MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – The West Virginia University women's basketball team overcame a sluggish start and a double-digit deficit to defeat the University of Kansas Jayhawks 74-67 Wednesday night at the WVU Coliseum. A dominant fourth quarter performance, fueled by tenacious defense and timely shooting, propelled the Mountaineers to a crucial Big 12 conference victory.
The win moves West Virginia to 15-6 overall and 6-4 in conference play, while Kansas drops to 15-7 and 5-6 in the Big 12.
"I'm incredibly proud of the resilience this team showed tonight," said West Virginia head coach Dawn Plitzuweit. "We didn't have our best first half, but they never gave up. They kept fighting, kept believing, and executed down the stretch when it mattered most."
Kansas controlled the first half, building a lead that peaked at 13 points in the second quarter. The Jayhawks' offense was clicking, as they shot 52% from the field and capitalized on several Mountaineer turnovers. Wyvette Mayberry led the charge for Kansas, scoring 12 points in the first half.
West Virginia struggled to find its rhythm offensively in the first two periods, shooting just 35% from the field and committing 10 turnovers. The Mountaineers entered halftime trailing 38-30.
The third quarter saw West Virginia begin to chip away at the Kansas lead. JJ Quinerly, who finished with a game-high 24 points, started to assert herself offensively, driving to the basket and drawing fouls. The Mountaineers increased their defensive intensity, forcing several Kansas turnovers and converting them into easy transition baskets.
Despite the improved play, Kansas managed to maintain a slim lead heading into the fourth quarter, holding a 55-51 advantage.
The final ten minutes belonged entirely to West Virginia. The Mountaineers unleashed a relentless defensive effort, holding Kansas to just 12 points in the quarter on a dismal 20% shooting. On the offensive end, West Virginia found success attacking the basket and getting to the free-throw line, converting 12 of 14 attempts from the charity stripe.
A 10-2 run midway through the fourth quarter gave West Virginia its first lead since the opening minutes of the game. Quinerly scored eight of those points, showcasing her ability to take over games in crunch time.
Kansas attempted to rally in the final minutes, but West Virginia answered every challenge. Tirzah Moore contributed key rebounds and defensive stops, while Jordan Harrison added timely baskets to help seal the victory.
Besides Quinerly's stellar performance, West Virginia received valuable contributions from several players. Moore finished with 12 points and 8 rebounds, while Harrison added 11 points and 6 assists.
For Kansas, Mayberry led the team with 18 points, followed by Taiyanna Jackson with 14 points and 10 rebounds. However, the Jayhawks struggled to find consistent offense in the second half, ultimately succumbing to West Virginia's defensive pressure.
"We talked at halftime about needing to be tougher, more physical, and more disciplined," Plitzuweit said. "The team responded in a big way. They embraced the challenge, and their effort was outstanding."
West Virginia will look to build on this momentum as they travel to face Oklahoma State on Saturday. Kansas will return home to host Texas Tech on the same day. The Mountaineers hope to keep the momentum going, while Kansas will try to rebound from this tough road loss. The Big 12 conference continues to be a gauntlet for every team involved, with each game presenting a unique challenge.
