On Saturday afternoon West Virginia took on Delaware State at the WVU Coliseum, earning a 63-47 victory.
Madisen Smith led all scorers with a season-high 24 points, including six three-pointer, on 9-18 shooting from the field and 6-12 from three-point range.
The Mountaineers were able to force 25 turnovers, and score 25 points off those turnovers in the victory as well.
West Virginia started the game on a 8-0 run, including hitting a pair of three’s from JJ Quinerly and Madisen Smith.
The Mountaineers would expand their early lead to take a 17-5 advantage after the first quarter led by Madisen Smith and JJ Quinerly who combined for 15 points.
To start the second quarter Delaware State made the switch to a zone defense, giving the Mountaineers trouble on offense. West Virginia did not score for the first two minutes of the quarter and Delaware State went on a 6-0 run to cut the Mountaineers lead to 17-11.
The zone continued to give the Mountaineers offense fits, with Delaware State expanding their run to 12-2 prompting a timeout from Coach Plitzuweit.
The Mountaineers were able to weather the storm, taking a 26-22 lead into the half. Madisen Smith led all scorers with 11 points in the first half.
West Virginia opened the third quarter with a basket, but Delaware State responded with a three, cutting the Mountaineers lead to 28-27, the closest they had been since the game started.
West Virginia responded with a 4-0 run, forcing 5 turnovers and holding Delaware State without a point for nearly 4 minutes.
Delaware State would once again respond, taking their first lead of the game with just under 4 minutes to play in the third quarter.
West Virginia was able to regain control of the game to end the quarter, taking a 45-36 lead into the fourth. Madisen Smith scored 8 points in the quarter, including two more threes. West Virginia also forced 10 turnovers in the quarter, scoring 11 points off them.
The Mountaineers put the game away in the fourth quarter, starting the quarter on a 12-4 run to take a 57-40 lead at the first stoppage with 5 minutes remaining.
West Virginia would cruise the rest of the way en route to their sixth win of the year.
Photo by Aaron Parker, Blue Gold Sports
