By: Shanna Rose
KANSAS CITY, Mo.–JJ Quinerly scored 24 points as the West Virginia University women’s basketball team rallied to defeat Kansas State 73-69 in the quarterfinals of the Phillips 66 Big 12 Basketball Championship on Friday afternoon at the T-Mobile Center.
The fourth-seeded Mountaineers (24-6, 13-5 Big 12) erased a 12-point deficit to beat the fifth-seeded Wildcats. WVU struggled defensively early on and Kansas State scored 33 points in the first quarter, hitting 13 of its first 15 field goal attempts.
The Mountaineers trailed 33-23 while shooting 70 percent from the field. The Wildcats cooled down in the second half and WVU trailed by eight at the half.
In the third quarter, Jordan Harrison dominated, scoring 11 points. Her jumper with 1:10 left gave the Mountaineers a 54-53 edge.
At the end of the third quarter, WVU trailed 58-56 but the Mountaineers opened the fourth with an 8-0 run, to take a 66-60 lead with under five minutes to play. Kansas State responded with a 7-0 run to take a 69-67 lead with two minutes to play.
Jordan Thomas tied the game before Quinerly gave WVU a 71-69 lead with 45 seconds remaining. Then Sydney Shaw sealed the victory with a pair of free throws.
The dynamic duo of Quinerly and Harrison combined for 43 of the Mountaineers points, shooting 55 percent from the floor.
Harrison finished with 19 points and Shaw had 13. Thomas added 11 points and Kyah Watson led WVU with seven rebounds.
Taylor Kennedy led the Wildcats with 21 points and Tem Poindexter finished with 16 points.
The Mountaineers will take on the top-seeded TCU on Saturday, March 8. Tipoff for the semifinal matchup is scheduled for 4 p.m. ET and will be broadcast on ESPN+.
Photo Credit: WVU Athletics
