MORGANTOWN, W.Va. - The West Virginia University women’s basketball team used a stifling defense to knock off Fairleigh Dickinson, 91-42, on Sunday at the WVU Coliseum.

 

The Mountaineers (6-2) opened the first quarter with a 27-7 edge and never looked back, as WVU notched its fourth consecutive victory. West Virginia recorded a season-high 16 steals, while converting 29 FDU turnovers into 44 points. Fairleigh Dickinson fell to 1-6 on the season.

 

West Virginia has won 11 consecutive games at the Coliseum dating back to last season and 22 consecutive games against non-conference foes at the Coliseum since the 2013-14 campaign.

 

Freshman Katrina Pardee netted a season-high and team-leading 19 points. The Cedar Park, Texas, native made 7-of-14 from the field, including 3-of-7 behind the arc. Sophomore Teana Muldrow belted off 17 points and grabbed four rebounds. Tynice Martin and Bria Holmes rounded out WVU’s double-figure scorers with 12 and 11 points, respectively. For a second consecutive game, Lanay Montgomery reached double-digit rebounding with a game-best 14 boards.

 

“I thought the first quarter and a half we played with good intensity, better than we did the other night,” coach Mike Carey said. “The deeper we went in the bench the sloppier we got with so many freshmen and so many new players. I had some people get out of position, but it’s good that everyone got to play.”

 

Offensively, West Virginia netted 54 percent (34-of-63) overall from the field and 4-of-14 (28.6 percent) from three-point range. The Mountaineers won the rebound battle 47-33 and dished out 23 assists. Holmes led the team with five assists, while Jessica Morton and Olivia Seggie contributed with four each. Morton also netted a career-high four steals in the contest.

 

Fairleigh Dickinson was limited to 25.0 percent (13-of-52) shooting. The Knights were held to 14 first half points before recording 11 in the third and 17 in the final period. Madelyn Comly led the Knights with a team-best 12 points and three steals.

 

A hot offensive start catapulted the Mountaineers in the opening period. WVU started the game shooting 86 percent in the first five minutes, opening to a 13-2 lead. West Virginia closed out the period on an 8-0 run to take a commanding 27-7 lead. The Mountaineers finished shooting a season-best 78.5 percent in the first quarter.

 

In the second quarter, Morton’s jumper pushed the Mountaineers’ advantage to 31 at the 4:54 mark. FDU was held scoreless for nearly five minutes until Comly drained a jumper to make it a 44-12 contest. West Virginia maintained a 46-14 halftime lead. The Mountaineers converted 15 FDU turnovers into 22 points. Martin knocked down 5-of-7 from the field to lead the team with 10 points. The Mountaineers shot 56.3 percent (18-of-32), while holding FDU to 19.2 percent (5-of-26).

 

Free throws from Pardee and Alexis Brewer pushed WVU’s lead to 51 with 34 seconds left in the third quarter. Brewer finished the contest with nine points. Fairleigh Dickinson would stay even with West Virginia in the final period, as both teams finished the frame with 17 points each.

 

West Virginia takes a week hiatus before the Mountaineers play Marshall (6-0) on Sunday, Dec. 13, at 4 p.m. in the annual Chesapeake Energy Capital Classic at the Charleston Civic Center in Charleston, West Virginia. All tickets for the women’s game are general admission and are $7 each. A group rate is available for groups of 10 or more at $3 per ticket. Call 1-800-745-3000 or purchase tickets online at Ticketmaster.com. Fans also can buy tickets in person at the Charleston Civic Center Box Office.

 

NOTES: WVU picked up its fourth straight victory with a 91-42 win over Fairleigh Dickinson on Sunday … Coach Carey (591) is just nine wins shy of reaching his 600th career victory … WVU has won 22 straight games at the WVU Coliseum against non-conference opponents dating back to the 2013-14 season … West Virginia is 94-7 at home against nonconference teams since 2002 … Katrina Pardee led the Mountaineers with 19 points, recording a season high and career high … WVU’s 44 points off turnovers were the most this season … the last time WVU won by 40 points or more was against Delaware State on Nov. 14 … Tynice Martin recorded a season high and career high three assists … Desiree Rhodes set a season high and career high with five rebounds … Lanay Montgomery’s 14 rebounds were the fourth time she has reached double-figure rebounding this season … WVU has tallied 90 or more points in three games (96 vs. Coppin State, 94 vs. Morehead State and 91 vs. Fairleigh Dickinson).