WVU Women’s Basketball traveled to Cincinnati for a tough road test and left with its 10th straight win. The Mountaineers defeated the Cincinnati Bearcats, 84-76, inside Fifth Third Arena. West Virginia improved to 15-4 overall and 5-2 in Big 12 play, while Cincinnati dropped to 7-12 and 2-5 in conference play. Read more: WVU holds off Cincinnati in 84-76 victory.
Early start and success on possessions
WVU controlled the game early. They scored 23 points in the first quarter, forcing Cincinnati to play catch-up from the start. The Bearcats answered with energy in the third quarter and cut into the lead, but West Virginia continued making enough plays to stay ahead. By the fourth quarter, WVU successfully stretched the gap and closed the game on a strong run.
West Virginia made the most of its opportunities and went inside early to force Cincinnati to defend the paint. On the other end, WVU was able to apply pressure and disrupt the Bearcats’ rhythm throughout the match.
Related: Mountaineers battle back: narrow loss to Pitt, victory over Oklahoma
Key plays
Jordan Harrison led the way for the Mountaineers. She ran the offense and found teammates when the Bearcats crowded the paint, and her ability to push the pace helped WVU stay a step ahead on runs.
Kierra “Meme” Wheeler, Carter McCray, and Jordan Thomas also showed their grit on the court. Together, the three combined for 39 points. The WVU bench contributed points, grabbed rebounds, and kept the energy high when Cincinnati started to pick up. This support from the bench made a huge difference in the closing minutes.
Cincinnati had its moments, especially in transition. Their guards attacked the basket and got to the rim consistently in the second half. Cincinnati also made several big defensive stops that kept them in striking range of the Mountaineers.
In the paint, both teams battled hard. West Virginia’s rebounding helped them secure extra possessions. On several second-chance opportunities, the Mountaineers converted to keep the Bearcats from taking over.
By the end of the third quarter, the Mountaineers were ahead 66-52. Turnovers were a factor late in the game as well. Cincinnati was able to shear WVU’s lead down to single digits in the fourth, due to the success of Mya Perry.
Cincinnati had a few costly mistakes that turned into fast-break points for West Virginia, and these final moments shifted momentum and gave WVU breathing room at the end of the quarter. WVU pulled away successfully and finished with a final of 84-76.
Head coach Mark Kellogg spoke on the win following the match, discussing his thoughts on the second half. Despite the win, he was not thrilled with the way the second half ended.
“We just needed to finish that one. I think we were up 26 with five minutes to go in the third quarter. We just completely let off the gas.”
What’s next?
With several key conference games ahead, the Mountaineers will look to build off this performance. Losing just two conference games so far has kept WVU near the top of the Big 12 standings.
West Virginia returns home to the WVU Coliseum this week to face Arizona State. The Sun Devils enter at 17-2 and 4-2 in conference play, setting up a tough test for the Mountaineers.
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