No. 24 West Virginia vs No. 23 Oklahoma | Big 12 | 2.17.24

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – February 17th, 2024

The No. 24-ranked West Virginia University women's basketball team knocked off Big 12 front runner No. 23 Oklahoma on Saturday afternoon, 70-66, inside the WVU Coliseum in Morgantown.

The win is the second over a ranked opponent this season for the Mountaineers as WVU ended the Sooners' nine-game conference winning streak.

West Virginia shook off a sluggish start to the contest, to battle in a back-and-forth game before ultimately pulling ahead in the fourth quarter to collect the team's 11th win in conference play.

Trailing by just one point at the end of the third quarter, junior guard JJ Quinerly scored on West Virginia's second possession to push WVU into the lead. Fifth-year guard Jayla Hemingway then knocked down a deep three to extend the Mountaineer advantage to 52-48. WVU never trail again in the contests.

Oklahoma pulled back within one point with a minute to play in the game when Payton Verhulst connected on her sixth 3-pointer of the game. Quinerly knocked down a free throw and a layup off a Jordan Harrison steal while Hemingway and Harrison combined for three points at the foul line to give WVU a seven-point lead with 30 seconds to play.

Five quick points from Oklahoma's Neveah Tot cut the score down to two points. WVU missed on a pair of free throws before the Sooners did the same with under one second to play. Harrison was fouled just before time expired, knocking down two at the charity stripe to put the game away.

The Mountaineers (22-3, 11-3 Big 12) were paced by Quinerly who finished with 18 points and added two steals and five rebounds. Harrison finished with 10 points and nine assists to just miss out on a double-double. The Oklahoma City, Oklahoma native added four steals and six rebounds while recording her 300th career assist in the contest.

Junior guard Kyah Watson led the Mountaineers on the glass, grabbing nine rebounds and added 11 points and two steals. Fifth-year forward Tavy Diggs was the final Mountaineer in double-figures with 12 points and four rebounds.  

West Virginia's bench proved to be the difference in the game, outscoring the Sooners 27-10. WVU forced Oklahoma into 25 turnovers, resulting in 23 points, as the Mountaineers also managed a 36-22 advantage in the paint.

With the result, West Virginia moves to 11-16 all-time against the Sooners and 6-6 in games played in Morgantown. The Mountaineers collect their first win against Oklahoma since Jan. 3, 2021, and the first at home since Jan. 8, 2016.

Next up, West Virginia is back on the road on Wednesday, Feb. 21, against Kansas State. Tipoff is set for 7:30 p.m. ET inside Bramlage Coliseum in Manhattan, Kansas. The contest will be broadcast on Big12 Now on ESPN+ and the Mountaineer Sports Network, including 100.9 FM.