MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Saturday afternoon provided No. 24 West Virginia women’s basketball their first chance to see how they matched up against the best.
After an undefeated start to the season, No. 10 Texas was WVU’s first real chance to prove their standing with regard to the Big 12 as well as national rankings.
West Virginia’s strong start to the season was built by their pressure on defense, and their ability to turn their opposition over with ease.
The turnovers were there for WVU’s defense, forcing Texas to have a season-high 24 turnovers, but offensive execution was the difference as Texas handed West Virginia their first loss of the season, beating them 70-49.
“Obviously disappointed in the final outcome,” West Virginia head coach Mark Kellogg said. “Texas is good. They’re a top-ten team for a reason. Their size, I think bothered us, their pressure I think at times bothered us in the half court for sure. And just never found an offensive rhythm whatsoever.”
The West Virginia (13-1, 2-1 Big 12) pressure was applied from the opening tip of the game, and while it sped the Longhorns up, they were still able to score at ease. Texas started the game going 6 for 7 from the field and scored 10 points in the paint as they led 13-7.
West Virginia on the other hand seemed to be destined to live or die by the three-point shot. Four of WVU’s first five shots from the field were from deep, with the Mountaineers missing all five shots. WVU started 2 for 9 from the field, going 1 for 6 from three.
WVU trailed by 12 late in the first half, before Jordan Harrison made a layup, got a steal, and hit a three, as the first quarter ended, and the Mountaineers trailed 23-16.
“Our number one concern going in was the press, for sure,” Texas head coach Vic Schaefer said. “I’m getting really good execution from this team right now and we’re shooting the ball at a pretty high level. If we can just get it across and execute, we’re pretty confident.”
Seven points would be the closest margin for West Virginia, as they continued to struggle on offense, and the Longhorns were able to pick apart the pressure from the Mountaineers.
Texas shot 80 percent from the field in the first quarter, and finished the first half leading 37-25, as they shot 52 percent from the field.
“We never punched them,” Kellogg said. “When you only score 49, you’re not going to make any run. We never had it, we could never string possessions together.”
Coming into the game, JJ Quinerly had led the Mountaineers in scoring, averaging 18.4 points per game, shooting 48 percent from the field. Lauren Fields was WVU’s third leading scorer, averaging 10.5 points per game.
In the first half, the two went a combined 2 for 15 from three, and they went 5 for 20 from the field. That seemed to be the way WVU’s offense was going, as West Virginia shot 25 percent from the field, and missed 18 three-pointers as a team in the first half.
In the third quarter, West Virginia was sloppy with the basketball, and continued to have a lid on the basket. WVU mustered only seven points, missing all seven three-pointers, and shooting 19 percent from the field.
Texas as able to overcome seven turnovers in the third quarter, getting to the free throw line seven times, making six of those shots, and adding another five makes from the field.
Ultimately, Texas’ offense could not be stopped. Madison Booker was a problem for the Mountaineers on the interior, scoring 15 points, while coming down with 12 boards.
“At times she made it look easy,” Kellogg said. That’s an elite freshman.”
There was a level of physicality that was brough between both teams, combining for 42 fouls, while Texas out-rebounded WVU 47-24, and had 32 points in the paint.
WVU was held to a season-low 27 percent from the field and went 4 for 31 from beyond the arc. Quinerly finished with a game-high 22 points but went 6 for 20 from the field and 1 for 12 from three.
“I thought she came out really aggressive early on in the first quarter and we needed that,” Kellogg said. “She’ll be disappointed when she sees probably the three’s because I thought she had some good looks.”
