MORGANTOWN, WV – The West Virginia University (WVU) women's basketball team overcame a sluggish start and a resilient Kansas Jayhawks squad to secure a hard-fought 72-68 victory Wednesday night at the WVU Coliseum. A late-game surge, fueled by clutch shooting and stifling defense, propelled the Mountaineers to a crucial conference win.
The victory improves West Virginia's record to 18-6 overall and 7-5 in Big 12 play, while Kansas drops to 15-10 overall and 5-7 in conference.
"I'm really proud of our team's resilience tonight," said WVU Head Coach Mark Kellogg. "We didn't have our best stuff early on, but the players found a way to dig deep, stay together, and ultimately get the job done. Kansas is a tough team, and they came ready to play. We just made some big plays down the stretch."
JJ Quinerly led the Mountaineers in scoring with 22 points, adding 5 rebounds and 4 steals to her impressive stat line. Her aggressive drives to the basket and clutch free-throw shooting in the final minutes proved to be pivotal in securing the win. Kyah Watson also contributed significantly with 14 points and a team-high 8 rebounds, providing a strong inside presence for West Virginia. Jayla Hemingway added 11 points, rounding out the Mountaineers who scored in double figures.
Kansas was led by Zakiyah Franklin, who poured in a game-high 24 points. Wyvette Mayberry chipped in with 14 points for the Jayhawks, but their efforts ultimately fell short against West Virginia's late-game push.
The first half saw Kansas come out firing on all cylinders. The Jayhawks established an early lead, capitalizing on WVU turnovers and hitting tough shots. West Virginia struggled to find its rhythm offensively, with several possessions ending in missed opportunities. Kansas led by as many as eight points in the second quarter, carrying a 38-33 advantage into the halftime break.
Coming out of the locker room, West Virginia showed renewed energy. They began to apply more defensive pressure, forcing Kansas into turnovers and creating opportunities in transition. The Mountaineers slowly chipped away at the deficit, with Quinerly spearheading the offensive charge.
The third quarter ended with West Virginia trailing by a slim margin, setting the stage for a tense fourth quarter. The final ten minutes were a back-and-forth affair, with both teams trading baskets and neither able to establish a significant lead.
With just under two minutes remaining and the score tied, Quinerly drove to the basket and drew a foul, calmly sinking both free throws to give West Virginia a two-point lead. On the ensuing possession, Watson secured a crucial offensive rebound, extending West Virginia's possession and forcing Kansas to foul. Two more free throws from Quinerly stretched the lead to four.
Kansas attempted to mount a final comeback, but the Mountaineer defense held firm, forcing a key turnover in the closing seconds. A final free throw from Hemingway sealed the victory for West Virginia.
West Virginia's ability to force 17 turnovers, converting those into 19 points, proved to be a significant factor in the game. The Mountaineers also out-rebounded Kansas 36-32, demonstrating their physical toughness and determination.
"We have to continue to improve, especially on the offensive end," Coach Kellogg added. "But I was very pleased with our defensive effort in the second half. That's what ultimately allowed us to get back in the game and pull out the win."
The Mountaineers will look to carry this momentum into their next game on Saturday, when they travel to Stillwater, Oklahoma, to face the Oklahoma State Cowgirls. Kansas will return home to Lawrence to host Texas Tech on Saturday. The Mountaineers will need another strong performance to continue climbing the Big 12 standings.
