WVU Women’s Basketball Runs Cold in Road Loss to No. 17 TCU

WVU Women’s Basketball took a 28-22 halftime lead on the road against No. 17 TCU on Sunday, Feb. 15, but a slow start to the second half doomed their chance at victory.

Gia Cooke led the field with 18 points, and Sydney Shaw (12 points) was the only other Mountaineer to average in double figures. Kierra “Meme” Wheeler (3-for-12) endured an uncharacteristic down night, and the lack of a third viable scoring option compounded West Virginia’s slump.

The No. 19 Mountaineers‘ (21-6, 11-4 Big 12) shooting struggles began midway through the second quarter. After bench guard Riley Makalusky sank two threes off the bench in the first two minutes of the frame, putting West Virginia in front 22-11, they made just two more shots from the field on their way into the half.

The Mountaineers then allowed three-pointers on the Horned Frogs’ first two shots of the third quarter, their lead evaporating in a span of 81 seconds. They managed just one basket in the first five and a half minutes out of the half, TCU reeling off a 20-2 run that buried West Virginia before they could snap out of the funk.

The Mountaineers remained within striking distance in a slow-paced game that saw neither team attempt more than 53 shots, but West Virginia converted on just 18 of 53 attempts (6-of-24 from three). The Horned Frogs, for their part made 19 of 33 shots from two-point range, including 15 of 18 in a torrid second half that put the Mountaineers away.

WVU Women’s Basketball will return to action at home against Oklahoma State at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 21.