Strong Finish Propels WVU Past Arizona State

Wednesday, January 21

Morgantown, W.Va.

7 P.M.

West Virginia University

16-4,6-2Big 12

Arizona State

17-3,4-3Big 12

Arizona St.

West Virginia

January 21, 2026 10:21 PM | Women's Basketball

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By: Chris Coombs

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – The West Virginia University women's basketball team used a strong fourth quarter to collect its sixth conference win of the season after defeating Arizona State 53-43 on Wednesday night inside Hope Coliseum.

In a game that featured two of the nation's best defenses, both programs entering the game forcing 21+ turnovers per game, WVU settled in in the fourth to come out on top. The WVU defense shone in the final frame, suffocating Arizona State to just six points while the offense calmly hit eight late free throws to put the game away. WVU finished the game on a 14-2 run.

Graduate forward Kierra Wheeler finished with a team-leading 16 points and seven rebounds. Senior guard Sydney Shaw chipped in with 11 points, three made threes, and added five boards and three assists. Junior guard Gia Cooke finished with 10 points. Senior guard Jordan Harrison finished with six points but added six rebounds and three assists.

Shaw and Cooke each knocked down shots from beyond the arc, split by two Wheeler finishes at the rim to give the Mountaineers an early 10-7 lead. WVU pushed its lead out to six points before taking a 13-11 lead after 10 minutes.

Sydney Woodley knocked down a corner three to open the second quarter, pushing the WVU lead out to six points for the second time. ASU scored next on a midrange jumper from Gabby Elliot before Shaw and Riley Makalusky cashed in on open threes to push the WVU lead out to double figures for the first time at 23-13. WVU managed just one more field goal over the final five minutes of the half as Arizona State was able to pull within one point at 25-24.

Arizona State scored the opening four points of the second half to take its first lead since early in the opening quarter. The Sun Devils outscored WVU 9-2 to the 3:15 mark as they led 33-27. The Mountaineers scored five points in the final minute to pull within three points after three.

West Virginia closed the night with a dominant fourth-quarter push, outscoring Arizona State 19–6 to flip a 37–34 deficit after three into a 53–43 victory. The Mountaineers leveled the game at 37–37 on Wheeler's free throw at 9:04, briefly fell behind 39–37, before Wheeler leveled the score on a layup minutes later. Trailing again, WVU drew even for the final time at 41 on a Cooke driving layup with 4:04 to play.

Shaw delivered the go ahead blow on a right-wing three with 2:45 remaining to put the Mountaineers up for good. West Virginia's composure sealed the game at the charity strip, finishing with eight makes at the line while its defense forced seven Sun Devil turnovers. The Mountaineers played the frame mistake-free, coughing up zero turnovers in the final 10 minutes.

West Virginia is now 3-0 all-time against the Sun Devils, and 1-0 when playing games in Morgantown. The Mountaineers are now 2-0 in Big 12 Conference games with Arizona State.

WVU is now on the road for a two-game swing in Utah. The Mountaineers open the trip on Saturday, Jan. 24, when they take on BYU inside the Marriott Center. Tipoff is scheduled for 9:30 p.m. ET.

For more information on the Mountaineers, visit WVUsports.com and follow WVUWBB on X, Instagram and Facebook.