The women’s basketball team may be the cornerstone of the sports resurgence at West Virginia University. The team finished the regular season with a 23-6 record, going 13-5 in Big 12 play. They secured fourth place and earned a double bye in the Big 12 Championship. Read more WVU Women’s Basketball Deserves the Spotlight below
If you’ve only been watching the men’s teams at WVU, it’s time to retrain your brain and jump on this bandwagon. JJ Quinerly proves she’s a legitimate superstar, determined to end her college career in style. Fresh off being named Big 12 Player of the Week, she dominated her last two outings, averaging 34.5 points, 4.0 rebounds, 4.0 assists, and 2.5 steals. As a relentless defender, she mirrors the old ‘Press Virginia’ days. She earned Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year honors and spots on the All-Big 12 First Team and Defensive Team.. And with March upon us, she’s peaking at the perfect time
“The basket is looking a little wide right about now. I’m feeling good,” said Quinerly during Monday’s press conference. “I am glad to see the ball go in right about now with the season getting closer to the end and at the end of my career here.”
Hot Off the Press
Coach Mark Kellogg has instilled a defensive mindset in his team, and the results speak for themselves—WVU ranks among the nation’s top ten in all efficiency metrics. Leading the charge is JJ Quinerly, but she’s not alone. Kyah Watson and Jordan Harrison have emerged as defensive specialists, disrupting passing lanes, forcing turnovers, and setting the tone for a Mountaineers squad built on relentless pressure. It’s a philosophy Kellogg has preached since day one, and his team has fully embraced it.
“If we really want to get after you, we can pull everybody up and make it look almost like full-court man. It originated as a slow-you-down thing – and we can still run it that way if we need to – and that’s what I like about it if we play somebody that wants to play really fast,” said Kellogg in his first press conference after being hired. “We can slow them down, or, if a team has vulnerable ball handlers, we can come at you.”
READ: WVU BASEBALL STAYS UNDEFEATED
This team mirrors Bob Huggins’ best squads, embracing a hard-nosed, relentless style of play. With women’s basketball more popular than ever, now is the perfect time to rally behind WVU. The team is charging into tournament play, and Mountaineer fans should take notice.
Tourney Time
The Mountaineers have five days off this week. They will face either Kansas State, BYU, or UCF at noon at T-Mobile Arena in Kansas City. If WVU keeps advancing, they could play three games in a row leading up to the Big-12 Championship.
“We’ll draw on that experience if we are lucky enough to play three games in three days,” Kellogg said. “You just win one and then you worry about the next one. You are not guaranteed two or three. So you are not really looking too far ahead. But if we do, yes we have some experience to draw off of and that will be valuable.”
As March Madness unfolds, the WVU women’s basketball team has earned its place in the spotlight. Their tenacious defense and star power make them a legitimate tournament threat. It’s time for Mountaineer fans to take notice. As the men’s team and other WVU programs prepare for their own conference tournaments, the women are proving they can stand shoulder to shoulder with any team on campus.
