Shanna Rose | WV Sports Chat
MANHATTAN, Kan. – West Virginia found a way. Despite committing 24 turnovers and shooting just 3-of-14 from beyond the arc, the Mountaineers leaned on their interior play and late-game execution to escape Bramlage Coliseum with a 60-58 win over Kansas State on Sunday afternoon.
The victory capped a two-game road swing and lifted WVU to 13-2 overall and 3-0 in Big 12 play, marking just the third time since joining the league in 2012 that the Mountaineers have opened conference play with three straight wins. WVU also remains perfect in league action alongside No. 21 Texas Tech.
The Mountaineers sealed the win at the foul line, going 7-of-8 in the fourth quarter. After Gia Cooke broke a 56-56 tie with a tough jumper in the lane with 19 seconds remaining, Jordan Harrison calmly knocked down two free throws with seven seconds left to extend the lead to four. The Wildcats managed one final basket, but it wasn’t enough.
Graduate forward Kierra Wheeler anchored WVU with her fifth double-double of the season, finishing with 18 points and 10 rebounds. Carter McCray added 15 points and eight rebounds, while Cooke chipped in 12 points. Harrison scored six points but controlled the game late, dishing out a season-high 10 assists — her third double-digit assist performance.
WVU dominated the paint, outscoring K-State 28-20 inside and holding a 34-22 edge on the glass. The Mountaineers also finished with 21 assists on 22 made field goals and converted 13-of-16 free throws.
The Wildcats (9-7, 1-2 Big 12) forced 10 turnovers in the first quarter and led 12-11 after one, as the Mountaineers struggled to find rhythm against K-State’s zone defense. WVU had nearly as many turnovers (10) as points (11) in the opening frame.
The Wildcats pushed their advantage to as many as eight points midway through the second quarter before the Mountaineers closed the half on a run to trail just 31-28 at the break. WVU committed 15 turnovers in the first half, leading to 14 K-State points, while forcing just eight turnovers of its own.
Momentum shifted after halftime. The Wildcats shot just 27.3 percent in the third quarter, while the Mountaineers hit 7-of-13 from the field and used an 11-2 run to close the period. Wheeler scored twice in the final minute of the quarter to give WVU a 45-41 lead entering the fourth.
The Mountaineers extended the margin to seven early in the final quarter before K-State responded with an 8-0 run, capped by a Tess Heal layup, to reclaim a 52-51 lead with 3:43 remaining. Heal scored six points during the spurt and finished with a team-high 16 points, along with four rebounds and three steals.
After the Wildcats took a 54-52 lead with 2:54 to play, WVU closed the game on an 8-4 run. McCray and Cooke combined to tie the game before Cooke’s late basket and Harrison’s free throws sealed it.
Nastja Claessens added 13 points for K-State, while freshman Jordan Speiser scored 12 points and tied her career high with four made 3-pointers. The Wildcats shot 41.7 percent from the field, including 63.6 percent in the fourth quarter, but were undone by second-chance points and late execution.
The Mountaineers return home Wednesday to host No. 21 Texas Tech at 7 p.m. ET. WVU and Red Raiders enter the matchup as the Big 12’s only remaining undefeated teams in conference play
Photo Credit: WVU Athletics
