MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – The No. 20 West Virginia University women’s basketball team raced past Arizona 87-68 on Saturday inside Hope Coliseum, fueled by a season-high nine first-half three-pointers. The Mountaineers made 10 three-pointers in total and recorded 21 assists, and never trailed after the first quarter.
The victory marks West Virginia’s 10th conference win of the season, making them the first team in the Big 12 to reach that milestone. Baylor and TCU both entered the weekend with nine conference wins apiece, with WVU having played one more game than both.
Jordan Harrison led the Mountaineers (20-5, 10-3 Big 12) with a well-rounded performance, scoring 14 points, grabbing eight steals, and dishing out five assists. West Virginia forced an impressive 29 turnovers, converting them into 38 points. Harrison’s eight steals set a new career high and marked the fourth consecutive game in which she recorded five or more steals.
Sydney Shaw contributed 16 points, sinking four three-pointers, while Kierra Wheeler added 17 points and six rebounds. Gia Cooke finished with 13 points and five rebounds, and Celia Riviere provided a spark off the bench with 10 points, four rebounds, and four assists. WVU had five players score in double figures.
Arizona (11-12, 2-10 Big 12) was led by Tanyuel Welch, who scored 17 points, and Daniah Trammell, who added 15. The Wildcats shot 51.7% from the field and outscored West Virginia 23-13 in the fourth quarter, but struggled with turnovers throughout the game.
West Virginia overcame an early deficit with a strong finish to the first quarter, capped by a buzzer-beating three-pointer from Harrison to take a 23-17 lead. The Mountaineers forced 10 turnovers in the opening frame and connected on four three-pointers, with Shaw and Wheeler combining for 12 points. WVU had trailed by as many as six points early in the quarter.
The Mountaineers broke the game open in the second quarter, going on a 27-9 surge fueled by five three-pointers and nine points off turnovers. Cooke hit two three-pointers, while Shaw, Harrison, and Riley Makalusky each added one, helping WVU build a commanding 50-26 halftime lead. Arizona struggled to handle West Virginia’s defensive pressure, committing five more turnovers and shooting just 4-of-13 from the floor.
West Virginia maintained control in the second half, outscoring Arizona 24-19 in the third quarter to extend their lead to as many as 34 points. Arizona managed to close the gap with a 23-13 run in the fourth quarter, holding West Virginia scoreless for the final 3:15, but the Mountaineers’ early cushion proved insurmountable.
This win represents the fourth consecutive season in which West Virginia has reached 10 conference wins.
The Mountaineers will be back in action at home on Wednesday, Feb. 11, hosting UCF inside Hope Coliseum in Morgantown. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET and will be broadcast on ESPN+. This marks the first and only two-game home stretch for the Mountaineers this season.
