MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — JJ Quinerly showcased her talent as she netted 12 of her total 19 points during the second half, guiding No. 18 West Virginia to a decisive 66-53 win against BYU on Saturday night.
Quinerly, who completed the game shooting 8 of 26, also contributed significantly with five assists and five steals. Kyah Watson proved to be another key player for West Virginia (21-2, 2-1 in the Big 12), contributing 10 points, nine rebounds, and four steals. This victory marks the team’s fourth win in their last five outings.
On the opposing side, Kemery Congdon was a standout for BYU (9-5, 0-3), hitting all four of her attempts from beyond the arc and totaling 16 points. Emma Calvert made an impact as well, scoring 13 points while pulling down 13 rebounds, and Amari Whiting chipped in with 10 points.
Despite a rocky start, where West Virginia managed only 26.5% shooting (9 of 34) in the first half, they finished the game shooting 35% (25 of 72). A significant turning point was capitalizing on BYU’s mistakes, as the Mountaineers converted 33 points from 31 turnovers by the Cougars.
Quinerly found her rhythm in the third quarter, where she shot 4 of 8, fueling a 21-12 scoring run that allowed West Virginia to take a 49-42 lead. Congdon opened the fourth quarter with a bucket for BYU, but the Mountaineers quickly answered with 10 consecutive points, and the Cougars could not close the gap any further. In total, Quinerly improved in the second half, hitting 6 of her 16 attempts.
BYU began the game strong, establishing a 20-13 lead by the end of the first quarter and holding a narrow 30-28 advantage at halftime. In that first half, Congdon led the Cougars with nine points, while Calvert added eight. Quinerly was the primary scorer for West Virginia in those early stages, contributing seven points.
This victory not only solidifies West Virginia’s position in the rankings but also demonstrates their resilience and ability to adapt after a lackluster first half. They look to maintain their momentum as the season progresses.
