W. Basketball Hosts Western Carolina on Friday for Education Day

Game Notes: #16 vs. Western Carolina
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DAVIDSON, N.C. — Davidson returns home after a two-game road swing and will seek to remain perfect at John M. Belk Arena when it plays host to Western Caorlina on Friday at 12 p.m. as part of Education Day.

As part of the Education Day, the Wildcats will welcome local schools of Bradley Middle School, Cornelius Elementary, Lake Norman Charter, Community School of Davidson and Randolph Middle School.

The Opening Tip
Davidson (9-6, 5-1 SoCon) looks to stay perfect at home and push its home win streak overall to eight straight by hosting the Western Carolina Catamounts (6-9, 1-5 SoCon) on Friday, Jan. 13 at 12 p.m.

The 'Cats are tied for second place in the league standings. They are 3-0 vs. SoCon foes so far this year at home.

The All-Time Series/Last Meeting ...
... has WCU leading the all-time series at 25-21, but Davidson took the first game this year at Western, 64-46. The Wildcats have won the last three games at home and have wins in five of the last seven meetings overall.

In this year's first meeting, a 64-46 win on the road, junior Sophia Aleksandravicius tallied her third 20-point game of the year and Barbara Sitton had a career-best 14 as Davidson cruised to a 64-46 Southern Conference opening win. Sitton and Aleksandravicius netted 13 of the Wildcats' first 18 points in the half as Davidson blew the game open with an 18-9 run in the first eight minutes of the second half for a 52-29 lead.

Game Notes...
Closing in on 350 Wins as a Program
Davidson is looking to reach the 350-win plateau as a program this year. Entering the program's 33rd year, the Wildcats sit at 348 career wins after an 61-50 triumph at Furman, Jan. 7.

During that span, they have had 17 seasons of 10 or more wins, including the last 10 straight years. The 2006-07 season saw the 'Cats win a program-best 23 games on their way to the program's first postseason experience in the women's basketball NIT.

SoCon Streak Snapped at Six; 5-0 Start to Season Comes to an End
Davidson saw its unbeaten start in SoCon play come to an end at Wofford when it was upset by the Terriers, 63-59. The Wildcats also had their win streak in league games overall halted at six straight, dating back to the final regular season game last year. They still have won seven of their last nine SoCon games dating back to last year though.

The 5-0 league start was the second-best start in school history, next to the 7-0 mark set by the 2008-09 squad.

6-0 Home Start
Davidson ran its home win streak to start the season to six straight after scoring another home win, Jan. 4. The 'Cats rolled to a 75-66 triumph over visiting Elon. The streak, which is seven overall dating back to the last home game last year, ties the best start at home which was first set by the 1996-97 team that won its first six straight home contests.

The longest home win streak overall was set by the 1998-99 team, which rattled off a nine-game streak.

Seeing Double Again
For the fourth time this year and 23rd time overall for her career, Sophia Aleksandravicius tallied a double-double as she picked up game highs of 23 points and 10 rebounds in a home win vs. Elon, Jan. 4.
Her double-double games this year:
•11/18 at Hight Point (22 pts/12 rbs)
•11/25 at Princeton (12 pts/10 rbs)
•12/22 at Radford (18 pts/11 rbs)
•1/4 vs. Elon (23 pt/10 rbs)

Scouting the Wildcats
•Davidson suffered its first league defeat on Monday when it was upset by Wofford, 63-59. The Wildcats led 57-48 with five minutes to go, but were outcored 15-2 in the end.
•It was the Wildcats first loss when trailing with five minutes remaining, 9-1.
•The 'Cats 5-0 mark in the SoCon was its best start since the 2008-09 began 7-0.
•Dating back to the last three games of last year, the Wildcats have won seven of their last nine SoCon games, with five of the wins coming at home.
•Laura Murray (team-best 15.3 ppg) had a team-best 16 points at Wofford. She is averaging 16.2 points vs. league foes and has hit 17 of her 35 field goals in league games from three-land.
•In three games to start January, Murray is shooting 50 percent from behind the arc (11-22).
•Sophia Aleksandravicius had 10 points and a season team-high 15 rebounds for her fifth double-double of the year. She has three of them last five games.
•The junior had 20 points and nine rebounds last time out vs. Western Carolina, Dec. 3.
•Davidson remains perfect at home with a 6-0 mark and has won its last seven straight overall. •The 'Cats are averaging nearly 71 points and shooting 47 percent at home. They are holding the opposition to 54 points and 35 percent shooting, while forcing 22 turnovers a game.
•Davidson has held eight opponents to under 36 percent shooting in a game, going 7-1.
•Davidson paces the SoCon in field goal percentage (.438), while ranking second in points (65.6), assists (13.5 apg), steals (11.3) and blocks (4.6).
•The Wildcats rank 25th in the nation in field goal percentage and 38th in steals per game.
•Davidson as a program is closing in on 350 wins during its 33-year history, sitting at 348.
•The 'Cats, picked fifth in the SoCon preseason poll, return four starters and nine letterwinners.
•Head coach Michele Savage enters her second year at Davidson (23-23, 13-13 SoCon).

Scouting the Catamounts
•Western Carolina just missed upsetting Furman on Monday when it fell 57-54. It got to within one, 53-52, before Furman sealed the win by hitting four free throws in the final 20 seconds.
•The Catamounts have gone 2-5 since last facing Davidson to open December. They are 1-5 in league games.
•Kaila'Shea Menendez had a team-best 16 points vs. Furman.
•She has 36 points in the last two games and paces the team with a 12.1 ppg average.
•In the last meeting vs. Davidson, not a single Catamount scored in double figures.
•WCU is 3-4 on the road, but has lost three of its last four games.
•Western is allowing the opposition to shoot 40.7 percent from the floor.
•The Catamounts, picked ninth in preseason poll, return three starters and 10 letterwinners.
•Head coach Karen Middleton is in her third year and has tallied 22 wins during that span.

A Look Ahead
Davidson turns around and hits the road for a 2 p.m. game at App. State on Sunday.

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