Carey, WVU prepare for intense Backyard Brawl

A rivalry game is full of passion, energy and pride.

The teams involved exert maximum effort and are left physically, emotionally and mentally strained.

Just four days after playing its in-state rival Marshall, the West Virginia women's basketball team will travel to the Peterson Even Center

Saturday at 2 p.m. to take on its other rival, Pittsburgh, in the Backyard Brawl.

Following the Mountaineers 69-57 victory over Marshall Tuesday night, West Virginia sophomore guard Christal Caldwell had four choice words to describe her feelings headed into Pittsburgh.

"Right back at it," she said.

The Panthers may be 0-6 in Big East Conference play this season, but have played three straight ranked opponents – The most recent being a 120-44 loss to the Notre Dame.

West Virginia head coach Mike Carey isn't overlooking the panthers.

"We've got a lot of work to do. We've got Pitt Saturday. That's my concern," he said.

The Mountaineers lead the all-time series against their rivals to the north with 24-19 – and have won three of the last four meetings.

West Virginia enters the game with a 13-5 overall record and are 3-2 in conference play.

This is the type of game the Mountaineers must win if they hope to separate themselves from the bottom of the Big East Conference standings.

It will be Caldwell's first Backyard Brawl, but she knows exactly what needs to improve before Saturday.

"Playing together as a team and getting our offense going (need to get better)," Caldwell said.

"We still had a lot of turnovers that we shouldn't have had (against Marshall).

The Mountaineers had 20 turnovers Tuesday night.

"We need to follow our scout and just be prepared to play," Caldwell said. "It's going to be tough on Saturday."

The redshirt sophomore is averaging 10.1 points and 7.6 rebounds per game so far, in her first season with the Mountaineers.

The turnovers in the Marshall game were related to the physical play. One can only expect a similar

physical game Saturday.

"The emotions and intensity that we had (against Marshall), we definitely need to bring into Saturday," said West Virginia sophomore guard Taylor Palmer.

Palmer, along with Caldwell, have been streaky shooting the ball, but have helped the scoring when other players are struggling.

Five of the Mountaineers' next eight games will be against ranked opponents. It is critical for Palmer and her teammates to take advantage of a struggling Pittsburgh team.

"It's a big rivalry," Palmer said. "We're just going to focus in practice, go over their sets and just come out Saturday and try to be the better team."