Women's Basketball: No. 15 WVU Downs Columbia
December 02, 2007 04:46 PM | General
December 2, 2007
BOX SCORE
BOCA RATON, Fla. – West Virginia University’s women’s basketball team (7-1) defeated Columbia (2-6), 74-41, Sunday afternoon in game two of the FAU Holiday Classic at FAU Arena.
Senior guard Meg Bulger led five Mountaineers in double-figure scoring with 15 points including three 3-pointers. Senior guard LaQuita Owens tallied 13 points and three steals and senior forward Chakhia Cole had 13 points and six rebounds. Senior center Olayinka Sanni scored 11 points and grabbed a game-high eight rebounds while junior guard Sparkle Davis chipped in 10 points off the bench.
No. 15/16 West Virginia’s aggressive defense shut down the Lions, forcing Columbia to shoot just 17.9% (10-56) from the field for the game, including just 4-of-26 from 3-point range.
The Mountaineers raced out to an early 11-0 advantage to start the contest before the Lions continually drew fouls on the Mountaineers and cut into WVU’s lead. Three of WVU’s starters, Sanni, Cole and Owens, all picked up two first half fouls. That gave Columbia momentum as they cut the lead to 26-18 with 4:48 left in the first half.
WVU went on to lead 32-21 at halftime with Bulger having 10 points including two 3-pointers. In what amounted to first half action, WVU committed 14 fouls and tallied 12 turnovers. Columbia was held to just 17.2% shooting in the first stanza (5-29) and 1-of-12 shooting from 3-point range.
West Virginia used a 10-3 run to start the second half capped by Sanni layup with 15:13 left in the game. The Mountaineers cruised from there.
WVU shot 48.3% (28-58) in the contest and out-rebounded Columbia 45-39.
WVU returns to action Friday, Dec. 7, at Duquesne at 7 p.m. at the A.J. Palumbo Center in Pittsburgh, Pa.
