Shanna Rose | WV Sports Chat
PROVO, Utah — Sydney Woodley scored 23 points and Gia Cooke added 21 as No. 22 West Virginia erased an early 13-point deficit and pulled away from BYU for a 91-77 win Saturday night at the Marriott Center.
Woodley was efficient off the bench, making 6 of 7 shots and 11 of 12 free throws while adding four steals for the Mountaineers (17-4, 7-2 Big 12 Conference). Cooke hit four 3-pointers, dished out four assists and did not commit a turnover. WVU finished 22 of 29 at the line and shot 51 percent from the field.
Carter McCray recorded her first double-double of the season with 13 points and 11 rebounds. Jordan Harrison had 11 points, six assists and four steals, and Kierra Wheeler also scored 11 as the Mountaineers improved to 6-0 in true road games this season.
The Cougars (15-5, 4-4) raced out to a 20-7 lead after Olivia Hamlin knocked down a 3-pointer and Bolanie Yussuf scored inside to cap a strong opening run. Cooke responded with a 3 to spark a WVU push, and the Mountaineers closed the first quarter within 21-16. A 15-3 run in the second quarter gave WVU the lead, and it carried a 41-38 advantage into halftime.
Delaney Gibb opened the third quarter with a 3-pointer to tie the game, but the Mountaineers answered with a decisive burst. Sydney Shaw drilled a 3, Harrison scored in transition and Cooke finished the run as WVU took its first double-digit lead at 55-43. Gibb scored eight points late in the period to pull BYU within 62-55 heading into the fourth.
The Mountaineers opened the final quarter on an 8-2 run to push the lead back to 13 and were not threatened the rest of the way. Gibb finished with a season-high 28 points for the Cougars. Hamlin scored 13 off the bench, and Marya Hudgins added 10 points and seven rebounds, but BYU was hurt by 25 turnovers.
WVU forced 25 turnovers and converted them into 29 points while outscoring the Cougars 29-22 in the fourth quarter. The Mountaineers close their road swing Tuesday at Utah.
Photo credit: WVU Athletics
