MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – It was a much closer game than the final score suggests, but WVU closed the game at Hope Coliseum strong. They forced seven turnovers in the final quarter and held the Sun Devils to six points. Kierra Wheeler led the way for WVU with 16 points, while Sydney Shaw chipped in 11. It was a strong effort to close the game, while WVU moves to 16-4 overall and 6-2 in the Big 12. Read more: WVU’s massive fourth quarter propels them past Arizona State, 53-43.
Turnovers plagued WVU all game, but they played a flawless fourth quarter to secure the victory. They did not turn the ball over once in the final quarter, and closed the game strong from the field. They made five of 11 (45.5%) field goals and outscored Arizona State 19-6.
“I was proud of the fourth quarter. I thought we were at our best in the fourth quarter when it was needed,” Kellogg said. “I wish it didn’t come down to that. I wish it didn’t have to be our best quarter, but I don’t think we turned it over in the fourth quarter.”
Turnovers played a huge factor in this matchup, but WVU cleaned it up on offense in the final quarter. They finished with 17 turnovers, while Arizona State had 21.
First quarter
The Sun Devils won the tip-off, and McKinna Brackens scored the opening basket of the night following an offensive rebound. Sydney Shaw immediately answered with a three-pointer from the corner. Marley Washenitz converted Arizona State’s second three-point attempt of the game, but Kierra Wheeler responded with two quick buckets.
Related: Player spotlight: Riley Makalusky, the underrated Mountaineer
The Mountaineers’ press gave the Sun Devils fits early, as they committed four turnovers in the quarter and went without a point for three minutes. WVU finished the quarter on a three-minute scoring drought and only made one of its last nine field goals. They still managed a 13-11 lead heading into the second quarter.
Second quarter
Wheeler found Sydney Woodley for a three-pointer, following a Woodley offensive rebound, for the opening bucket of the second quarter. Wheeler got to the free-throw line on WVU’s next possession and made one of two to give WVU a 17-11 lead. Gabby Elliott got the Sun Devils on the board for the first time in the second quarter with a jump shot.
Shaw nailed a three-pointer off an assist from Jordan Harrison to extend the WVU lead to seven. Riley Makalusky drained another three on WVU’s next possession, which gave the Mountaineers a double-digit lead. Scoring droughts were a theme for the Sun Devils in the first half. They had another three-minute drought in the second quarter due to WVU’s intense defense.
Célia Rivière found Woodley on a backcut to give WVU 25 points in the game. Arizona State made two straight baskets to cut into WVU’s lead. They drained a three-pointer following WVU’s second consecutive turnover to pull within three points. WVU had six turnovers over the final six minutes and went on a three-minute scoring drought. The Sun Devils finished the quarter on a 9-0 scoring run, as WVU took a 25-24 lead into the break.
At the break
WVU lost the turnover battle in the first half, committing 10 to Arizona State’s eight. Wheeler led WVU with seven points, six rebounds, and one steal. Shaw had six points at the break, with three rebounds and one assist. They finished five of 16 (31.3%) from behind the arc, and shot 33.3% from the field.
Gabby Elliott led Arizona State with 11 points, five rebounds, and one assist. They made two of four threes and 11 of 29 (37.9%) from the field. The Sun Devils took advantage of turnovers, scoring nine points off of them, while the Mountaineers only had one.
Third quarter
Arizona State took the lead early in the third quarter following a layup from Brackens. They extended the lead to three following a steal and a basket from Brackens. Harrison put WVU on the board in the second half with a fast break layup after grabbing a defensive rebound. Brackens stayed hot, nailing a three-pointer for her seventh point in the third quarter.
The Mountaineers were on a four-minute scoring drought until Shaw made a layup to cut the deficit to four points. Amaya Williams responded immediately with a layup of her own to bring the score to 35-29. Harrison had two consecutive turnovers, and the team had six turnovers in the final seven minutes of the quarter. Elliott capitalized on the second Harrison turnover by making a contested jumper over Woodley.
Gia Cooke made an and-one layup and converted the free throw to bring WVU within five points with a minute to go in the third quarter. Wheeler made a layup on the find by Shaw with a second remaining, to give WVU a little momentum headed into the final quarter.
Fourth quarter
Sydney Woodley started the fourth quarter with a steal and score to bring WVU within one of Arizona State. Wheeler drew a foul on WVU’s next possession and made one of two free throws to tie the game at 37. Heloisa Carrera scored her second basket of the game break the tie with eight minutes remaining. Shaw found Wheeler on the fast break after a steal to tie the game at 39. Williams made a second-chance layup for the Sun Devils to give them a 41-39 lead.
Cooke tied the game with four minutes remaining, as both teams struggled to find a rhythm offensively. Shaw hit a three-pointer from the corner to give WVU a three-point lead with two and a half minutes remaining. Harrison earned a trip to the free-throw line and made one of two with two minutes remaining.
Wheeler added to the WVU lead following an Arizona State turnover to make it 47-41. The Sun Devils responded with a jump shot following an offensive rebound to break a five-minute scoring drought. Harrison got back to the line and split the pair again to give WVU a five-point lead with one minute remaining. Arizona State missed its shot out of the timeout and fouled Wheeler with 45 seconds remaining. She converted both, making the score 50-43. Cooke converted two more from the line, as the Sun Devils’ hopes dwindled. The Mountaineers finished the game on a 14-2 run and won 53-43.
Top performers
- K. Wheeler (WVU): 16 points/7 rebounds/1 assists/1 steal
- S. Shaw (WVU): 11 points/5 rebounds/3 assists/1 steal
- G. Elliott (ASU): 15 points/6 rebounds/1 assists/1 steal
- M. Brackens (ASU): 15 points/4 rebounds/1 assist/2 steals
What’s next?
WVU returns to action on January 24 against BYU. They travel to Provo, Utah, and play again in Salt Lake City against Utah on Tuesday, January 27.
All Mountaineer basketball games are broadcast across the John Fredericks Media Network. The game will air on 100.9 FM The Torch and its nine affiliate stations.
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