Carey’s young players ‘growing up’ fast

The inability to hold leads late in games has been the reason for a handful of losses this season for the West Virginia women's basketball team.

With four freshmen and four sophomores on the roster, the team's inexperience has been apparent in many other aspects of the game, as well.

However, after a 66-50 blowout against No. 12 Louisville at the Coliseum last weekend, head coach Mike Carey feels his team is beginning to play like a more mature team.

"They're paying closer attention to detail," Carey said. "We've got great girls; they're great people. But, we were young, and we're starting to mature a little bit."

The girls have won three straight games in Big East Conference play to improve to 17-6 this season and post a 7-3 mark in conference play.

When did this sudden change in maturity occur?

"I thought our players, in the South Florida game, grew up a little bit at the end," Carey said. "It carried over to this game (against Louisville), and that's a good sign to see."

The Mountaineers, who were forced to play the Bulls at the South Florida student recreation center last week, held a nine-point lead against USF with less than four minutes remaining.

But, for whatever reason, it was a three-point game with less than a minute to play.

This time, though, West Virginia's young core wasn't rattled. It held off the push and escaped with a win.

Freshman guard Linda Stepney feels the team was attentive with a late,

double-digit lead against Louisville.

"That was our main focus with two minutes and a double-digit lead," she said. "At South Florida, we lost the lead, and we just wanted to keep it."

The focus was evident, as the Mountaineers never allowed the Cardinals to cut into the lead.

The signs of this team maturing and blossoming down the stretch have to raise a question: Is this team worthy of a NCAA tournament bid?

Two wins over ranked opponents (No. 25 UCLA and No. 12 Louisville) and a 7-3 record in the Big East has built a strong resume for West Virginia to this point.

However, Carey knows there are many games left to be played and wants his team to be mature and act like they've done this before.

"I want them to concentrate on the next game. If we take care of business, the NCAA and all that will happen," Carey said.