of 2016-17, Bopp has connected on 28 three-pointers over her last nine games, just over three makes from beyond the arc per contest.
BROADCAST
Listen: 102.7 FM and 1450AM in Bowling Green (Jevin Redman, pxp)
Watch: ESPN3 (Georgia State Game Only)
Live Stats: Courtesy of Georgia State Athletics
How to Follow the Lady Toppers: For complete information on WKU Lady Topper Basketball, visit WKUSports.com or follow the program via social media @LadyTopperHoops on Twitter, @LadyTopperHoops on Instagram and on Facebook at facebook.com/WKUWomensBasketball.
– @WKUSports –
Currie P. McFayden
WKU Associate Director of Athletic Communications
Women’s Basketball | Women’s Soccer
