West Virginia women’s basketball put themselves in position to the game, and then it all came crashing down.
The Mountaineers went on an 11-0 run to put themselves ahead, 66-65 with just seconds to go. WVU’s defense forced a Baylor turnover and it seemed the Mountaineers could go to the free throw line to seal the game. Instead, it was like a nightmare for WVU.
JJ Quinerly, who scored a career-high 33 points, got the inbounds pass, but then dribbled the ball off her leg and fell down in the process. Baylor picked it up and drove to the basket, where Quinerly fouled the shooter.
Jana Van Gytenbeek would make both free throws, before WVU’s Jordan Harrison drove to the rim and was blocked as Baylor was able to steal the win on the road.
It looked over with 3:17 to go as Baylor was on a 7-2 run and were in front 64-54.
West Virginia came roaring back though, with Quinerly scoring nine points on WVU’s 11-0 run as they had a chance to win after Quinerly made a three-pointer to put the Mountaineers ahead. WVU would get a stop on a turnover, and then tried to milk away clock, but were called for a 30-second violation.
Baylor had the ball with the chance to win, but they threw it out of bounds on a cross-court pass. Then, chaos ensued.
West Virginia didn’t do much to earn the win on the offensive end of the floor. The Mountaineers went 3-for-17 from three, and turned the ball over 20 times. Those 20 turnovers created 31 points for Baylor, as WVU’s defense was not as effective as turning defense into offense.
West Virginia forced 24 turnovers, leading to 24 points, but Baylor shot 5-for-13 from three, and they also scored 13 of their points at the free throw line.
WVU’s offense was all Quinerly and Harrison. The pair combined for 49 points, with Quinerly making two of WVU’s three three-pointers on the afternoon.
Basketball being a game of runs is an understatement from inside the WVU Coliseum on Saturday afternoon. Baylor built an early lead that the Mountianeers erased in the first quarter, going on an 8-0 run to end the opening quarter as WVU was in front by three.
Baylor used a 9-3 run in the second quarter to get back into the game, before West Virginia led 28-25 at halftime.
The third quarter was Baylor’s best, as they outscored WVU 25-14. Baylor missed only four shots in the quarter, and missed only one three-pointer, as they led 50-42 at the end of the third quarter.
