Shanna Rose | WV Sports Chat
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — No. 22 West Virginia leaned on its defense and late-game composure to pull away from Arizona State, closing with a dominant fourth quarter in a 53-43 win Wednesday night at Hope Coliseum.
In a matchup between two of the nation’s top defensive teams, the Mountaineers finally created separation in the final 10 minutes. WVU held the Sun Devils to just six points in the fourth quarter and finished the game on a 14-2 run, sealing the outcome at the free-throw line.
Graduate forward Kierra Wheeler led three Mountaineers in double figures with 16 points and seven rebounds. Sydney Shaw added 11 points, knocking down three 3-pointers, while Gia Cooke chipped in 10 points for WVU (16-4, 6-2 Big 12).
McKinna Brackens and Gabby Elliott each scored 15 points to pace Arizona State (17-3, 4-3).
The Mountaineers controlled much of the first half before the offense went cold late in the second quarter. A Sydney Woodley layup pushed WVU ahead 25-15 with 3:30 remaining before halftime, but the Sun Devils responded with a 9-0 run to close the gap to 25-24 at the break.
Arizona State carried that momentum into the third quarter, opening the half on a 9-2 surge to take a 33-27 lead. The Sun Devils extended the advantage to eight late in the period before the Mountaineers scored five points in the final minute to trim the deficit to 37-34 heading into the fourth.
WVU tied the game early in the final quarter and pulled ahead for good when Shaw drilled a right-wing 3-pointer with 2:45 remaining. From there, the Mountaineers closed it out at the line, converting eight free throws late while forcing seven Arizona State turnovers in the fourth quarter.
The Sun Devils managed just one field goal over the final four minutes, going 1-for-9 during that stretch.
Despite entering the game among the national leaders in points off turnovers, WVU was limited early and trailed 16-1 in that category at one point. The Mountaineers flipped the script late, outscoring the Arizona State 9-0 on points off turnovers in the closing minutes.
Senior guard Jordan Harrison finished with six points, six rebounds and three assists for WVU, which committed zero turnovers in the fourth quarter.
The Mountaineers remain unbeaten against Arizona State, improving to 3-0 all-time in the series and 2-0 against the Sun Devils since they joined the Big 12.
WVU hits the road next for a two-game Utah swing, opening at BYU on Saturday before closing the trip Tuesday at Utah.
Photo Credit: WVU Athletics
