Just one game involving Virginia Division I schools on the slate tonight as George Washington visits JMU. But before we look ahead, here are the top stars from Wednesday night (click here for complete scores and recaps):
3. Lydia Rivers, Radford
The 6-2 redshirt sophomore forward showed why she was a preseason second-team All-Big South selection by going for 12 points and a career high-tying 16 rebounds in the Highlanders’ 61-31 throttling of South Carolina State.
2. Ashley Bates, Hampton
This scrappy 5-7 junior may not be the first player that comes to mind when thinking about Hampton’s weapons. But if you watch the Lady Pirates play, it’s hard to take your eyes off Bates because she has a tendency to be in the middle of just about everything that unfolds, at both ends. On Wednesday, for example, her 20 points led the way in HU’s 72-68 victory at Florida Atlantic. But in typical Bates fashion, her impact extended across the stat sheet – eight rebounds (five offensive), five steals, four assists.
1.Savannah Felgemacher, Radford
The JMU transfer delivered arguably the top individual performance by a Division I player so far on the young season – no one else has a 20-20 performance yet – in the Highlanders’ rout of S.C. State. From Radford’s sports information release:
“Redshirt junior forward Savannah Felgemacher made a Highlander debut for the ages as the James Madison University transfer scored 21 points and corralled 21 rebounds (8 offensive, 13 defensive) in just 28 minutes. The Church Hill, Tennessee native hit 8-of-14 field goals and dominated inside for most of the evening. The 21 boards were just three shy of the school-record set by Nan Milner in 1981 and the most by a Highlander since Jennifer Grant’s total of 23 in 2000.
It was a souped-up version of the 11-point, 14-rebound performance she produced against Radford during the 2017 WNIT in one of her final games at JMU. Now, no one could have predicted she’d go off the way she did Wednesday. But several months ago, when Felgemacher expressed interest in transferring to Radford, the Highlanders appeared to realize the possibilities.
“When I was on my visit there, they talked about [that WNIT game] a lot … and how I played so well against them,” Felgemacher told the Harrisonburg Daily News-Record. “They bragged that their team couldn’t keep up with me, so when they explained that to me and how the girls reacted to me even looking about coming there, they were so excited to have me. They knew I could do so much there because they knew how good I was.”
Guess you could say they had 20-20 vision.
Thursday’s game
George Washington at JMU, 7 p.m.
The 2017 Atlantic 10 tournament champion Colonials feature eight newcomers, but we’re expecting the same disciplined defense, low-turnover style that has become a staple under head coach Jen Rizzotti. The Dukes can clamp down on opponents, too, and should have a few more offensive answers – if they can get some outside shots to fall. JMU impact newcomer Jackie Benitez sat out Saturday’s exhibition game when rehabbing a knee injury and will be a game-time decision.