Yinka Sanni and the West Virginia defense were too much to handle for the Red Storm as the 14th-ranked Mountaineers win 68-44.  Sanni scored a game-high 22 points and for the second straight game pulled down 15 rebounds.  WVU shot 48% from the field while the Lady John’s struggled all game shooting wise as they shot 30% from the field.

WVU got off to a hot start taking a 16-5 lead with 12:07 remaining.  They were comfortably ahead throughtout the first half until this one stretch when not only WVU could buy a bucket but had trouble controlling the ball as well.  They were up 30-19 off a Meg Bulger trey with 5:42 left.  That was the last basket WVU would make in the first half. St. John’s used their full court defense to force turnovers and get themselves at the foul line.  They cut the Mountaineer lead down to three at the half with the score of 35-32.

Apparently whatever Coach Carey said to the ladies at the half worked as WVU gave up only 12 points in the second half.  It took awhile to get the message as the Lady John’s nearly took the lead early but Kia Wright missed two foul shots. Wright came into the game as a 94% foul shooter, third best in the nation. This afternoon she was 4 of 9 from the line. OUCH! West Virginia would then hold the Lady John’s scoreless for the next eight minutes. They gave up six points in the final 15 minutes! 

Owens and Bulger each made three treys however as a team they had 21 turnovers which won’t please Coach Carey one bit.  The Mountaineers out-rebounded the Red Storm 40-35.  St. John’s had no answer for Sanni as she owned the inside all day long.

The Mountaineers women’s team will head to the Capitol City Wednesday for their meeting with rival Marshall. They improved their record to 14-3 with a 4-1 Big East record.  They should be able to move up a spot or two for next week. Way to go ladies and here’s hoping tomorrow’s game for the men will have the same result.  GOOOOOOOOOOOOO MOUNTAINEERS!