Strong Second Half Powers WVU Past Cowgirls

Wednesday, January 9

Morgantown, W.Va.

7:00 p.m.

West Virginia University

10-4/1-2

Oklahoma State

10-4/1-2

Oklahoma State

West Virginia

Photo by: All Pro Photography/Dale Sparks

January 09, 2019 09:56 PM | Women's Basketball

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By: Joe Mitchin

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – The West Virginia University women's basketball team used a strong second half to help it earn its first Big 12 Conference victory of the season in a 67-58 win over Oklahoma State on Wednesday night at the WVU Coliseum.

WVU outscored the Cowgirls, 44-32, after halftime, led by a 21-point performance by redshirt junior guard Tynice Martin. Senior guard Katrina Pardee added 14 points, while freshman forward Kari Niblack registered a double-double with 11 points and 12 rebounds.

The Mountaineers shot 14-of-24 (58.3%) in the second half, including 7-of-11 (63.6%) in the fourth period to help them run away with the important league victory.

"We've seen it for two years. People get hurt, and you just don't have the numbers," said coach Mike Carey. "And give them credit, the team that was in there last, they were able to pull out a win. We needed a win bad. (We) get our first conference win, so it was good to get that win, and I thought (freshman forward) Kari (Niblack) for a freshman to come in, had a double-double, did a great job, played hard. I thought (redshirt junior guard) Tynice (Martin) did too, at times, but when she started getting cramps, couldn't really move. We're limited on the bench, so people have to play through that stuff.

Senior guard/forward Naomi Davenport and Martin combined to score the first eight points for the Mountaineers (10-4, 1-2). The pair traded jumpers in the opening seven minutes of the game, despite the team's chilly start from the field.

After the Cowgirls (10-4, 1-2) grabbed the early advantage, Pardee drained a 3-pointer with 45 seconds to play in the opening frame, making it a 17-11 game in favor of the visitors. Martin knocked down a shot at the first-period buzzer to cut the deficit to just four heading into the second period.

Niblack and Martin made back-to-back shots to tie the game at 17 just a minute into the second frame. After buckets by Pardee and junior guard Lucky Rudd, Pardee swished a shot to tie the game at 23 with just 57 seconds to play before halftime.

However, an Oklahoma State 3-pointer with 31 seconds on the clock allowed the Cowgirls to take a 26-23 lead into the locker room. Despite the score, OSU shot just 3-of-19 (15.8%) as a team in the second quarter.

In the second half, Martin hit a 3 to get the Mountaineers to within one, before the Atlanta, Georgia, native nailed another shot from beyond the arc less than a minute later to make it 30-27 Cowgirls.

Then, at the 6:34 mark, Martin hit a shot from just inside the 3-point line to give West Virginia its first lead of the night at 31-30. Later, freshman guard Madison Smith found senior center Theresa Ekelhar on the low block, which Ekhelar converted into a three-point play with 3:55 to go in the period. Smith got a tough layup to fall on the next trip down, extending the Mountaineer lead to 36-33.

Pardee closed the momentous third quarter with her second triple of the game, allowing WVU to take a 41-36 lead into the final 10 minutes.

West Virginia outscored Oklahoma State, 18-10, in the frame.

Niblack opened the fourth period with a three-point play to make it 44-41 with 8:18 to go in the game. WVU was able to stretch the lead throughout the early portion of the period, aided by a big 3 by Martin with 5:31 to play. That gave the Mountaineers a 54-45 lead, before another three-point play by Niblack helped the cause even more.

After a layup by Rudd with 2:40 left, West Virginia was able to close the game at the line, making six consecutive free throws down the stretch.

WVU shot 25-of-52 (48.1%) as a team and overcame 21 turnovers in the win. The Mountaineers also used a 45-33 edge in rebounds in the affair. WVU made five 3-poiners and finished 12-of-15 (80%) at the line.

Oklahoma State was led by Braxtin Miller's 16 points, who was one of three Cowgirls in double figures. However, OSU shot just 18-of-64 (28.1%) from the field, and its bench was outscored, 16-3.

The Mountaineers return to action on Sunday, Jan. 13, when they travel to Oklahoma. Tipoff in Norman is set for 3 p.m. ET.

Notes: West Virginia improved its all-time record to 9-7 against Oklahoma State, including 5-3 in Morgantown … redshirt junior guard Tynice Martin scored a game-high 21 points in the win, her 19th career 20-point game … freshman forward Kari Niblack earned her third double-double of the season with her 11 points and 12 rebounds off the bench … Wednesday marked WVU's first win of the season when trailing at halftime.