Jesuit Cruises In Its Opener
Booth, Pavlik combine for 10 3-pointers

By NICK BEDWAY

Wheeling, WV, Nov. 16, 2009 - With only one senior on the roster Coach Katie Hine knows she can expect times this season when the Wheeling Jesuit University women's basketball team experiences some growing pains.

For the most part, Sunday night's season opener at the McDonough Center wasn't one of those occasions.

Sophomore Kourtney Booth joined freshmen Chrissy Pavlik and Kara DeSantis in combining for 48 points as the Cardinals rolled past Lake Erie College, 80-65, in the Wheeling Jesuit Tipoff Classic.

Booth and Pavlik connected for 10 of the hosts' 14 3-pointers while scoring 20 and 19 points, respectively. All but one of Booth's triples came in the second half as the Cardinals had to withstand a mild comeback attempt by the Storm.

Pavlik, the redshirt freshman out of Wadsworth High School, had an impressive initial varsity start, scoring Wheeling Jesuit's first eight points, including back-to-back treys and a pair of free throws.

DeSantis saw just 12 minutes of court time but made the most of every second as the former Wheeling Central standout fired in 10 points and grabbed eight rebounds, matching the team best effort under the glass by the Cardinals' lone senior, Kim Mueller.

''We played probably about 34 minutes of good basketball,'' said Hine, who was launching her first full season at the WJU helm.

Hine was definitely pleased both offensively and defensively with a first half that saw the Lady Cardinals explode out to a 44-24 lead.

Pavlik's torrid start wasn't a big surprise to the Wheeling Jesuit coach.

''Chrissy comes from a very good high school program that has had several Division I players over the years,'' Hine said. ''She's used to playing with good talent.''

As Hine also pointed out, Pavlik also has had more time to adjust to college life than the rest of the Cardinals' first-year players. She arrived on campus last year but wound up being redshirted after sustaining a torn anterior cruciate ligament in her knee during the second game of the season.

DeSantis, who sustained a couple of major knee injuries during her high school career, also wasted little time making her presence felt in a Wheeling Jesuit uniform.

Entering the game for the first time with the Cardinals in front 16-7, she picked up an easy deuce with a nice pick and roll move. The next time down the floor, she grabbed one of her eight rebounds and put the ball back in the basket for two more points.

''Kara's an athlete and were are very happy to have her with us,'' Hine said. ''We also love the fact that she is from Wheeling and brings a local flavor to our program.''

Although Wheeling Jesuit was comfortably in front at the intermission, Lake Erie began the second half with a 22-11 spurt to move within nine points at 55-46 before Booth sandwiched a pair 3-point beauties around a Storm two-point hoop to help right Wheeling's ship.

''We went through about a six-minute spurt where we were losing them in transition and they made a bunch of threes,'' Hine continued. ''Once we called a time out and settled them down, we were OK. That comes with youth. They get excited and the other team goes on a run. If we ever put together two defensive halves, we are going to be a good ball club.''

Triggering Lake Erie's second-half explosion was its fine-shooting sophomore guard Jen Caiola, who swished four triples of her own during the first seven minutes of the second half. She poured in 14 of her 16 points after the intermission to lead the visitors' scoring parade. Lake Erie's only other double-digit performer was Sarah Wojciechowski with 11 points,

Although the Cardinals didn't get a lot of opportunities on the inside, Hine wasn't complaining.

''We made 37 percent of our 3-point attempts,'' Hine said. ''We'll take that percentage any time. I think the only real disappointment was they got a lot of offensive rebounds. I think our inside people could have done a better job on the boards.''

Next up for Wheeling Jesuit will be a meeting tonight at 7 against a Findlay College club that had its own way while pasting West Liberty University 81-56. Annually one of the nation's best 3-point shooting teams, the Hilltoppers made only 1 of 23 attempts from the behind the arc.

''Findlay looked great and they will be tough for us to beat. But we will take the same approach that we had tonight. We'll go at them and see what happens,'' Hine said.

Opening the doubleheader at 5 p.m. on day two of the Lady Cardinals' Tipoff event will be a clash between West Liberty and Lake Erie.