West Virginia Women’s Basketball Triumphs Over UCF
In a pivotal matchup, the 17th-ranked West Virginia women’s basketball team demonstrated their prowess by defeating UCF 74-62 on Wednesday evening in Orlando. Despite trailing at halftime with UCF leading 27-25, West Virginia surged ahead dramatically in the third quarter.
Third Quarter Surge
Outscoring the Knights 31-9 during this period, the Mountaineers established a commanding 20-point lead heading into the final frame. Key performances included Gia Cooke, who contributed 19 points, and Jordan Harrison, who added 16. During the critical third quarter, Harrison netted eight points, while Cooke followed closely with seven and Sydney Shaw contributed six.
The Mountaineers showcased exceptional shooting, going 76.5% from the field in that quarter and sinking all three of their attempts from beyond the arc. Overall, Cooke shot 6-of-16, and Harrison was especially efficient at 6-of-7. Cooke’s long-range shooting prowess was highlighted by four 3-pointers, while Shaw scored all her nine points from the three-point line.
Additional Contributions and UCF’s Struggles
Also scoring in double digits for West Virginia were Carter McCray and Kierra Wheeler, both with 12 points. For UCF, Khyala Ngodu was the standout performer, scoring 21 points and securing nine rebounds, although the Knights suffered their tenth consecutive loss.
West Virginia’s overall shooting percentage was 52%, compared to UCF’s 51%. However, a significant difference came from beyond the arc, as West Virginia hit 7-of-15 three-pointers, while UCF struggled, failing to connect on any of their six attempts from long range. The Mountaineers capitalized on UCF’s turnovers, scoring 22 points off their 22 mishandles.
Looking Ahead
This victory follows a dominant 106-56 win for West Virginia in their previous encounter earlier in the season, marking a record for most points scored in a conference game for the program. Looking ahead, West Virginia will host Cincinnati on Sunday to conclude the regular season, while UCF will visit Houston on the same day to wrap up their schedule.
