West Virginia Hosts No. 17 Texas Tech for Top Spot in Big 12
January 06, 2026 03:00 PM | Women's Basketball
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – The West Virginia University women's basketball team meets with No. 17 Texas Tech on Wednesday evening in a battle for the top spot in the conference standings just four games into the early portion of conference play.
Tipoff against the Lady Raiders is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET. Wednesday'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.
West Virginia (13-2, 3-0 Big 12) and Texas Tech (16-0, 3-0 Big 12) meet for the 26th time in program history. West Virginia is 19-6 all-time against the Lady Raiders, including a 10-2 mark when playing games in Morgantown. The Mountaineers have won two straight against Texas Tech and are winners of 14 of the last 15 meetings, dating back to 2017. The matchup marks the first time WVU has played against Texas Tech when they were ranked in the AP Top 25 poll.
The Mountaineers are averaging 80.7 points per game this season and allowing just 56.3 points from their opponents. The marks are the 24th and 35th best in the country. West Virginia's 24.5 scoring margin is the 21st-highest win margin in the nation. Additionally, WVU is forcing its opponents into 24.3 turnovers, the 12th best nationally, and has produced 12.7 steals a game, the 24th best mark in the nation.
West Virginia has forced 22+ turnovers and 12+ steals in nine contests this season. WVU ranks 19th in the nation with a +7.8 turnover margin.
Senior guard Sydney Shaw and graduate forward Kierra Wheeler are one of two DI duos this season to each have at least 200 points, 30 steals and 10 blocks. They are the only Big 12 duo this century to both reach those marks through 15 team games in a season.
Junior guard Gia Cooke leads the Mountaineers in scoring this season with 16.5 points per game. She has scored double figures in 14 straight contests and has scored 20+ points in five games. Cooke is the ninth leading scorer in the conference and just one of nine players averaging over 16 points per game.
Wheeler has averaged nearly a double-double in her last 10 outings with 14.3 points and 9.1 rebounds. In December, she was the only player in the nation with 90+ points, 50+ rebounds and 15+ steals. She leads the Mountaineers on the glass with 7.3 rebounds per game and is now just seven rebounds shy of reaching 1,000 in her career.
Shaw (13.5) and Jordan Harrison (11.4) are also averaging double figures this season. Shaw scored her 1,000th career point against Kansas. She is leading the conference in three-pointers per game this season (2.9) and is fourth in percentage at 42.2% from beyond the arc. Harrison, who scored her 1,000-career points at West Virginia earlier this season, has amassed 1,469 career points, just 31 points away from 1,500 in her career.
Shaw (2.7) and Harrison (2.4) sit first and third in steals per game in the conference, while Wheeler is just behind in eighth with 2.2.
With a win, the Mountaineers will collect their second-ranked win of the season. Head coach Mark Kellogg is looking to collect his seventh-ranked win in three seasons at WVU and his fifth inside Hope Coliseum. In the last three seasons, WVU is 6-11 when facing a team inside the AP top 25.
Tipoff against the Lady Raiders is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET. Wednesday'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.
West Virginia (13-2, 3-0 Big 12) and Texas Tech (16-0, 3-0 Big 12) meet for the 26th time in program history. West Virginia is 19-6 all-time against the Lady Raiders, including a 10-2 mark when playing games in Morgantown. The Mountaineers have won two straight against Texas Tech and are winners of 14 of the last 15 meetings, dating back to 2017. The matchup marks the first time WVU has played against Texas Tech when they were ranked in the AP Top 25 poll.
The Mountaineers are averaging 80.7 points per game this season and allowing just 56.3 points from their opponents. The marks are the 24th and 35th best in the country. West Virginia's 24.5 scoring margin is the 21st-highest win margin in the nation. Additionally, WVU is forcing its opponents into 24.3 turnovers, the 12th best nationally, and has produced 12.7 steals a game, the 24th best mark in the nation.
West Virginia has forced 22+ turnovers and 12+ steals in nine contests this season. WVU ranks 19th in the nation with a +7.8 turnover margin.
Senior guard Sydney Shaw and graduate forward Kierra Wheeler are one of two DI duos this season to each have at least 200 points, 30 steals and 10 blocks. They are the only Big 12 duo this century to both reach those marks through 15 team games in a season.
Junior guard Gia Cooke leads the Mountaineers in scoring this season with 16.5 points per game. She has scored double figures in 14 straight contests and has scored 20+ points in five games. Cooke is the ninth leading scorer in the conference and just one of nine players averaging over 16 points per game.
Wheeler has averaged nearly a double-double in her last 10 outings with 14.3 points and 9.1 rebounds. In December, she was the only player in the nation with 90+ points, 50+ rebounds and 15+ steals. She leads the Mountaineers on the glass with 7.3 rebounds per game and is now just seven rebounds shy of reaching 1,000 in her career.
Shaw (13.5) and Jordan Harrison (11.4) are also averaging double figures this season. Shaw scored her 1,000th career point against Kansas. She is leading the conference in three-pointers per game this season (2.9) and is fourth in percentage at 42.2% from beyond the arc. Harrison, who scored her 1,000-career points at West Virginia earlier this season, has amassed 1,469 career points, just 31 points away from 1,500 in her career.
Shaw (2.7) and Harrison (2.4) sit first and third in steals per game in the conference, while Wheeler is just behind in eighth with 2.2.
With a win, the Mountaineers will collect their second-ranked win of the season. Head coach Mark Kellogg is looking to collect his seventh-ranked win in three seasons at WVU and his fifth inside Hope Coliseum. In the last three seasons, WVU is 6-11 when facing a team inside the AP top 25.
Players Mentioned
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/ Women's BasketballMark Kellogg, Jordan Harrison & Carter McCray | Texas Tech
Wednesday, January 07
WBB Texas Tech Playbook
Tuesday, January 06
Meme Wheeler | Jan 6
Tuesday, January 06
Gia Cooke | Jan. 6
Tuesday, January 06
