MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Bria Holmes finished with 17 points, a career-high 11 rebounds and five assists and West Virginia’s defense suffocated Kansas State 64-44 in front of 4,328 fans at the WVU Coliseum for the annual Play 4Kay pink game.
Teana Muldrow hit 4-of-5 shots to score 10 points and made three of her team’s nine blocks as the Mountaineers (18-6, 7-4 Big 12) held K-State to 27-percent shooting.
“(Holmes) is a special player,” said Wildcats coach Jeff Mittie. “Today she gets a double-double, and it’s a pretty quiet double-double for her today. She’s having a heck of a year, and she’s playing at a really high level.”
Already trailing 47-34 after three quarters, Kansas State (14-8, 4-7) saw the Mountaineers start the fourth quarter on a 13-3 run.
Katrina Pardee added 10 points for WVU and Arielle Roberson grabbed a season-high 13 rebounds, scored eight points, blocked two shots and had a pair of steals.
West Virginia shot 57 percent and owned the rebounding 45-22 but had to overcome 23 turnovers and made only 7-of-17 free throws.
“We got the win that’s the most important thing,” said coach Mike Carey. “We had too many turnovers. The point guards have to do a better job. We have to get in our steps. Too many missed foul shots. Too many turnovers and missed shots and you get beat. We have to work on it.”
Kindred Wesemann led the Wildcats with 14 points.
est Virginia closes out a two-game homestand against Iowa State on Wednesday at 7 p.m.