Box Score MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – The West Virginia University women's basketball team posted its second victory of the season on Thursday morning, as the Mountaineers defeated Winthrop, 70-48, inside the WVU Coliseum in Morgantown, for 'Education Day.'
 
Of note, 6,640 fans were in attendance for the contest, good for the ninth-largest crowd at home in program history.
 
West Virginia's offense was powered by two double-digit scorers, including fifth-year senior guard Madisen Smith, who tallied a game-high 15 points. She was joined in double figures by senior guard Jayla Hemingway, who netted 12.
 
In the rebounding column, junior forward Kylee Blacksten hauled in a team-high six boards and chipped in six points of her own. The Colorado Springs, Colorado, native also tallied a game-high three steals.
 
WVU (2-0, 0-0 Big 12) led Winthrop (0-4,0-0 Big South) by as many as 25 points in the game and sank nine 3-pointers. The Mountaineer defense once again proved to be stingy, as the team forced 30 Eagle turnovers and cashed in 34 points off those chances.
 
Of note, West Virginia has now forced 71 turnovers through the first two games of the season.
 
The Mountaineers and Eagles played even with each other to open the first quarter, after WVU scored first to begin the game. Winthrop would eventually claw its way back to take a 10-7 lead at the 6:29 mark of the first, but a trio of scores from senior forward Tavy Diggs, junior guard Savannah Samuel and fifth-year senior guard Danni Nichols reclaimed the advantage for West Virginia. Ultimately, WVU would hang on to that lead for the remainder of the game.
 
Winthrop continued to hang around for the remainder of the quarter, but the Mountaineers led, 16-12, after 10 minutes of play.
 
West Virginia opened the second quarter on a 10-run, which helped stretch its lead to 16 points with 4:54 to play in the first half. Winthrop continued to attack the Mountaineer defense, but a few more scores, including a triple from fifth-year senior guard Sarah Bates, would help WVU hold its double-figure advantage at the half.
 
West Virginia led Winthrop, 30-19, at the break.
 
Coming out of the locker room, Smith got WVU's offense going early, as she converted a pair of 3's to give the Mountaineers a 15-point lead. The Eagles, however, were not deterred and remained in attack mode, as they kept the game within reach.
 
A pair of quick scores from Blacksten and sophomore guard JJ Quinerly around the six-minute mark of the third quarter would further extend the lead to 17 points. The Mountaineers would convert a pair of 3's across the final five minutes of the period to take a 50-34 lead over Winthrop heading into the final 10 minutes of the game.
 
Through the first five minutes of the fourth, West Virginia would extend its advantage to 20 points and would eventually pad its lead to 25 points, its largest of the game. A score by Smith made it a 66-41 game in favor of the Mountaineers with 4:31 left in the final quarter.
 
Winthrop would end up scoring three more times down the stretch, but the game had been decided. West Virginia also added a pair of scores over the final minutes of the game to secure the victory.
 
Next up, West Virginia returns to the WVU Coliseum on Sunday, Nov. 20, as the Mountaineers play host to Appalachian State. Tipoff against ASU is set for 1 p.m. ET, and will be broadcast on Big 12 Now and the Mountaineer Sports Network.
 
Sunday's Mountaineers vs. Mountaineers matchup is WVU's 'Lace Up 4 Pediatric Cancer' game. In partnership with the Go 4 the Goal Foundation and WVU Medicine Children's, West Virginia will wear gold shoelaces for the contest. Additionally, the first 500 fans in attendance will receive a gold rally towel.