MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – The West Virginia University (WVU) women’s basketball team overcame a sluggish start and a double-digit deficit to defeat the University of Kansas Jayhawks 68-63 Wednesday night at the WVU Coliseum. A dominant fourth-quarter performance, fueled by tenacious defense and clutch shooting, propelled the Mountaineers to a crucial Big 12 Conference victory.
The win improves West Virginia's overall record to 14-7 and their conference record to 5-5. Kansas, who entered the game with a strong record, falls to 15-6 overall and 5-5 in the Big 12.
"I’m incredibly proud of the resilience this team showed tonight," said WVU Head Coach Mark Kellogg after the game. "We didn’t play our best basketball for the first three quarters, but we kept fighting. That fourth quarter was a testament to their determination and belief in each other."
Kansas came out firing, establishing an early lead thanks to sharp shooting from beyond the arc. The Jayhawks led by as many as 12 points in the second quarter, capitalizing on WVU turnovers and struggling offensive possessions. At halftime, Kansas held a comfortable 36-28 advantage.
The Mountaineers struggled to find their rhythm offensively in the first half, shooting only 35% from the field. Defensively, they struggled to contain Kansas' perimeter threats, allowing the Jayhawks to connect on seven three-pointers before the break.
However, the tide began to turn in the third quarter. West Virginia ramped up their defensive intensity, forcing turnovers and disrupting Kansas' offensive flow. A series of steals and fast-break points helped the Mountaineers chip away at the Jayhawks' lead.
Entering the fourth quarter trailing by just four points, the Mountaineers unleashed a scoring barrage. Guard JJ Quinerly led the charge, scoring 10 of her game-high 22 points in the final period. Quinerly also added 5 rebounds and 4 assists.
"We knew we had to pick up the energy," Quinerly stated after the game. "Coach told us to leave it all on the floor, and that's what we tried to do. We started getting stops on defense, and that led to easy buckets on offense."
The Mountaineer defense suffocated Kansas in the fourth quarter, holding the Jayhawks to just 27% shooting and forcing six turnovers. West Virginia outscored Kansas 24-15 in the final frame.
Forward Kylee Blacksten contributed a vital 15 points and 7 rebounds, while guard Jordan Harrison chipped in with 12 points and 6 assists. The Mountaineers' improved rebounding also played a key role in their comeback, as they out-rebounded Kansas 40-32.
For Kansas, guard Zakiyah Franklin led the team with 18 points, but struggled in the fourth quarter, managing only 2 points. Center Taiyanna Jackson added 12 points and 10 rebounds.
The victory is a significant one for West Virginia, as it not only avenges an earlier loss to Kansas this season, but also bolsters their chances for a strong seed in the upcoming Big 12 Tournament. It also marks a critical point in the season where momentum can make all the difference.
Looking ahead, the Mountaineers will travel to Stillwater, Oklahoma, on Saturday to face the Oklahoma State Cowgirls. Kansas will return home to Lawrence to host the TCU Horned Frogs.
