MORGANTOWN, WV – The West Virginia University women’s basketball team overcame a sluggish start and mounted a furious fourth-quarter comeback to defeat the University of Kansas Jayhawks 72-68 Saturday afternoon at the WVU Coliseum. The Mountaineers, fueled by a dominant performance from guard JJ Quinerly and a staunch defensive effort down the stretch, improved their record to 18-6 overall and 7-5 in Big 12 Conference play.
Kansas, who entered the contest looking to bolster their NCAA Tournament resume, fell to 15-9 on the season and 5-7 in conference play. The Jayhawks held a lead for much of the game, showcasing sharp shooting and effective ball movement that initially stymied the Mountaineer defense.
Quinerly led all scorers with a game-high 25 points, adding six rebounds and four assists to her impressive stat line. Her aggressive drives to the basket and clutch free-throw shooting in the final minutes proved pivotal in West Virginia's resurgence.
“We just had to dig deep,” Quinerly said after the game. “Kansas came out strong, but we knew we had what it takes to battle back. We just kept fighting and playing our game.”
The Jayhawks came out firing on all cylinders, establishing a comfortable lead in the first half. Their outside shooting proved particularly troublesome for the Mountaineers, as Kansas connected on 7 of 13 attempts from beyond the arc in the first two quarters. Zakiyah Franklin paced the Jayhawks offense in the first half, scoring 12 of her team-high 18 points.
West Virginia struggled to find their offensive rhythm early on, committing turnovers and missing open looks. However, the Mountaineers slowly began to chip away at the deficit, utilizing their size advantage in the paint and increasing their defensive pressure.
The third quarter saw a back-and-forth affair, with both teams trading baskets. Kansas maintained a slim lead heading into the final frame, setting the stage for a dramatic finish.
It was in the fourth quarter that West Virginia truly found their stride. Quinerly took over offensively, consistently penetrating the Kansas defense and either scoring or drawing fouls. The Mountaineer defense also tightened, forcing turnovers and contested shots.
A key moment in the game came with just under two minutes remaining. Trailing by three points, West Virginia guard Madisen Smith drained a contested three-pointer to tie the score. The Coliseum erupted as the momentum swung firmly in favor of the home team.
On the ensuing possession, West Virginia forced a turnover, and Quinerly capitalized by driving to the basket and drawing a foul. She calmly sank both free throws to give the Mountaineers their first lead since the opening minutes of the game.
Kansas attempted to mount a comeback of their own, but the West Virginia defense held firm, forcing a missed shot and securing the rebound. Quinerly was fouled again and once again converted both free throws to extend the lead to three points with seconds remaining.
A desperation three-point attempt by Kansas fell short as the buzzer sounded, sealing the victory for West Virginia.
“I'm incredibly proud of our team's resilience,” said West Virginia head coach Dawn Plitzuweit. “We faced adversity early on, but we never gave up. JJ [Quinerly] was outstanding, and our defense really stepped up in the fourth quarter. This was a huge win for us.”
Besides Quinerly, Kyah Watson contributed 14 points and eight rebounds for the Mountaineers, while Danelle Arigbabu added 10 points and seven rebounds. For Kansas, Wyvette Mayberry chipped in with 15 points to complement Franklin's 18.
Looking ahead, West Virginia will travel to Oklahoma State on Wednesday, February 14th, while Kansas will host Texas Tech on the same day. The Mountaineers will look to carry the momentum from this victory into their upcoming road contest as they continue their push for a strong finish in the Big 12 and a coveted spot in the NCAA Tournament.
