Mountaineers Open Big 12 Play Against Houston
December 20, 2025 12:00 PM | Women's Basketball
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – The West Virginia University women's basketball team will open its Big 12 Conference schedule on Sunday when it plays host to Houston inside Hope Coliseum in Morgantown.
Tipoff against the Cougars is scheduled for 2 p.m. ET. Sunday's contest will be broadcast live on the Mountaineer Sports Network, including 100.9 FM, with Andrew Caridi on the call. Fans can also listen to the game on the Varsity Network App.
Additionally, the game will be broadcast on ESPN+ with Nick Farrell and Meg Bulger on the call. Live stats and game notes are available on WVUsports.com.
The contest will serve as holiday hoops. The first 500 fans in attendance will receive special WVU Santa hats just in time for the holiday season. Additionally, bring out the entire family and purchase a Family Day ticket package of 4 tickets and a $15 concession voucher for only $35.
West Virginia (10-2) and Houston (6-5) meet for the sixth time in program history. The Mountaineers are a perfect 5-0 in the all-time series and 2-0 when playing inside Hope Coliseum. The Mountaineers claimed last season's meeting in Morgantown by a final score of 79-51.
In the nonconference, the Mountaineers won three contests against Power Four opponents and reached the 10-win mark for the third straight season. It marks the seventh time since joining the Big 12 in 2013 that West Virginia has reached double-digit wins in the nonconference. During the last three seasons, the Mountaineers are 31-3 in nonconference action.
The Mountaineers are averaging 80.9 points per game this season and allowing just 55.7 points from their opponents. The marks are the 25th and 40th best in the country. Additionally, WVU is forcing its opponents into 24.2 turnovers, the 13th best nationally, and has produced 12.4 steals a game, the 22nd best mark in the nation.
West Virginia has forced 24+ turnovers in seven games and 16+ steals in five contests this season. WVU ranks 19th in the nation with a +8.00 turnover margin.
The Mountaineers' offense this season has been about getting downhill and to the charity stripe. WVU is second in the nation in free throw attempts, averaging 27.4 per game, and is fourth among free throws made per game at 19.7.
Junior guard Gia Cooke leads the Mountaineers in scoring this season with 16.2 points per game. She has scored double figures 11 times and has scored 20+ points in four games. Kierra Wheeler has averaged nearly a double-double in her last seven outings with 15.7 points and 9.8 rebounds. She leads the Mountaineers on the glass with 7.3 rebounds per game. Wheeler is 29 rebounds shy of hitting 1,000 in her career.
Senior guards Sydney Shaw (13.1) and Jordan Harrison (12.3) are also averaging double figures this season. Shaw has scored 967 career points and is 33 points away from career milestone 1,000. Harrison, who scored her 1,000-career point at West Virginia earlier this season, has amassed 1,444 career points, just 56 points away from 1,500.
Tipoff against the Cougars is scheduled for 2 p.m. ET. Sunday's contest will be broadcast live on the Mountaineer Sports Network, including 100.9 FM, with Andrew Caridi on the call. Fans can also listen to the game on the Varsity Network App.
Additionally, the game will be broadcast on ESPN+ with Nick Farrell and Meg Bulger on the call. Live stats and game notes are available on WVUsports.com.
The contest will serve as holiday hoops. The first 500 fans in attendance will receive special WVU Santa hats just in time for the holiday season. Additionally, bring out the entire family and purchase a Family Day ticket package of 4 tickets and a $15 concession voucher for only $35.
West Virginia (10-2) and Houston (6-5) meet for the sixth time in program history. The Mountaineers are a perfect 5-0 in the all-time series and 2-0 when playing inside Hope Coliseum. The Mountaineers claimed last season's meeting in Morgantown by a final score of 79-51.
In the nonconference, the Mountaineers won three contests against Power Four opponents and reached the 10-win mark for the third straight season. It marks the seventh time since joining the Big 12 in 2013 that West Virginia has reached double-digit wins in the nonconference. During the last three seasons, the Mountaineers are 31-3 in nonconference action.
The Mountaineers are averaging 80.9 points per game this season and allowing just 55.7 points from their opponents. The marks are the 25th and 40th best in the country. Additionally, WVU is forcing its opponents into 24.2 turnovers, the 13th best nationally, and has produced 12.4 steals a game, the 22nd best mark in the nation.
West Virginia has forced 24+ turnovers in seven games and 16+ steals in five contests this season. WVU ranks 19th in the nation with a +8.00 turnover margin.
The Mountaineers' offense this season has been about getting downhill and to the charity stripe. WVU is second in the nation in free throw attempts, averaging 27.4 per game, and is fourth among free throws made per game at 19.7.
Junior guard Gia Cooke leads the Mountaineers in scoring this season with 16.2 points per game. She has scored double figures 11 times and has scored 20+ points in four games. Kierra Wheeler has averaged nearly a double-double in her last seven outings with 15.7 points and 9.8 rebounds. She leads the Mountaineers on the glass with 7.3 rebounds per game. Wheeler is 29 rebounds shy of hitting 1,000 in her career.
Senior guards Sydney Shaw (13.1) and Jordan Harrison (12.3) are also averaging double figures this season. Shaw has scored 967 career points and is 33 points away from career milestone 1,000. Harrison, who scored her 1,000-career point at West Virginia earlier this season, has amassed 1,444 career points, just 56 points away from 1,500.
Players Mentioned
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