No. 24 WVU women’s hoops show off great depth in exhibition win
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MORGANTOWN - Mark Kellogg's latest version of the WVU women's basketball roster might be best served as a surfing team.
The No. 24 Mountaineers come at you in waves. They overwhelmed Frostburg (Md.) State 111-41 on Thursday night inside Hope Coliseum.
Starters, reserves and maybe - in certain situations, like against the Bobcats - all 12 players on the roster seemingly find a way to make some kind of impact.
The days of Kellogg depending on his starting five to do most of the damage just may be over in Morgantown, because, in his fourth season at the school, he's got depth like a library has books.
"We have depth from the post to the guards," said Gia Cooke, who scored 16 points in the win.
In practices, players are split into either the Blue or White teams. Those just might be the most competitive games WVU players have seen to date.
"That's our biggest competition," Cooke continued. "We compete every day and that's how we make everyone better. Blue and White, it's two good teams each day. We're fighting to win each day."
Just what exactly is Kellogg working with this season? Cooke and George Mason transfer ZaZa Walton (12 points) were the only two starters who reached double figures against Frostburg, and Walton didn't get there until 6:57 remained in the fourth quarter.
Pitt transfer Divine Tumba recorded a double-double with 17 points and 10 rebounds ... and she came off the bench.
"Today, I wanted to play to a standard," Tumba said. "The stats don't really matter to me. I don't think the stats matter to any of us. There is a standard we have to play to and that's what I'm trying to do."
In all, WVU got 58 of its 111 points off the bench, while the Mountaineers' full-court pressure forced 33 turnovers and they scored 64 points in the paint.
True, it came against a Division II team that plays in the Mountain East Conference - one that finished 16-15 last season - but it will likely be just as easy for Kellogg to keep subbing in players against Division I opponents as it was against the Bobcats.
"It could be our deepest team," Kellogg said. "I think I've said a couple of times since I've been here that 'this' time I felt like we were deep and then we don't end up being as deep as I wanted. Yeah, in my mind, as of today, I would say yes, this is it. I always tell my team that I reserve the right to change my mind later."
As for what else Kellogg has to work with, forward Skylar Forbes appears set to make a major impact for the Mountaineers. While standing 6-foot-3, Forbes does not move or play like most taller power forwards seen in the Big 12 or around the country.
Her 3-point shot looks good (although she was just 1 of 6 from behind the arc in this game) and she also has the ability to put the ball on the floor. On one possession, Forbes went coast-to-coast and drove into the lane as if she were a point guard rather than a power forward.
She finished with eight points and six rebounds and three steals.
"This was a night she didn't shoot it particularly well," Kellogg said of Forbes. "Skylar is as versatile of a (power forward) that I've ever had at that length. She puts it on the floor and can make moves off the bounce. She can cross you over and those types of things. She can post up with her back to the basket. She's a phenomenal shooter, good rebounder and a good shot blocker. There's a lot to her game."
Forbes will team up with fellow 6-3 center Khyala Ngodu, a transfer from UCF, in the paint, while Walton and Cooke will come crashing in from the wings. George Mason transfer Kennedy Harris will run it all as the point guard.
And then Tumba comes in, as well as Pitt transfer Nylah Wilson (13 points off the bench), BYU transfer Myra Hudgins and sophomore Madison Parrish.
All of them bring good size or shooting or defense to the table, enough to give Kellogg a ton of options with his rotation.
"I like the depth and competitiveness and the balance we have," Kellogg said. "At some point, it will shake it out. We'll continue to evaluate, but I like the versatility of the group."