The West Virginia women’s basketball team lost to Kansas State 65-62 Saturday night in the quarterfinals of the Big 12 tournament, after going cold after an extremely hot start.
The Mountaineers forced 21 Kansas State turnovers, including getting 11 steals but were unable to pull it off in the end as they struggled offensively ever since the first quarter. The Wildcats out-rebounded WVU 35-21 and shot much more effectively from the field.
The game was back and forth in the beginning with the teams tied at five in just over a minute of play. West Virginia started the game hot from the arc shooting four of five from three halfway through the first quarter.
WVU would go on a 9-0 run pulling out in front 17-7 with five minutes left in the first quarter. They stayed consistent offensively and played at a high tempo forcing K-State to adapt. However, the Mountaineers struggled to close out the first quarter missing their last eight field goal attempts allowing the Wildcats to go on a 6-0 run and cut the deficit to six, 23-17 at the end of the first quarter.
In the second quarter, both teams wouldn’t score in the first two minutes, until Kansas State made a jumper followed up by a JJ Quinerly score to end West Virginia’s prolonged scoring drought. The Mountaineers had clear offensive struggles in the second quarter with the Wildcats applying the pressure.
Kansas State would take their first lead of the game with 2:11 left in the half as they went up 30-29. To close out the half, the Wildcats would marginally build their lead, making all five of their last field goal attempts in the half, with West Virginia not making a field goal in the last 3:18 of the half. K-State would head to the locker room leading 34-3.
In the first half, WVU shot 11 of 28 from the field, with Kansas State shooting 15 of 24. However, the Mountaineers were more effective from three shooting four of 11, while K-State missed on all four of their three-point attempts. West Virginia forced 10 Wildcat turnovers in the first two quarters, allowing them to capitalize with nine points. Kansas State controlled the boards early out-rebounding WVU 17-10.
In the third, West Virginia would continue to struggle committing multiple turnovers, unable to find a rhythm offensively, allowing Kansas State to go on runs and build their lead. The Wildcats led by as much as 10 points. The Wildcats had slight blunders with the quarter coming to a close, turning over the ball five times in the last 4:26 and shot 0-5 from the field to end the quarter. WVU would go on a 8-0 run to close the gap as they only trailed by one, 49-48 after three. Quinerly had 23 points entering the fourth
The fourth quarter brought high intensity with Kansas State taking the momentum after West Virginia took the lead earlier in the quarter, leading 57-51. The Mountaineers pulled within one with 5:17 left to go 57-56, but the Wildcats answered right back. West Virginia would tie up the game at 61 with 3:10 to go.
With under a minute to go, Kansas State led by four, 65-61. WVU would then hit a free throw to make it a one-possession game, however, they didn’t make a field goal in the last 3:10 and would lose 65-62.
Quinerly led all scorers with 27 points shooting nine of 23 from the field, to go along with four rebounds, two steals and an assist. Ayoka Lee helped the Wildcats to victory with 22 points, shooting nine of 14, with 11 rebounds, three blocks and a steal.
The Mountaineers will wait to hear of their positioning in the 2024 March Madness tournament on Selection Sunday (March 17).
