MORGANTOWN, W.Va. - The West Virginia University women’s basketball team used its best shooting performance in league play this season to collect a 64-44 victory over Kansas State in front of 4,328 fans at the WVU Coliseum for the annual Play 4Kay pink game.

 

West Virginia (18-6, 7-4 Big 12) opened the first quarter with a steady 16-10 advantage. The Wildcats (14-8, 4-7) kept the game much closer in the second quarter, but WVU ended the first half with a 30-23 lead. K-State trimmed the game to six points to start the third quarter, but West Virginia continued to hold a double-figure lead. The Mountaineers started the fourth quarter on a 13-3 run and rolled to their 18th victory of the season.

 

Bria Holmes netted her third double-double of her career and the second this season with 17 points and a career-high 11 rebounds. Sophomore Teana Muldrow finished with 10 points, six rebounds and a career-best three blocks, while making 4-of-5 from the field. Katrina Pardee also eclipsed double-figures with 10 points. Senior Arielle Roberson netted a season-high 13 rebounds, scored eight points, blocked two shots and had a pair of steals. Holmes finished with a team-leading five assists, and Morgantown native Olivia Seggie produced four assists for the Mountaineers.

 

“We got the win that’s the most important thing,” said coach Mike Carey. “I thought Bria Holmes played very well. I thought Arielle (Roberson) played well on the boards.  We had too many turnovers. The point guards have to do a better job. We have to get in our steps. Too many missed foul shots. You have those turnovers and missed foul shots like that; that’s an Oklahoma second half. Too many turnovers and missed shots and you get beat. We have to work on it.”

 

WVU registered its highest field goal percentage in Big 12 play this season, knocking down 26-of-45 for 57.8 percent. The Mountaineers outrebounded the Wildcats, 45-22, and outscored K-State, 34-22, inside the paint. WVU finished with 17 assists, nine blocks and eight steals. Kansas State finished the game shooting 27.6 percent (16-of-58) from the field and 17.2 percent (5-of-29) from behind the three-point line. Guard Kindred Wesemann led the Wildcats with 14 points.

 

Holmes scored seven of WVU’s 16 points in the first quarter. The Mountaineers pushed their lead to nine, 14-5, after a free throw make by Holmes. K-State scored the last three points of the quarter to trim the game to 16-10. WVU shot 50 percent, while holding K-State to 25 percent shooting.

 

A Roberson layup stretched the Mountaineer lead to 10 at the 7:22 mark in the second quarter. However, a pair of treys and a layup trimmed the game to two under five minutes left. Holmes hit a three-pointer followed by a Roberson trey and another Holmes layup to push the lead back to 10. Kansas State climbed back within seven, as West Virginia held a 30-23 advantage at the break.

 

In the first half, WVU made 13-of-26 from the field for 50 percent shooting. K-State was limited to 29 percent shooting (9-of-31), while making four three-pointers. WVU won the rebound battle in the opening half, 23-15. Holmes led all scorers with 12 points, while Wesemann had nine for the Wildcats.

 

Shaylen Martin’s free throw cut the game to six points for K-State early in the third quarter. However, a six-point spurt pushed the Mountaineer advantage back to 12. WVU closed the frame with a 47-34 advantage.

 

K-State’s Wesemann knocked down a three-pointer to start the fourth quarter, but WVU responded with a 13-0 run to extend its lead to 23 points. Saturday’s victory surpassed last year’s regular season win total of 17.

 

West Virginia closes out a two-game homestand against Iowa State on Wednesday, Feb. 10, in a 7 p.m. matchup at the WVU Coliseum. Admission to Wednesday’s contest is $1 courtesy of United Bank.

 

NOTES: Bria Holmes recorded her second double-double of the season and third of her career to lead the Mountaineers with 17 points and a career-high 11 rebounds … Katrina Pardee and Teana Muldrow each had 10 points … Lanay Montgomery reached the 200-block plateau with her two deflections on Saturday … Montgomery has 201 blocks in her career … Arielle Roberson surpassed her previous season-high 12 rebounds, tallying 13 in today’s game, while matching her career-high blocks of 2 … today’s crowd of 4,328 fans is the 16th largest crowd to attend a women’s basketball game at the WVU Coliseum … WVU exceeds its regular season win total (18) from last season with a win over Kansas State on Saturday … West Virginia owns a 7-1 edge in the series between Kansas State and holds a 4-0 mark in Morgantown … Muldrow matched her  career-high 3 blocks ... WVU held its 20th opponent this season under 38.3 percent shooting from the field … the Mountaineers connected on its highest field goal percentage in Big 12 play at 57.8 percent shooting on Saturday … WVU has eclipsed 50 percent shooting five times this season … The Mountaineers are 18-2 when leading at halftime and 16-1 and outrebounding their opponents … West Virginia is 13-3 when three or more players have reached double-figures.