MORGANTOWN, W.Va. - The West Virginia University women’s basketball team wraps up Big 12 regular-season action on Tuesday, March 3, at Kansas State. Tipoff at Bramlage Coliseum is set for 8 p.m. ET in Manhattan.
The contest airs regionally on Fox College Sports Atlantic/FS Kansas City. Fans can watch on Comcast 171, DirecTV 671 and Dish 418. Jeff Culhane and Meg Bulger will have the call on the Mountaineer Sports Network from IMG. Listen on various affiliates across the state, locally on WRLF 94.3 FM and on
WVUsports.com/audio.
West Virginia (17-12, 7-10 Big 12) is coming off a thrilling, 76-69, overtime win over No. 24-ranked Texas on Sunday afternoon. Averee Fields and Bria Holmes each poured in 19 points to lead the Mountaineers. WVU closed out its home slate with 14 wins inside the Coliseum.
Statistically, West Virginia is fourth nationally with 6.6 blocks per game. The Mountaineers are fourth in the league in rebound margin (+4.1) and steals per game (9.2). Holmes continues to lead West Virginia and sits second in the Big 12 with 19.3 points per game. Holmes’ 560 points this season is seventh all-time in a single-season at WVU. Lanay Montgomery’s 3.4 blocked shot average is 11th nationally.
Currently, WVU sits in seventh place with one game remaining before the Phillips 66 Big 12 Championship in Dallas (March 6-9). The Mountaineers could move up to as high as sixth or further down depending on Tuesday’s outcome.
The Mountaineers are seeking their first road win since defeating Oklahoma State on January 17. West Virginia owns a 5-0 all-time record against Kansas State.
“They play well at home,” said coach Mike Carey. “Their center is their leading scorer and rebounder. We’ve got to get ball pressure on the ball. Don’t let them have free passes on their center. They do a good job lobbing.”
In this year’s earlier meeting on January 21, the Mountaineers claimed a 63-51 victory in Morgantown. Four players scored double figures, including a career-high 22 points from Jessica Morton. Montgomery became the first WVU player since 1985 to record nine blocks in a single game. Overall, the Mountaineers deflected 15 shots in that win.
The Wildcats (16-12, 6-11) have lost four out of their last five, which includes a 67-47 defeat at TCU on Saturday. K-State is boasting 58.8 points per game. In the Big 12, K-State is first in turnover margin (+3.3) and in steals per game (11.5) and second in scoring defense (57.1).
Sophomore forward Breanna Lewis leads the Wildcats with 11.6 points and 6.3 rebounds per game. Both Ashia Woods and Shaelyn Martin are in the Big 12’s top-5 list with 66 and 60 steals, respectively.
RPI MATTERS
- According to Warren Nolan, WVU has a 67 RPI as of Sunday night.
- The Mountaineers have eight top-100 RPI wins and six top-50 RPI victories.
HOLMES FOR ALL-AMERICA
- Bria Holmes’ 19.3 points per game are second in the Big 12.
- She has scored double figures in 31 of her last 32 games.
- Her 1,256 career points are 20th at WVU.
- She is 26 away from moving into 19th.
- Her 20-point games (21) are 10th at WVU.
