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Defense Boosts WVU Past Texas Tech
January 09, 2016 10:31 PM | Women's Basketball
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. - Strong defensive play in the second and third quarters helped the West Virginia University women’s basketball team collect its third consecutive victory with a 79-57 win over Texas Tech, on Saturday evening, at the WVU Coliseum.
West Virginia (14-3, 3-1 Big 12) led 21-17 after one quarter. Texas Tech (9-6, 0-4) was limited to just 15 points in the next two quarters, as WVU outscored the Lady Raiders, 35-15. Saturday’s victory gave coach Mike Carey his 599th career win. The Mountaineers are off to their best start in Big 12 action since opening the 2013-14 campaign with a 6-1 record.
Senior Bria Holmes scored a team-leading 18 points, connecting on 7-of-11 (63.6%) from the field. For the second consecutive game, Tynice Martin registered double-figures with 15 points. The freshman from Atlanta dished out a game-high five assists, grabbed five rebounds, collected two steals and blocked a shot in 27 minutes. Jessica Morton rounded out WVU’s double-figure scoring with 14 points, knocking down 5-of-7 shot attempts. Arielle Roberson eclipsed double-digit rebounds for the third time this season, grabbing 11 rebounds in the win.
For the game, West Virginia finished shooting 43.1 percent (28-of-65) from the field and 26.1 percent (6-of-23) behind the three-point line. The Mountaineers connected on 17-of-26 (65.4 percent) free throw attempts. WVU outmanned TTU on the boards, 49-44, and scored 32 points in the paint. The Mountaineer bench matched a season-high 42 points. The team dished out 16 assists, collected seven steals and blocked six shots.
“I thought we played hard in the second and third quarters,” said Carey. “When we had the lead, we started turning it over and not playing defense. Once again, we gave up way too many offensive rebounds. When we do that on Tuesday against Baylor, we’re in trouble. If you want to know what we’re doing the next two days, it’s very easy. We’re boxing out the next two days.”
Texas Tech became the 15th opponent to shoot less than 38.6 percent from the field this season, connecting on just 31.9 percent (23-of-72). Ivonne CookTaylor paced the Lady Raiders with 20 points in the loss.
TTU opened the first quarter with an early four-point lead before the Mountaineers climbed back to tie the game. Teana Muldrow and Martin did most of the damage in the first period with a combined 12 points. Muldrow would finish with nine points. Chania Ray made a layup to end the quarter and put WVU up 21-17.
Both Holmes and Lanay Montgomery missed the majority of the second quarter due to recording a pair of fouls each. Martin stepped up in their absence by connecting on seven points, including a three-pointer to put West Virginia up 26-17. Baskets from Muldrow and Ray helped the West Virginia extend its lead to 15. WVU led 36-23 at the half. West Virginia is now 14-0 when leading at the halfway mark. Montgomery would go on to finish the game with nine points.
WVU outrebounded Texas Tech 28-21 at the half, while converting six TTU turnovers into nine points. The Mountaineer bench scored 23 of the team’s 36 first half points. Offensively, WVU made 38.2 percent (13-of-34), while limiting the Lady Raiders to 28.6 percent shooting (10-of-35).
Free throws by Leashja Grant allowed Texas Tech to cut the game to 10 at the 8:08 mark of the third quarter. Holmes hit a three-pointer to cap a 15-2 run over 4:26 and push the Mountaineer advantage to 52-29.
A pair of Martin free throws pushed the Mountaineer edge to 28 with 7:41 left in the contest. CookTaylor scored the next 10 points to cut the Lady Raider deficit to 18. WVU held on to collect its third consecutive Big 12 victory.
West Virginia returns to action at No. 6/7 Baylor on Tuesday, Jan. 12, in Waco, Texas. The game is scheduled for an 8 p.m. ET/7p.m. CT tip in Waco, Texas, and will air on FOX Sports Southwest Plus. Tuesday’s game will be available locally in the Morgantown area on satellite by searching for an alternate FOX Sports Network channel. A tape delay version of the game will air on ROOT Sports Pittsburgh beginning at 11 p.m. ET on Tuesday. Check local listings for details.
NOTES: West Virginia and Texas Tech met for the eighth time tonight, as the Mountaineers tied the all-time series record at 4-4 … tonight’s win gave the Mountaineers their first three-game win streak in Big 12 action since reeling off 10 consecutive victories to close the 2014 regular season … coach Mike Carey (599) is just one victory away from his 600th career win at the collegiate level … the Mountaineers are 14-0 this season when leading at halftime and are 14-1 when scoring 60 or more points this season … West Virginia is now 14-2 when holding opponents under 69 points this season … West Virginia is 14-1 this season when outscoring its opponent’s bench … WVU is also 8-1 this season when scoring 30 or more points off the bench … West Virginia has scored 30+ bench points in the last four games with 42 points on the night … WVU shot 43.1 percent (28-of-65) on the night, and has shot 41.8 percent or higher in 14 of 17 games this season … WVU held TTU to just 31.9 percent (23-of-72) shooting, as 15 of WVU’s 17 opponents have shot 38.6 percent or less from the field … West Virginia has distributed double-figure assists in 15 of 17 games this season … freshman Tynice Martin dished out a season-high five assists … Holmes has registered double-figure scoring in 16 consecutive games and has produced a total of 84 games in double figures to tie Olayinka Sanni (84) for eighth all-time … Holmes needs 28 more points to pass Kate Bulger (1,733) for fourth all-time on WVU’s scoring ledger … senior Arielle Roberson registered a team-high 11 rebounds and has grabbed five or more rebounds in the last 10 straight games … sophomore Teana Muldrow pulled in five rebounds and has collected four or more rebounds in 10 consecutive games.
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