No. 17 West Virginia is no longer undefeated in 2025.
In the second of two games on the road this week, the Mountaineers fell to Oklahoma State 64-57 Saturday afternoon. WVU led 38-33 at halftime.
West Virginia collapsed offensively in the third quarter, scoring just seven points after a fast-paced first quarter and leading 14-10 in the second. The Mountaineers shot 2-for-15 from the field in the third quarter, with a three-pointer from Kylee Blacksten and a two from freshman Jordan Thomas being the only made shots.
5-foot-11 sophomore guard Stailee Heard led the Cowgirls in scoring with 18 points on 7-for-13 shooting and added seven rebounds.
The Mountaineers bounced back moderately in the fourth quarter, in which Oklahoma State outscored WVU 14-12 due to 5-for-18 shooting from WVU.
West Virginia finished a dismal 20-for-60 in the game and 7-for-26 from three. Due to significant pressure, Oklahoma State had less opportunities but was far more efficient, shooting 23-for-50 from the field and 6-for-19 from distance.
6-foot-3 fifth year Kylee Blacksten was West Virginia’s leading scorer for the first time this season, scoring 16 points on 6-for-11 shooting from the field and 4-for-9 shooting from long range. Blacksten scored 13 points in the first quarter, going 5-for-6 and 3-for-4 from three in 10 minutes. She played just 21 minutes in the full contest.
Defensively, WVU kept its reputation for forcing turnovers throughout, but Oklahoma State handled the pressure better in the second half, giving up five turnovers each in the third and fourth quarters after allowing eight in the first and six in the second.
Statistically, JJ Quinerly once again was the headliner, as with four steals, she now ranks fourth in program history in total steals. Quinerly has 279 total steals with the Mountaineers.
Senior wing Kyah Watson outdid Quinerly in steals for the game, though, once again tallying five of her own. Watson also finished the game with seven points, seven rebounds, three assists, and as one of three Mountaineers with a positive +/- in a team-high 39 minutes.
Guard Jordan Harrison, who scored eight on 3-for-11 shooting and missed both of her three-point attempts for the game, joined Watson with a +1 net impact in 38 minutes. Harrison added five assists, a steal, and a rebound. Célia Rivière finished +3, scoring two points and grabbing a steal and a rebound in five minutes.
West Virginia returns home 13-3 and 3-2 in Big 12 play on Wednesday against Colorado. The Mountaineers fell to the Buffaloes in their Big 12 opener, 65-60.
Tip-off on Wednesday is scheduled for 7 p.m. at the WVU Coliseum.
