AMES, Iowa (Interstat) — The West Virginia women’s basketball team secured a key 83-70 road victory over Iowa State in a Big 12 Conference matchup Sunday at Hilton Coliseum. The Mountaineers used a strong third quarter to pull away, outscoring the Cyclones 19-11 after the teams were tied at halftime. West Virginia dominated inside, scoring 44 points in the paint and converting 30 points off turnovers. The win improved West Virginia to 14-3 overall, while Iowa State fell to an identical 14-3 mark. A crowd of 10,009 attended the game.

AMES, Iowa (Interstat) — In a pivotal early-season Big 12 clash between teams with identical records, the West Virginia women’s basketball team delivered a statement performance on the road, defeating Iowa State 83-70 on Sunday at Hilton Coliseum. The Mountaineers, improving to 14-3 overall, used a dominant defensive effort and a decisive third-quarter surge to silence a crowd of 10,009 and hand the Cyclones, who also fell to 14-3, their second consecutive conference loss. The game’s most critical sequence unfolded in the third quarter. Leading 40-39 at halftime in a tightly contested battle, West Virginia transformed the contest with relentless defensive pressure. The Mountaineers forced nine Iowa State turnovers in the period, converting those miscues into easy scoring opportunities. A 12-2 run, fueled by steals and transition baskets, broke the game open, giving West Virginia a double-digit lead it would never relinquish. The Cyclones managed just 11 points in the quarter on 3-of-12 shooting, a drought from which they could not recover. West Virginia’s victory was built on its defense and interior dominance. The Mountaineers forced 25 Iowa State turnovers, registering 15 steals, and outscored the Cyclones 44-20 in the paint and 30-17 off turnovers. Despite shooting just 10 of 17 from the free-throw line and being outshot from beyond the arc, West Virginia’s volume of opportunities, fueled by 10 offensive rebounds and Iowa State’s giveaways, proved decisive. Jordan Harrison, the top star for West Virginia, orchestrated the win with a complete performance. The 5-foot-6 guard from Oklahoma City played 39 minutes, scoring 19 points, grabbing five rebounds, and dishing out eight assists while tallying a game-high six steals. Her backcourt partner, Sydney Shaw of Miami, contributed eight points, six rebounds, and two assists. The Mountaineers’ interior attack was powered by Kierra Wheeler. The 6-foot-1 forward from Minneapolis scored a game-high 25 points on 11-of-19 shooting, adding seven rebounds. Carter McCray of Oberlin, Ohio, added nine points off the bench, and French forward Celia Riviere provided a key spark with eight points in 15 minutes. Iowa State was led by center Audi Crooks of Algona, Iowa. The 6-foot-3 sophomore recorded a double-double with 22 points and 10 rebounds. Sydney Harris of Edwardsville, Illinois, scored 15 points, and Reagan Wilson of Noblesville, Indiana, added 11. Point guard Jada Williams of Kansas City, Missouri, distributed nine assists but was plagued by nine of her team’s 25 turnovers. The game began at a frantic pace, with West Virginia taking a 24-23 lead after a first quarter that featured six ties and three lead changes. The teams played to a 16-16 stalemate in the second quarter, setting the stage for West Virginia’s game-altering run after halftime. The Mountaineers extended their lead to as many as 18 points in the fourth quarter before settling the final 13-point margin. West Virginia shot 50.8% from the field on 65 attempts, while Iowa State was efficient but limited, shooting 45.7% on just 46 shot attempts. The Cyclones were nearly perfect from the foul line, making 18 of 19, but it was not enough to offset West Virginia’s overwhelming advantages in possession and points in the paint. The win marked a significant road victory for West Virginia, which had been a slight 1.5-point pregame favorite despite statistical models heavily favoring Iowa State. The Mountaineers will look to build on this momentum when they host Texas Christian on Wednesday. Iowa State, seeking to halt its skid, travels to face Colorado on the same night.

AMES, Iowa (Interstat) — A pivotal early-season Big 12 women’s basketball showdown is set for Sunday when the Iowa State Cyclones host the West Virginia Mountaineers at Hilton Coliseum. Both teams enter with impressive overall records but are looking to rebound from midweek conference losses. Iowa State (14-2, 1-2 Big 12) has dropped two straight, including a 71-63 defeat at Cincinnati on Wednesday. West Virginia (13-3, 2-1) fell 71-66 at home to Texas Tech the same day, snapping a five-game winning streak. The matchup features a compelling duel between two of the league’s top performers. Iowa State will lean heavily on center Audi Crooks, who is averaging 28.3 points over her last four games. She posted 41 points in a win over Kansas and 35 points with 13 rebounds at Houston last month. Her interior dominance will be a primary focus for the Mountaineers’ defense. West Virginia counters with dynamic guard Jordan Harrison, who is coming off a 22-point, 5-assist effort in the loss to Texas Tech. She dished 10 assists in a narrow road win at Kansas State on Jan. 4 and has been a consistent catalyst for the Mountaineers’ offense all season. The game represents a critical juncture for both teams’ conference aspirations. Iowa State aims to protect its home court and avoid an 0-3 start in league play at Hilton, while West Virginia seeks a statement road victory against a ranked opponent to solidify its standing. Iowa State holds a 14-9 all-time series advantage, but West Virginia has won three of the last five meetings. Tipoff is scheduled for 2 p.m. EST Sunday.