MANHATTAN, Kan. – The West Virginia University women’s basketball team used nine first half three-pointers to down Kansas State, 72-53, on Wednesday evening at Bramlage Coliseum.
The Mountaineers (13-3, 2-1 Big 12) used a pair of big first half runs to take a commanding lead. WVU used an 11-0 first quarter run to push its advantage as to 23-15 after one. In the second quarter, WVU knocked down five three-pointers, sparking a 14-2 run to lead 44-27 at half. WVU maintained its advantage for the remainder of the game to secure back-to-back Big 12 road victories for the first time since 2014. K-State fell to 10-4 overall and 0-3 in Big 12 action.
Bria Holmes scored a game-high 23 points, while dishing out five assists. Holmes made 9-of-13 from the field, including 4-of-6 behind the arc. Freshman Tynice Martin registered a season-high 16 points. Guards Chania Ray and Jessica Morton each added eight points. Junior Desiree Rhodes grabbed a season-best nine rebounds to lead WVU. Wednesday’s win gave coach Mike Carey his 598th career victory.
Offensively, WVU shot 54.0 percent (27-of-50) from the field and 47.6 percent (10-of-21) behind the three-point line. The 10 three-point makes matched a season-high. The Mountaineers dished out 14 assists, blocked seven shots and grabbed six steals. WVU won the rebound column, 34-33. Kansas State was limited to 28.8 percent shooting (17-of-59) from the field. Shaelyn Martin paced K-State with 14 points. Breanna Lewis inked a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds.
“Needless to say, we shot the ball very well against their zone in the first half,” said coach Carey. “In the second we started settling for threes instead of attacking. I kept Bria to keep attacking and she did and got a couple of threes. We’ve been on the road for five days. We were in foul trouble the entire game. I am very happy with the win.”
West Virginia’s defense held Kansas State in check during the first five minutes. A Lanay Montgomery layup and Holmes fast break score gave WVU a 10-3 edge midway through the first quarter. WVU utilized an 11-0 run that included a Martin three-pointer to put the Mountaineers up 21-7 with two-plus minutes remaining. The Wildcats’ Martin scored six of the final seven points to make it a 23-15 contest after one quarter.
Lewis’ inside layup cut the Mountaineer advantage to 25-21 at the 8:21 mark. Triples from Brewer and Holmes pushed WVU’s edge back to 10 and sparked a 14-2 run. The Mountaineers would go on to knock down three more treys in the second quarter to take a commanding 44-27 halftime lead. WVU shot 60.7 percent (17-of-28) from the field and 56.3 percent (9-of-16) behind the three-point line. K-State was limited to 32.3 percent shooting (10-of-31) in the opening stanza. Holmes had a half-leading 16 points. She made 6-of-6 from the field, including 4-of-4 behind the arc. Martin netted eight points to lead K-State.
Strong defense helped keep the Wildcats off the scoreboard for 3:19 in the third quarter. During that stretch, WVU made a layup to put WVU up 21, 50-29, at the 4:53 mark. Kansas State cut the game to 18 to end the third quarter. The Mountaineers were held to 35.7 percent from the field, while K-State was limited to 20.0 percent.
Kansas State’s Kindred Wesemann hit back-to-back triples to cut the Mountaineer lead to 12 with 4:31 remaining in the game. On the next possession, Holmes drove the lane and drew the foul after making the bucket to put WVU back up 15. WVU finished the contest holding K-State under 30 percent shooting. The Mountaineers have held 14 opponents under 40 percent shooting this season.
West Virginia returns home Saturday, Jan. 9 to host Texas Tech in a 7 p.m. contest at the WVU Coliseum. Fans in attendance will receive a commemorative Mike Carey All-Time Wins Poster courtesy of United Bank.
NOTES: West Virginia is 13-0 when leading at the half … WVU’s nine made three-pointers were the most in the first half this season … WVU’s 10 made three-pointers matched a season-high … Bria Holmes passed Meg Bulger for No. 5 on WVU’s all-time scoring mark ... Holmes has 1,688 … Holmes reached 20-plus points for the 27th time … WVU is 6-1 all-time against Kansas State and 3-1 in Manhattan … Wednesday’s triumph marked the first back-to-back Big 12 road wins for WVU since toppling K-State and Baylor during the 2013-14 season … Desiree Rhodes collected a career-high nine rebounds … Coach Mike Carey has 598 wins and is two victories away from reaching his 600th career victory.
