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WVU Outlasts Marshall in Capital Classic
December 13, 2015 07:11 PM | Women's Basketball
CHARLESTON, W.Va. - The West Virginia University women’s basketball team used an all-around effort to hold off Marshall, 66-60, in the annual Chesapeake Energy Capital Classic in front of 3,173 fans at the Charleston Civic Center on Sunday.
The Mountaineers (7-2) led by as many as 10 points in the third quarter before Marshall (6-1) fought back in the final stanza. A free throw by the Thundering Herd’s Leah Scott cut WVU’s lead to 52-49 with seven minutes remaining. A Teana Muldrow layup coupled with a Tynice Martin three-pointer pushed the Mountaineers’ advantage back to eight. Freshman Shayna Gore connected on a trey to cut the deficit to 63-58 with 2:09 left. Muldrow immediately followed with a layup to push the game back to seven, as WVU secured its 11th consecutive victory over Marshall in the Capital Classic. The Mountaineers have now reeled off five consecutive wins this season.
Junior Lanay Montgomery garnered Most Valuable Player accolades with 13 points, 12 rebounds and three blocks in the triumph. Sunday’s contest was the second double-double of the season for Montgomery and marked back-to-back years that Montgomery has received MVP accolades in the Capital Classic. Martin netted a season-high 15 points and eight rebounds after connecting on 5-of-9 from the field.
Preseason All-Big 12 selection Bria Holmes netted her second career double-double with 12 points and a career-high 10 assists. Senior Arielle Roberson pulled in a season-best 12 rebounds. Muldrow and Katrina Pardee each added nine points.
"Give Marshall credit, they played hard," said coach Mike Carey. "We just don’t rebound real well right now, we haven’t all year. It’s something we have to do a lot better job at. We can’t just count on Lanay getting every rebound. We have to have other people rebounding.”
WVU finished the night shooting 37.9 percent (22-of-58) from the field, while Marshall knocked down 33.3 percent (21-of-63). Behind the arc, WVU netted 6-of-25 (24.0 percent) compared to Marshall’s 7-of-24 (29.2 percent). The Mountaineers won the rebound edge, 49-34, while handing out 15 assists as a team. The Herd capitalized on the turnover battle turning 16 WVU miscues into 12 points.
Marshall started off hot with a 9-2 lead in the opening quarter. WVU fought back with a 9-2 run of its own to tie the game at 11-11. Kiana Evans’ jumper gave the Herd a 13-11 advantage after one. Both teams shot under 40 percent in the first quarter, while WVU won the rebound column 13-8.
The Herd pushed their lead to 19-13 with 7:13 left in the frame. From there, WVU used an 8-1 run to take a quick 21-20 lead. A Roberson free throw and a pair of Montgomery free throws gave WVU a 33-30 halftime edge.
In the first half, WVU netted 40.0 percent (12-of-30) from the field while holding Marshall to 34.5 percent (10-of-29). The Mountaineers dominated the boards, 25-15. Martin and Montgomery each had 10 points for WVU, while the Herd’s Leah Scott had a half-leading 15 points.
Triples by Holmes and Pardee pushed WVU’s lead to 10 midway through the quarter. Marshall fought back to cut the game to four with a Gore layup. WVU pushed it back to 52-46 at the end of the quarter.
Marshall fought back from 10 down to pull within three with a free throw from Scott at the 7:01 mark. A Muldrow layup and a Martin triple pushed the game back to eight. The Herd cut the contest back to five, but the Mountaineers thwarted the comeback with a Muldrow layup en route to the program’s 11 consecutive Capital Classic title. Scott finished with a game-high 24 points for the Herd.
West Virginia continues action on Wednesday, Dec. 16, against Longwood (2-6). The Mountaineers and Lancers square off in a 7 p.m. contest at the WVU Coliseum. The annual ‘Feed A Family Night’ food drive will occur on Wednesday. Any fan that brings a non-perishable food item for donation to the Blue Gate will receive a coupon for a hot dog at the next women’s basketball game (limit two per person).
NOTES: West Virginia is now 39-16 all-time versus Marshall … The Mountaineers have won 11 straight over the Herd … Lanay Montgomery garnered MVP honors for the second consecutive year … Montgomery registered her second double-double with 13 points and 12 rebounds … Tynice Martin netted a season-high 15 points … Bria Holmes recorded her first double-double of the year with 12 points and a career-high 10 assists … Arielle Roberson netted a season-best 12 rebounds … WVU has now won five consecutive games.
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