WVU Women’s Basketball Falls at Buzzer to No. 10 TCU

WVU Women’s Basketball held a three-point lead over No. 1o TCU with three seconds remaining on Wednesday, Jan. 14, but that wasn’t enough to prevent a buzzer-beating 51-50 loss at the hands of Horned Frogs’ forward Marta Suarez.

The game marked the Mountaineers’ (14-4, 4-2 Big 12) third in a row against a Top 20 opponent as their meat-grinder of a conference schedule continues. West Virginia forward Kierra Wheeler put her team in front 47-46 with 61 seconds remaining, sinking a layup off an assist from Jordan Harrison (19 points).

Wheeler then stole a pass from Suarez, leading to a Harrison jumper that stretched the Mountaineers’ lead to three. Horned Frogs’ guard Donovyn Hunter made two free throws with three seconds left. TCU fouled Harrison to get the ball back, and she made just one of her ensuing foul shots, giving Suarez her chance to sink the game-winning triple.

Defensive Showdown

The Mountaineers forced 24 turnovers and allowed just 37 percent of TCU’s shots to fall, but the Horned Frogs managed to succeed on seven of their 18 three-point attempts; West Virginia made 28 percent of their shots and just one of eight threes, committing 23 turnovers.

After a Jordan Thomas layup made it 12-10 early in the second quarter, the Horned Frogs kept the Mountaineers from making a shot for nearly six minutes, appearing to take control of the game with a 13-2 run. Then it was TCU’s turn for a drought, as West Virginia bookended the half with a 16-0 run that lasted more than eight minutes and put them in front 31-29.

The last five minutes of the fourth quarter saw six lead changes, ending with Suarez’s dagger.

Up next, WVU Women’s Basketball will travel to Cincinnati, their matchup with the Bearcats beginning at 2 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 18.