West Virginia Powers Past K-State
January 21, 2015 10:29 PM | General
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MORGANTOWN, W.Va. - A 13-1 run to start the second half propelled West Virginia University women’s basketball to a 63-51 victory over Kansas State on Wednesday evening at the WVU Coliseum.
For the first time this season, WVU (12-6, 2-4 Big 12) overcame a halftime deficit to win the game. Trailing 25-22 and shooting just 32 percent (8-of-25) in the opening half, West Virginia fired back by knocking down 53.6 percent (15-of-28) of their shots in the second half. Despite K-State’s (11-6, 1-5 Big 12) attempt to cut the game to single digits in the final five minutes, the Mountaineers held on for their second consecutive win.
In just her third game, junior Jessica Morton registered a game-high 22 points. The guard knocked down eight field goals, four of those coming behind the arch. Bre McDonald registered 11 points and handed out three assists in her second start this season.
Center Lanay Montgomery had a remarkable performance with 12 rebounds, a career-best nine blocks and six points in 32 minutes. Montgomery’s nine deflections were the most for a WVU player in a single game since the legendary Georgeann Wells blocked nine against Marshall on Dec. 10, 1985. That mark tied Wells for fourth most in program history.
Averee Fields and Bria Holmes rounded out WVU’s double-figure scoring with 12 and 10 points, respectively.
“It was good to see some other players get some confidence,” said coach Mike Carey. “It takes some pressure off of Averee Fields and Bria Holmes in that they don’t have to score every possession. We have to continue to get better and hit shots. The offense looks really good when you hit shots.”
Offensively, WVU shot 43.4 percent (23-of-53) from the field and hit five triples. The Wildcats were limited to 31.5 percent shooting (17-of-54). WVU outmanned K-State 41-31 on the boards. West Virginia finished with 15 blocks, the most since deflecting 17 against Cincinnati on January 8, 2011. The team blocks were tied for second most in a single game in NCAA Division I play this season.
K-State hit over 40 percent for the majority of the first half and stretched its lead to 10-6 in the first six minutes. A three-pointer by Haley Texada at 9:17 gave the Wildcats their largest advantage of five. However, the Mountaineers roared back with a four-point run. Part of that momentum was credited due to a Montgomery block, Stepney steal and McDonald jumper, cutting the deficit to 15-14.
Again after a strong Kansas State push, back-to-back triples from Morton tied the game near the two minute mark. But a 5-2 run at the end of the half gave the Wildcats a 25-22 halftime lead. K-State scored 14 of their 25 first half points off 10 WVU turnovers.
Overall, WVU made 8-of-25 field goal attempts for 32 percent. K-State shot slightly better, hitting 9-of-25 for 36 percent. Morton led all scorers for West Virginia with eight points, while Kindred Wesemann had a game-high 13. Wesemann led K-State with a total of 19 points for the contest.
West Virginia came out fired up in the second half, opening the stanza on a 13-1 run. The Mountaineers hit six field goals in the first six minutes, limiting K-State to no makes.
Later in the half, Morton scored eight consecutive points to stretch WVU’s lead to 50-32. The Wildcats later cut the deficit to eight in the final five minutes, but a Morton layup and four free throws down the stretch secured the Mountaineers fifth consecutive win over K-State.
West Virginia opens a two-game road swing at Kansas on Saturday, January 24. Tip-off is set for 2 p.m. ET in Lawrence. The contest will air on Fox Sports Net.
NOTES:
West Virginia improved to 5-0 all-time against Kansas State and 3-0 inside the Coliseum…Lanay Montgomery has recorded at least two blocks in all but one game this season… Montgomery’s nine blocks were the most by a Mountaineer in a single game since Georgeann Wells had nine against Marshall on December 10, 1985..Montgomery has had at least five blocks in four straight games…For the first time this season, WVU earned a victory after trailing at the half (now 1-6)… …Montgomery had at least six blocks in her second straight game and finished with a career-high nine blocks …Montgomery’s nine blocks are sixth-most by a player in NCAA Division I this season…WVU’s 15 blocks are tied for second most in NCAA D-I this year are tied for first among power conference schools…Jessica Morton scored a career-high 22 points…Bria Holmes scored in double figures for the 21st consecutive game…Averee Fields has scored in double figures in 17 of 18 games this season…Bre McDonald has scored in double figures in back-to-back games.
West Virginia improved to 5-0 all-time against Kansas State and 3-0 inside the Coliseum…Lanay Montgomery has recorded at least two blocks in all but one game this season… Montgomery’s nine blocks were the most by a Mountaineer in a single game since Georgeann Wells had nine against Marshall on December 10, 1985..Montgomery has had at least five blocks in four straight games…For the first time this season, WVU earned a victory after trailing at the half (now 1-6)… …Montgomery had at least six blocks in her second straight game and finished with a career-high nine blocks …Montgomery’s nine blocks are sixth-most by a player in NCAA Division I this season…WVU’s 15 blocks are tied for second most in NCAA D-I this year are tied for first among power conference schools…Jessica Morton scored a career-high 22 points…Bria Holmes scored in double figures for the 21st consecutive game…Averee Fields has scored in double figures in 17 of 18 games this season…Bre McDonald has scored in double figures in back-to-back games.
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