Women's Basketball: WVU Holds Off Irish
January 13, 2008 03:30 PM | General
January 13, 2007
BOX SCORE | COACHES' QUOTES | PHOTO GALLERY
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – No. 16 West Virginia made 10 free throws over the final two minutes of the game to preserve a 56-50 victory over No. 14 Notre Dame Sunday afternoon at the WVU Coliseum.
The Mountaineers began the game on a 7-0 run and cruised to a 20-point, 31-11 halftime lead over the Irish. The 11 points ties a school record for fewest points allowed in a half by WVU and sets the Notre Dame school record for fewest points scored in a half.
“I was so proud of them the first half. We had a hard two days of practice that were really intense and that carried over at least to the first half,” West Virginia Coach Mike Carey said. “We were playing well in the first half.”
West Virginia played aggressive defense in the first half, using a combination of 2-3 zone and man-to-man to force Notre Dame into 11 first half turnovers while holding the Irish to just 17 percent shooting.
The Mountaineers led by double digits for much of the second half, gaining a 44-30 advantage on a Meg Bulger jumper with 7:28 remaining. However that would be the last field goal West Virginia would make for more than six minutes, allowing the Irish to rally.
West Virginia (12-3, 2-1) committed 14 second half turnovers because of Notre Dame's constant pressure.
“We just got lackadaisical on both ends and I think we were a little tired. It was just one of those things,” Carey said. “Our perimeter players didn’t play to lose but they stopped attacking. I should have substituted and given some people some rest.”
Brittany Mallory and Charel Allen rallied the Irish, making back-to back 3s to cut the deficit to just six at 44-38 with 3:01 to play. After a Bulger turnover, Beck drilled another 3 to cut it to 44-41. Becca Bruszewski made a pair of free throws to pull Notre Dame (13-3, 1-1) to within one at 44-43 with 1:40 to play.
That was close as the Irish would get as Bulger, LaQuita Owens and Olayinka Sanni combined to make 10 of 10 free throws down the stretch.
For the game, West Virginia shot 36 percent from the field while holding Notre Dame to just 24.5 percent. Bulger led the Mountaineers with 17 points on 7-13 shooting while Sanni chipped in 15.
Allen led Notre Dame with 11 points but was held to just 3 of 14 shooting from the field.
“I think we did a great job against Charel Allen. She is a legit first team BIG EAST player and a WNBA player and I thought we did a great job,” Carey said. “She scored late, but in the first half and for the majority of the game, we did a great job of shutting her down.”
The victory marks West Virginia’s second ever against Notre Dame. It also marks the first home victory over a ranked opponent for WVU since beating No. 13 DePaul in 2006.
“I’m proud of them. We struggled in the second half but we really needed something positive to happen coming off of that Connecticut game,” Carey said. “That first half was positive enough for me. It gave us something to build on.”
The Mountaineers return to action this Wednesday, Jan. 16., when they battle Marquette at the WVU Coliseum. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. and will be broadcast on WVPBS.
