MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – Junior Bria Holmes’ game-leading 23 points carried the No. 17-ranked West Virginia women’s basketball team past Eastern Kentucky, 67-42, on Saturday evening in the opening round of the Preseason WNIT at the WVU Coliseum.
West Virginia (1-0) used a 12-point run to close out the first half and took a commanding 30-19 halftime lead. The Mountaineers added four more points to the run in the second half before EKU came firing back.
The Colonels (0-1) cut the deficit to 11 midway through the second half, but were unable to overcome the stingy play from WVU. West Virginia is now 13-1 in season openers under head coach Mike Carey.
With the victory, the Mountaineers will face former Big East foe Seton Hall in the second round on Monday, Nov. 17 at 7 p.m. inside the Coliseum. The Pirates (1-0) knocked off Rider, 66-47, on Friday afternoon in East Orange, New Jersey.
Holmes tied a career-high with nine field goal makes. Her 24 attempts tied five others for 10th most field goals shot by a Mountaineer junior. The Big 12 Preseason Player of the Year notched three steals, two assists and a block in 37 minutes of play.
Veteran leaders Linda Stepney and Averee Fields each reached double-digits with 13 and 12 points, respectively. The duo combined for 10-of-14 from the field. Stepney handed out three assists and committed just one turnover in 36 minutes.
Crystal Leary, a native of Norfolk, Virginia, grabbed 11 rebounds and swatted away a career-high four blocks in the win. Redshirt freshman Teana Muldrow tallied eight points and pulled in five boards during the win.
EKU’s Michaela Hunter, Mariah Massengill and Shameekia Murray each had a team-leading eight points for the Colonels. Hunter corralled seven rebounds, including six off the defensive glass.
The Mountaineers made 24-of-56 from the field for 42.9 percent, holding EKU to 14-of-51 for 27.5 percent. WVU hit six treys compared to the Colonels’ five. The Mountaineers held a slight rebounding edge 44-38, scoring 26 points in the paint. The Colonels won the points off turnover battle, 17-12.
Early in the contest, Eastern Kentucky capitalized on WVU’s shooting woes as the Colonels took a 6-2 edge through the first five minutes. Holmes hit back-to-back triples cutting the Mountaineers deficit to 9-8 with 14-plus minutes remaining.
WVU found its first lead with a Holmes layup to take a 13-12 edge. EKU quickly responded with its second triple to regain the edge. Both teams swapped leads until Stepney hit a game-tying free throw at 19-19. The Mountaineers closed out the first half on a 12-0 run in the final five minutes to take a commanding 30-19 halftime advantage.
Holmes led all scorers at the half with 17 points, while Leary pulled in seven rebounds. EKU’s Murray led the Colonels with six first-half points. WVU shot 35.5 percent (11-of-31) from the field, while EKU was limited to 7-of-28 for 25 percent.
The Mountaineers’ momentum continued into the second half as WVU stretched its lead to 15. Eastern Kentucky snapped its seven-minute drought with a trey from Alexus Cooper.
WVU shot over 50 percent for the majority of the second half to take a commanding lead over the Colonels and collect their first victory of the season.
The Mountaineers continue action on Monday against Seton Hall. Tip time for the second round Preseason WNIT game is set at 7 p.m. inside the WVU Coliseum. Fans can purchase tickets online at WVUGAME.com or by calling 1-800-WVU GAME.
NOTES
Redshirt freshman Teana Muldrow made her first career start in her collegiate debut, scoring eight points and pulling in five rebounds … Sophomore Lanay Montgomery made her first career start, grabbing seven rebounds … Senior Averee Fields scored the first bucket of the season for the Mountaineers … Bria Holmes set a career-high with 24 field goal attempts, surpassing her previous best of 19 against Albany on March 23, 2014 … Bria Holmes etched her ninth career 20-point game … Holmes matched a career-high with nine field goal makes – tying her effort against Delaware State on Dec. 18, 2013 … Crystal Leary set a career-high with four blocks, surpassing her previous best of three against Texas Tech on Jan. 22, 2013 … West Virginia advances to the Preseason WNIT second round to face ole Big East foe Seton Hall … WVU is now 3-1 all-time in the Preseason WNIT … The Mountaineers improve to 27-15 in all-time season openers and are 11-3 under Coach Mike Carey … WVU is 13-1 in home openers.
