WVU Women’s Basketball Moves to 6-0 with Win Over SIU

WVU Women’s Basketball continued their unbeaten roll to start the 2023-24 season with a 73-55 win over the Southern Illinois Salukis, their third victory in as many days.

After struggling out of the gate in their past two games, the Mountaineers managed to set the tone early. JJ Quinerly  — who scored eight of the Mountaineers’ 16 points in the opening period, and led the team with 21 — made five points in the first 81 seconds, helping West Virginia take a 7-0 lead. From there, it was the Salukis turn to settle in, though. The Mountaineers managed just one basket over the next four minutes as Southern Illinois went on a 9-2 run to tie the game.

The Salukis continued their strong play into the second period, taking their largest lead of the game — 25-18 — off a pair of Tkyiah Nelson layups and Paige Clubb three-balls. Clubb’s three-point shots were the only points Southern Illinois managed from beyond the arc in the game, and they came on consecutive possessions.

Mountaineers Go On A Run

The Mountaineers tightened up from there, closing out the first half on an 18-2 run. West Virginia again started hot out of the gate in the third quarter, stretching their lead to 42-27 as they scored the first six points. Once again, though, the Salukis refused to let West Virginia get comfortable, chipping away until they closed the deficit to four.

Southern Illinois never got any closer, as the Mountaineers took over in the fourth quarter, outscoring the Salukis 23-11 to close out the game.

Tavy Diggs excelled off the bench in the fourth quarter on the way to a double-double, helping the Mountaineers put the game away. Diggs scored eight points, adding three boards and two blocks in the frame.

WVU Women’s Basketball returns home to face St. Bonaventure at 2 pm on Saturday, December 2 at the WVU Coliseum.