WVU Women’s Basketball Loses OT Heartbreaker at Kansas State

WVU Women’s Basketball lost an overtime heartbreaker on Wednesday, falling 73-64 to the No. 10 Kansas State Wildcats after Jordan Harrison gave them new life, tying the game with a buzzer beating layup in the fourth quarter.

West Virginia held a six-point lead heading into the final frame, but the Wildcats stormed back to control much of the fourth quarter and overtime periods. 

The No. 22 Mountaineers’ aggressive defense helped them pounce on the Wildcats early, forcing ten turnovers—including six steals—in the first ten minutes. Kansas State took a 4-3 lead just over four minutes in, and West Virginia responded by forcing an 0-7 streak that lasted more than seven minutes.

Kylee Blacksten nailed a three 42 seconds into the second period to push the Mountaineers’ lead to 18-7, then the Wildcats promptly reeled off a 7-0 scoring run to close the deficit to one score.

JJ Quinerly snapped the nearly four minute scoring drought with a jumper sparked by a Lauren Fields’ steal, but the game sat tied 24-24 heading into halftime as both teams missed opportunities to pull ahead.

Kansas State broke the tie out of the half on an Ayoka Lee layup, then Quinerly retook the lead with a three-point shot. The two stars traded free throw volleys as four lead changes occurred in the first four minutes, with the Mountaineers emerging from the exchange ahead 31-30.

Lauren Fields and Kyah Watson each hit threes towards the end of the quarter to put the Mountaineers up six heading into the fourth.

Frantic Finish

Kansas State opened the final frame on a 9-3 run, with guard Brylee Glenn tying the game 44-44 with a three with 6:52 to play. Watson and Taryn Sides traded threes, then Lee put the Wildcats ahead with a layup before blocking Harrison’s attempt to answer.

Wildcats’ guard Jaelyn Glenn—Brylee’s twin sister—made two free throws to establish a four point lead with 71 seconds to play, then a Quinerly jumper prompted a Kansas State timeout.

Watson fouled to get the ball back with 14 seconds left and Jaelyn Glenn made just one of her two free throw attempts, giving the Mountaineers possession down three.

Blacksten committed a turnover, forcing another foul, and Quinerly sank a three to make it 57-56 with 5.2 seconds remaining. 

Free throws plagued the Wildcats for the third consecutive possession as Lee made only one, allowing Harrison to send the game to overtime with a layup at the buzzer.

Kansas State opened the extra period on a 4-0 run, but a Blacksten free throw followed by a Fields’ three off a turnover tied the game 62-62.

Fouls caught up to the Mountaineers late, as they received 21 whistles in the game to just nine for the Wildcats. Quinerly and Danelle Arigbabu both fouled out midway through the overtime period, and four of West Virginia’s starters ended the game with three or more fouls.

Lee scored seven of the Wildcats’ ten points to close out the game 69-62, as the Mountaineers’ offensive luck dried up at the worst possible time.

WVU Women’s Basketball moves to 22-4 on the season (11-4 Big 12). They’ll return to Morgantown to host No. 24 Baylor—their third ranked game in a row—at 2 p.m. on Saturday, February 24.