The West Virginia Mountaineers (10-2, 0-0) came out fast and hungry inside Reed Arena. They quickly carved out a 10 point lead against the Texas A&M Aggies (6-2), and finished the game with a 63-45 victory. Read more: WVU Women’s Basketball brings the heat in College Station
First Quarter
The opening minutes were riveting and felt like more than a non-conference game. WVU and Texas A&M traded blows early, and were knotted at 14 going into the second quarter.
Gia Cooke danced through traffic to score consistently, hit a tough jumper, and keep the Mountaineers in rhythm. The home crowd was loud, but that didn’t stop the Mountaineers from keeping up with the Aggies.
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Second Quarter
Something clicked in the second. WVU turned up the intensity defensively and started finding seams offensively. Kierra Wheeler was prominent in the paint, cleaning up rebounds and putting up second chances.
Texas A&M, usually a force in the paint, struggled to keep pace. WVU’s quick hands led to turnovers and transition baskets that rattled the Aggies. By the mid-second quarter mark, the scoreboard read 33–23 in the Mountaineers’ favor.
Third Quarter
West Virginia picked up right where it left off after the break. Holding a 33–23 halftime advantage, the Mountaineers stayed aggressive on both ends and continued to control the pace of play.
The third quarter remained competitive, but WVU consistently answered. Wheeler went to work in the paint, and the Mountaineers forced Texas A&M into tough possessions. WVU disrupted passing lanes and generated turnovers to extend their lead.
Texas A&M attempted to close the gap inside the paint, but WVU’s composure never wavered. Timely baskets and disciplined defense allowed the Mountaineers to outscore the Aggies 16–13 in the frame, extending their lead to 49–36 heading into the final quarter.
Fourth Quarter
If the Aggies had any chance of a comeback, West Virginia slammed the door in the final 10 minutes. The Mountaineers opened the fourth quarter with the same defensive intensity. They were able to limit Texas A&M’s scoring opportunities and kept the Aggies from finding any sustained rhythm.
WVU forced late shot-clock attempts and capitalized on mistakes. The Aggies were held to just nine points in the quarter as the Mountaineers controlled the glass and protected their lead down the stretch.
West Virginia outscored Texas A&M 14–9 in the final period, securing a 63–45 road victory. The Mountaineers forced 24 turnovers, and Wheeler led all scorers with 16 points on 7-of-13 shooting. WVU also went 42% from the three-point line, and 54% from the free-throw line.
What’s next?
The Mountaineers’ final non-conference test in College Station marked a successful way to enter Big 12 play. Wheeler’s steady presence in the paint and WVU’s ability to convert turnovers into offense made the difference.
WVU is back in Morgantown to challenge Houston to open the conference slate. The Mountaineers will aim to carry their momentum from a strong road win as Big 12 play officially gets underway.
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