FORT WORTH, Texas – Three players reached the 20-point plateau, as the No. 25-ranked West Virginia University women’s basketball team collected a 97-84 victory over TCU on Sunday afternoon at Schollmaier Arena.
The Mountaineers (16-4, 5-2 Big 12) used a series of big runs in the first half, including a 29-5 spurt to close the second quarter. WVU held a 50-23 advantage at halftime. TCU (11-8, 3-5) used five three-pointers in the fourth quarter to cut the deficit to 11 with two minutes remaining. West Virginia hit 12 free throws in the fourth quarter to seal the win. The 97 points were the most for a Mountaineer team against a Big 12 opponent since joining the league in 2012-13.
Jessica Morton netted a career-high 26 points followed by 24 from Senior CLASS Award candidate Bria Holmes. Teana Muldrow registered her first career double-double with 21 points and 10 rebounds. Morton and Muldrow combined for 20-of-27 from the field. Holmes dished out a team-leading eight assists in the triumph, while moving to third on WVU’s scoring ledger with 1,758 career points. The trio of Mountaineers reaching 20 points happened for the second time in program history on Sunday. The previous feat occured on Dec. 14, 1996 at Robert Morris when Rebecca Burbridge, Talisha Hargis and Christie Lambert all reached 20 points.
“I was worried about the layoff because I thought we’d have a lot of energy or come off sloppy,” said coach Mike Carey. “We’re deeper this year off the bench. When somebody is having a bad night, someone else can step up and have a good night. I thought in the first half we played really well and in the second half we seemed tired.”
West Virginia knocked down 56.1 percent (37-of-66) from the field and connected on 7-of-17 for 41.2 percent from behind the three-point line. TCU was limited to 45.5 percent shooting (30-of-66), but knocked down 57.9 percent (22-of-38) in the second half. The Mountaineers outrebounded the Horned Frogs, 38-28, and scored 29 points off 20 TCU turnovers. The West Virginia bench outscored TCU, 53-12.
AJ Alix made eight field goals, including four from three-point range, finishing with 26 points to lead the Horned Frogs.
TCU opened the game on a 7-3 run. However, West Virginia settled into its offensive game. The Mountaineers closed out the first quarter on an 8-0 run, which included a Tynice Martin triple, to take a 21-13 edge at the end of the period.
An Alix trey and a Jordan Moore jumper helped the Horned Frogs cut the game to 21-18 in the second quarter. Holmes hit one of WVU’s six first half triples to snap the run and spark an 18-2 run. Overall, West Virginia finished the half on a 29-5 run. TCU was limited to just eight first half field goals and finished shooting 28.6 percent from the field. WVU nailed 61.1 percent (22-of-36) of its attempts from the field and outrebounded the Horned Frogs, 22-12. Muldrow led WVU with 14 points, while Zahna Medley paced TCU with eight.
Despite a 27 first half deficit, the Horned Frogs came out fired up in the third quarter opening on a nine-point run. WVU finally snapped the spurt with two Holmes free throws at the 6:37 mark. Lanay Montgomery’s layup pushed the Mountaineer edge back to 22 with four minutes remaining. The junior finished the game with eight points, three rebounds and two blocks. TCU made five of its last five field goals to end the quarter and trailed 70-50 at the end of three.
The Horned Frogs used a barrage of three-pointers in the fourth quarter. Alix’s triple late in the game cut the WVU lead to 14 at the 2:29 mark. Alix again found the three-point line to cut the West Virginia edge to 91-80 with 1:43 left. However, WVU connected on its free throws down the stretch to pick up its sixth victory out of the last seven games.
WVU remains on the road and takes on No. 19-ranked Oklahoma on Wednesday, Jan. 27 in an 8 p.m. ET/7p.m. matchup. The game is televised on FOX Sports Southwest Plus and can be watched in Morgantown on FOX College Sports Central.
The Mike Carey show returns on Monday, Jan. 25, at Kegler’s Sports Bar and Lounge. The show starts at 6:30 p.m. Fans can listen on WRLF 94.3 FM in Morgantown/Fairmont, 104.9 WPDX FM in Clarksburg and WJYP AM 1300 in St. Albans. Additionally, the show will air at WVUsports.com and via the TuneIn radio app.
NOTES: West Virginia’s 50 first half points were the most against a Big 12 opponent this season … WVU is 16-1 this season when leading at the half … The Mountaineers are 16-2 when scoring 60 or more points … WVU has scored 30+ bench points in each of the last seven games … Teana Muldrow notched her first career double-double with season-high 21 points and 11 rebounds … West Virginia is 11-1 when three or more players score double-figures … Bria Holmes moved to third on WVU’s all-time scoring chart with her 24 points, she now has 1,758 points in her career .. Jessica Morton netted a career-high with 26 points … The 97 WVU points were the most in Big 12 play for the Mountaineers since joining the league in 2012-13 … WVU now leads the all-time series vs. TCU, 9-1.
