TAMU WBB outplayed against West Virginia 63-45

Youngchan Kang

It was a chilly day in Aggieland where Texas A&M Women’s basketball faced off against West Virginia at Reed Arena. The Aggies fell short against the Mountaineers in home territory, on a final score of 63-45. 

The first quarter showed an evenly matchup defensively from both sides, combining a total of 15 turnovers. The Mountaineers got off to a solid start 7-4, but the Aggies responded from junior forward Fatmata Janneh. Senior guard Jordan Harrison extended the lead with a three of her own, giving the Mountaineers a 10-7 lead

The Aggies started to find rhythm as senior guard Lemyah Hylton responded with a three of her own. Sophomore center Emerald Parker hit back-to-back baskets to a three-point lead. But senior guard Gia Cooke earned a three-point play and knocked down a free throw to tie up the game at 14 a piece. 

The second quarter saw the Aggies start strong with a quick jumper from Janneh and a graduate forward Lauren Ware going 1-2 from the free throw line. But the Mountaineers got off to a quick 8-0 run to give them a 5 point lead 22-17, forcing the Aggies to call a timeout. 

West Virginia continued their momentum in the second quarter as they went on a 9-2 to extend the lead to 31-19. A&M continued to battle as Parker scored a second chance basket after a West Virginia turnover. After Cooke layup for West Virginia, graduate guard Jordan Webster hit two free throws for the Aggies to cut the lead to 10 to end the second quarter.

Photo Credits: WikiMedia Commons

The third quarter saw similar results to the first quarter, with both teams playing aggressive defense and struggling to find a rhythm offensively. Hylton and senior guard Ny’Ceara Pryor scored key jumpers to try get the Aggies back in the game, with Pryor scoring an and-one layup and knocking down the free throw. When it seems like the Aggies were clawing their way back into the game, the Mountaineers would respond back with buckets of their own. The Mountaineers continued to extend their lead, going on a 9-4 run to end the third quarter.

West Virginia continued to breeze past A&M at their home territory. Despite a 3 from Janneh, West Virginia scored the next 5 points to lead 54-39. Despite both teams continuing to play hard on defense, the Mountaineers continued to hold their lead, going a 9-6 run to close out the game. 

Texas A&M women’s basketball will finish off the non-conference schedule against Prairie View A&M at Reed Arena on December 21, at 12:00 p.m.