West Virginia Travels to Cincinnati on Sunday
January 17, 2026 11:00 AM | Women's Basketball
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – The West Virginia University women's basketball team looks to bounce back on the road against Cincinnati this weekend in a game inside Fifth Third Arena.
Tipoff against the Bearcats 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 Anthony Mazzini and A.B. Stocks on the call. Live stats and game notes are available on WVUsports.com.
West Virginia (14-4, 4-2 Big 12) and Cincinnati (7-11, 2-4 Big 12) meet for the 18th time in program history. West Virginia is 12-5 all-time against the Bearcats, and 5-3 when playing games on the road. The Mountaineers have won nine straight meetings and are a perfect 5-0 since Cincinnati joined the Big 12 in 2024.
Three of the Mountaineers' losses this season have come at the hands of teams currently ranked inside the top 20 of the AP poll. In those games, the Mountaineers were outscored by a combined eight points.
The Mountaineers are averaging 78.3 points per game this season and allowing just 57.6 points from their opponents. The marks are the 35th and 46th best in the country. West Virginia's 20.8 scoring margin is the 24th-highest win margin in the nation. Additionally, WVU is forcing its opponents into 24.1 turnovers, the 11th best nationally, and has produced 12.1 steals a game, the 27th best mark in the nation.
West Virginia has forced 22+ turnovers in 11 games and 12+ steals in 10 contests this season. WVU ranks 18th in the nation with a +7.33 turnover margin.
Junior guard Gia Cooke leads the Mountaineers in scoring this season with 14.9 points per game. She has scored double figures in 15 contests and has scored 20+ points in five games. Cooke is the 13th leading scorer in the conference.
Wheeler has averaged nearly a double-double in her last 13 outings with 14.6 points and 8.8 rebounds.. She leads the Mountaineers on the glass with 7.6 rebounds per game and reached the 1,000 career rebound mark against Texas Tech.
Senior guard Jordan Harrison (12.9) and Sydney Shaw (12.6) are also averaging double figures this season. Shaw is third in the conference in three-pointer average this season at 40.5% and is making 2.6 per game. Harrison, who scored her 1,500-career point against Iowa State, averages 5.0 assists per game. The mark is the ninth best in the conference.
Harrison (2.5) and Shaw (2.5) sit in second in steals per game in the conference, while Wheeler is just behind in 12th with 2.0. The group is the only team trio to be averaging over two steals per game.
The Big 12 has four different teams that are undefeated this season in true road games: Baylor, Texas Tech, Utah, and West Virginia. That is the most among all DI conferences in 2025-26. Harrison is the third Big 12 player over the last 10 seasons to have at least 130 points, 50 assists, and 30 steals over any nine-game span. The others are Kansas State's Serena Sundell (2023) and Oklahoma State's Loryn Goodwin (2017-18).
Tipoff against the Bearcats 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 Anthony Mazzini and A.B. Stocks on the call. Live stats and game notes are available on WVUsports.com.
West Virginia (14-4, 4-2 Big 12) and Cincinnati (7-11, 2-4 Big 12) meet for the 18th time in program history. West Virginia is 12-5 all-time against the Bearcats, and 5-3 when playing games on the road. The Mountaineers have won nine straight meetings and are a perfect 5-0 since Cincinnati joined the Big 12 in 2024.
Three of the Mountaineers' losses this season have come at the hands of teams currently ranked inside the top 20 of the AP poll. In those games, the Mountaineers were outscored by a combined eight points.
The Mountaineers are averaging 78.3 points per game this season and allowing just 57.6 points from their opponents. The marks are the 35th and 46th best in the country. West Virginia's 20.8 scoring margin is the 24th-highest win margin in the nation. Additionally, WVU is forcing its opponents into 24.1 turnovers, the 11th best nationally, and has produced 12.1 steals a game, the 27th best mark in the nation.
West Virginia has forced 22+ turnovers in 11 games and 12+ steals in 10 contests this season. WVU ranks 18th in the nation with a +7.33 turnover margin.
Junior guard Gia Cooke leads the Mountaineers in scoring this season with 14.9 points per game. She has scored double figures in 15 contests and has scored 20+ points in five games. Cooke is the 13th leading scorer in the conference.
Wheeler has averaged nearly a double-double in her last 13 outings with 14.6 points and 8.8 rebounds.. She leads the Mountaineers on the glass with 7.6 rebounds per game and reached the 1,000 career rebound mark against Texas Tech.
Senior guard Jordan Harrison (12.9) and Sydney Shaw (12.6) are also averaging double figures this season. Shaw is third in the conference in three-pointer average this season at 40.5% and is making 2.6 per game. Harrison, who scored her 1,500-career point against Iowa State, averages 5.0 assists per game. The mark is the ninth best in the conference.
Harrison (2.5) and Shaw (2.5) sit in second in steals per game in the conference, while Wheeler is just behind in 12th with 2.0. The group is the only team trio to be averaging over two steals per game.
The Big 12 has four different teams that are undefeated this season in true road games: Baylor, Texas Tech, Utah, and West Virginia. That is the most among all DI conferences in 2025-26. Harrison is the third Big 12 player over the last 10 seasons to have at least 130 points, 50 assists, and 30 steals over any nine-game span. The others are Kansas State's Serena Sundell (2023) and Oklahoma State's Loryn Goodwin (2017-18).
Players Mentioned
G
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's BasketballMark Kellogg & Jordan Harrison | TCU
Wednesday, January 14
Mark Kellogg | Iowa State
Sunday, January 11
Mark Kellogg, Jordan Harrison & Carter McCray | Texas Tech
Wednesday, January 07
WBB Texas Tech Playbook
Tuesday, January 06
