— From WVU Athletic Communications
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — No. 15 West Virginia used an 11-0 run in the late stages of the fourth quarter to get past Arizona State, 67-54, in the quarterfinal of the Phillips 66 Big 12 Tournament on Friday night at T-Mobile Center.
Sydney Shaw led all players with 19 points, knocking down five 3-pointers to tie the program’s single game record at the tournament. Gia Cooke finished with 16 points, while Harrison added 10. Harrison also finished with five assists and three steals and Kierra Wheeler filled the stat sheet with eight rebounds, seven points, two assists and three steals.
After trailing 17–11 late in the first quarter, the Mountaineers closed the frame on a 7–0 run, taking an 18–17 lead on Celia Riviere’s layup with 32 seconds left.
The game’s largest swing came early in the second quarter. Shaw hit a 3-pointer on the opening possession, sparking a 17–4 run that included two more Shaw threes, a transition layup and a 3-pointer from Riley Makalusky. West Virginia built a 34–21 advantage with 6:05 remaining in the half.
Arizona State cut the lead to 39–30 at halftime, then closed within 40–36 midway through the third. But WVU answered with an 8–2 push, capped by back-to-back baskets from Jordan Harrison and a three-point play from Kierra Wheeler to restore a 48–40 margin entering the final minute of the quarter.
The Sun Devils mounted one final charge in the fourth, pulling within 52–50 on a Marley Washenitz 3-pointer at the 8:05 mark. West Virginia countered immediately. Shaw drilled a 3-pointer with 7:35 left, igniting an 11–0 run that featured another Shaw triple and a transition three from Cooke. The burst stretched the lead to 63–50 with 2:37 to play, effectively sealing the win.
Washenitz, a Fairmont native, made four of the Sun Devils’ five threes and led her squad with 14 points.
The Mountaineers (25-6) have reached the 25-win mark for the third straight season. It marks the first time in program history to reach the mark in three consecutive seasons.
West Virginia plays again Saturday against No. 6 Colorado at 6:30 p.m. ET.
Kansas State and top seed TCU meet in the first semifinal at 4 p.m.