HOUSTON — JJ Quinerly showcased her scoring prowess by netting 16 of her total 20 points in a dominant first quarter, helping No. 18 West Virginia secure an emphatic 79-51 victory against Houston on Saturday.

The Mountaineers kicked off the game with an impressive 20-0 run, with Quinerly and Jordan Harrison accounting for all 25 points in the first quarter, allowing West Virginia to establish a commanding 25-4 advantage. By halftime, Quinerly had tallied 18 points, and the lead swelled to 37-18.

In addition to Quinerly, Harrison contributed 14 points for West Virginia (19-4, 9-3 Big 12 Conference). Sydney Shaw added to the scoring effort with 13 points, while Kyah Watson also chips in with 12.

For Houston (5-19, 1-12), Gia Cooke was the top performer, leading the team with 16 points. Laila Blair and Kierra Merchant both made contributions, scoring 10 points each, with Merchant also securing 10 rebounds.

West Virginia’s defense was a significant factor in the game, forcing Houston into 26 turnovers, marking the 19th occurrence this season that the Mountaineer defense compelled their opponents to turn the ball over 20 times or more. These turnovers resulted in 39 points for West Virginia, with Watson recording five steals and eight rebounds.

During the first quarter, West Virginia shot an impressive 10 of 18 from the field, including three three-pointers, while Houston struggled, making only 2 of 14 attempts and committing 11 turnovers.

By halftime, Harrison had reached 12 points, while West Virginia maintained a shooting percentage of 52%, compared to Houston’s dismal 23% alongside their 16 turnovers, which granted the Mountaineers 25 points. In the second half, Shaw was particularly effective, scoring 13 points, while Cooke led Houston with 14 points.

Looking ahead, West Virginia will be facing Baylor on Tuesday, while Houston is set to travel to Colorado next Saturday.