University is 10-0 against Preston since February of 2017, and they'll have a chance to extend that success on Thursday. The University Hawks will head out on the road to take on the Preston Knights at 7:00 p.m. University knows how to get points on the board -- the squad has finished with flashy point totals in its past 11 matchups -- so hopefully Preston likes a good challenge.
University put the finishing touches on their seventh blowout victory of the season last Monday. They simply couldn't be stopped as they easily beat Bridgeport 73-28 at home. Given University's advantage in MaxPreps' West Virginia basketball rankings (they are ranked 16th, while Bridgeport is ranked 64th), the result wasn't entirely unexpected.
It was another big night for Ella Simpson, who scored 23 points along with six steals and five rebounds. She hasn't dropped below 17 points for three straight games. The team also got some help courtesy of Hannah Stemple, who scored 19 points.
Meanwhile, Preston's recent rough patch got a bit rougher on Thursday after their third straight loss. The match between them and North Marion wasn't particularly close, with Preston falling 71-56. Preston has struggled against North Marion recently, as their contest on Thursday was their ninth consecutive lost matchup.
Preston's loss shouldn't obscure the performances of Kendra Nazelrod, who dropped a double-double on 19 points and 15 rebounds, and Cameryn Sypolt who scored 17 points along with eight rebounds and three steals. Nazelrod hasn't dropped below eight rebounds for three straight games. Another player making a difference was IsaBella Miller, who scored six points along with two steals.
University is on a roll lately: they've won seven of their last eight contests, which provided a nice bump to their 11-9 record this season. As for Preston, their loss was their fourth straight on the road, which dropped their record down to 10-11.
This contest is one where the number of possessions is likely to be a big factor: University have been smashing the glass this season, having averaged 29.7 rebounds per game. However, it's not like Preston struggles in that department as they've been averaging 32.1 rebounds per game. Given these competing strengths, it'll be interesting to see how their clash plays out.
Everything came up roses for University against Preston in their previous matchup back in February of 2023 as the squad secured a 65-26 win. In that game, University amassed a halftime lead of 35-9, an impressive feat they'll look to repeat on Thursday.
Article generated by infoSentience based on data entered on MaxPreps
