WVU Survives Scare from Kansas
February 10, 2015 08:19 PM | General
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MORGANTOWN, W.Va. - West Virginia University women’s basketball withstood a second half rally from Kansas to collect a 59-56 victory on Tuesday evening at the WVU Coliseum.
The Mountaineers (15-9, 5-7) put together a stellar first half performance, limiting Kansas (13-12, 4-8) to season-low 15 points. KU rallied back from a 12-point halftime deficit to pull within one in the final three minutes. A jumper by star Chelsea Gardner tied the game, 53-53, with 2:34 remaining. With just 57 seconds left, Bre McDonald hit a jumper to give WVU the go-ahead lead. KU’s next possession was thwarted thanks to a Bria Holmes steal and two made free throws from McDonald.
The Jayhawks weren’t done yet, as Asia Boyd converted three freebies after being fouled from the three-point line. Linda Stepney hit two more free throws to push WVU’s edge to three with six second left. A last-second shot by Kansas didn’t go off in regulation, helping the Mountaineers collect their fourth straight win inside the Coliseum.
“I thought we hit our foul shots at the end,” said coach Mike Carey. “We played really well at times, but we would also lose focus at times.”
Holmes, the Big 12 Preseason Player of the Year, netted a game-high 27 points. She made 11-of-14 from the field, handed out a team-best four assists and snatched two steals. Once again, senior Averee Fields produced a consistent night with 10 points and seven rebounds. Center Lanay Montgomery pulled in eight boards, scored six points and blocked three shots in WVU’s triumph.
West Virginia made 47.1 percent (24-of-51) from the field for its best shooting percentage in league play this season. After knocking down just 24.1 percent in the opening frame, KU battled back to connect on 61.5 percent in the second half and finished shooting 41.8 percent (23-of-55) for the game. The Mountaineers converted 13 KU turnovers into 16 points.
Holmes scored six of WVU’s first 10 points, as the Mountaineers jumped out to a 10-2 lead. Teana Muldrow’s triple at the nine-minute mark extended WVU’s edge to 17-7. Kansas fought back with a 6- 0 run to narrow the lead to four.
The Jayhawks were held scoreless the final five minutes, as WVU closed the half with eight consecutive points to take a 27-15 lead in the locker room. Kansas was held to its lowest first half point total of the season). Holmes led all scorers with 14 points, while Gardner had six for KU. Gardner finished with 18 points and 12 rebounds to lead Kansas on Tuesday.
Much like this year’s earlier meeting in Lawrence, KU came out firing in the second half. The Jayhawks sprinted out to a 10-4 run, cutting the game to 31-25. Holmes’ jumper stretched the lead back to ten, but that advantage was short-lived. Kansas proceeded on a 7-0 spurt, cutting the contest to 37-34 with 13:31 remaining.
Kansas’ Terriell Bradley’s layup with 10-plus minutes made it a 41-39 contest. However, WVU proceeded on a 10-2 run to push the game back to double-figures.
Kansas tied the game at the 2:34 mark, thanks to a Gardner jumper. McDonald hit the go-ahead jumper with 57 seconds left. A Holmes steal and McDonald’s two made free throws pushed the game to four. However, Boyd was fouled behind the three-point line and converted on all of her attempts. With six seconds left, Stepney notched both freebies. Kansas’ last-second ditch effort failed, as the Mountaineers notched their 12th win at home.
West Virginia hits the road for a nationally televised broadcast on ESPN2 on Sunday, Feb. 21 at No. 3-ranked Baylor. Tipoff is set for 5 p.m. ET.
NOTES:
WVU owns a 12-2 mark at home, as the Mountaineers have won four straight games inside the WVU Coliseum … WVU tied the all-time series (4-4) against Kansas … West Virginia is 14-1 this season when leading at the half … for the fifth time this season the Mountaineers has held an opponent to 20 points or less at the half (27-15) … The Jayhawks scored a total of 15 points at the half, which marked their lowest first half total this season … West Virginia is now 11-1 when holding its opponent to under 60 points or less … Linda Stepney made her 117th career start tonight against Kansas… Bria Holmes scored a team-best 27 points, which marked her 20th career 20-point game … Holmes has scored double-figures in 26 of 27 games.
WVU owns a 12-2 mark at home, as the Mountaineers have won four straight games inside the WVU Coliseum … WVU tied the all-time series (4-4) against Kansas … West Virginia is 14-1 this season when leading at the half … for the fifth time this season the Mountaineers has held an opponent to 20 points or less at the half (27-15) … The Jayhawks scored a total of 15 points at the half, which marked their lowest first half total this season … West Virginia is now 11-1 when holding its opponent to under 60 points or less … Linda Stepney made her 117th career start tonight against Kansas… Bria Holmes scored a team-best 27 points, which marked her 20th career 20-point game … Holmes has scored double-figures in 26 of 27 games.
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