10:06am: Talkline with Hoppy Kercheval

After ripping Red Raiders, WVU women turn sights to Baylor

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Finally, the No. 11 West Virginia women can turn their focus back to Baylor.

Bria Holmes pumped in 28 points Wednesday night—at times threatening to outscore Texas Tech single-handedly—as the Mountaineers strolled to a 69-37 victory, their last obstacle before Sunday’s much-anticipated rematch at No. 6 Baylor.

“Bria Holmes came out early, very aggressive, and looking to score,” said West Virginia coach Mike Carey. “She got us going.”

Holmes had two 3-pointers and scored 14 points in the first half, matching the Red Raiders’ team output as WVU built a 33-14 lead.

From there, the Mountaineers (25-3, 14-2) wrapped up an unbeaten February and coasted to their eighth consecutive win overall. Texas Tech (6-21, 0-16) shot just 26 percent, didn’t score at all for the first 8:14 of the game, and its 37 points were the fewest WVU has allowed in a Big 12 game.

“We played probably the best defense we have in the first half in probably a long time, and I thought Asya Bussie was the key,” Carey said. “They kept setting screens, and Asya kept sagging off and helping our guards.”

Holmes went 9-for-17 from the field, and 8-for-9 from the free-throw line. Bussie added nine points and four blocks, while Averee Fields chipped in eight points and a game-high 10 rebounds. Guard Darius Faulk pulled down a career-best seven rebounds as the Mountaineers outrebounded Texas Tech 52-32.

West Virginia’s 22 fast-break points matched a Big 12 season-high, and its 36 points in the paint were a team-best.

Ivonne CookTaylor’s 12 points led the Lady Raiders, while Shauntal Nobles had eight points and nine rebounds.

With two games left in the regular season, the Mountaineers can guarantee themselves a piece of the Big 12 title, though the first step is winning Sunday’s nationally-televised game in Waco.

“It’s down to a two-game season now,” Carey said. “Needless to say, we’d like to have that Baylor game at home. Well, we had them at home and Baylor beat us. Now we have to beat them on their court.

“We’re going to go down there—we have nothing to lose—we’re going to go down there, and be aggressive.”








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