West Virginia’s women’s basketball team delivered a commanding performance on Monday night, showcasing their potential in a decisive victory.
The Mountaineers clashed with Texas Southern, marking their final game of the season against a smaller conference opponent. They seized this opportunity to refine their strategies and address any weaknesses before heading into two significant non-conference Power 5 matchups at the WVU Coliseum this weekend. Displaying impressive depth, six Mountaineer players achieved double-digit scores, propelling the team to a resounding 109-40 victory over the Lady Tigers. This performance ranks among the program’s top five highest-scoring games ever.
Despite the overwhelming win, head coach Mark Kellogg believes his team has even more to offer.
“I’m still striving for maximum effort from all five players on the court,” Kellogg commented after the game. “It might seem like nitpicking, considering the score, but we have established standards… we are aware of the areas Villanova exploited, and we are still working to correct those issues.”
On Monday, the Mountaineers executed almost flawlessly. They achieved a 51% shooting accuracy from the field, compelled an impressive 35 turnovers that translated into 54 points, dominated the boards with a 42-24 rebounding advantage, and recorded 25 assists on 37 successful field goals. The only area that appeared slightly weak was three-point shooting, where WVU only managed 6-of-24 from beyond the arc. Kellogg specifically highlighted this as an area the team is “still trying to improve.”
Whether this effort effectively addresses the problems Kellogg identified in the loss to Villanova will likely be revealed when the Mountaineers host Georgia Tech and Texas A&M in Morgantown for two Power 5 showdowns later this week. Until then, Kellogg remains unconvinced that all issues have been resolved, even after a victory of nearly 70 points.
Key takeaways from the game:
- Dominant Scoring Performance: The Mountaineers’ 109 points represent one of their highest-scoring games in program history.
- Defensive Pressure: Forcing 35 turnovers and converting them into 54 points highlights the team’s aggressive defense.
- Rebounding Advantage: Winning the rebounding battle 42-24 demonstrates the team’s physicality and control of the game.
- Areas for Improvement: Coach Kellogg specifically pointed out the need to improve three-point shooting accuracy.
Looking ahead, the Mountaineers face a challenging week with matchups against Georgia Tech and Texas A&M. These games will provide a true test of their progress and ability to address the weaknesses exposed in the Villanova game. Coach Kellogg’s focus on “maximum effort” and continuous improvement suggests that the team is determined to reach its full potential.
