West Virginia wasted no time establishing control and never relinquished it, securing a decisive victory over Columbia to move forward in the NCAA Tournament. The Mountaineers led from start to finish, using a fast start, stifling defense, and balanced scoring to handle what was expected to be a tough matchup on paper.
Head coach Mark Kellogg summed it up perfectly: “Excited to advance, obviously. That’s the name of the game this time of year just find ways. Whether it’s pretty, ugly, indifferent, I thought for the most part we were pretty good and led the entire night.”
Kellogg acknowledged that Columbia was no pushover, noting that last year’s experience against Princeton helped prepare his team for the Ivy League’s physical style of play. “That makes it even more meaningful when you beat such a quality program. But I thought our kids were ready.”
Harrison Sparks Fast Start
After a two-week layoff, there were concerns about rust, but those were quickly dismissed. Jordan Harrison set the tone, scoring eight of WVU’s first 12 points.
“Considering we hadn’t played in two weeks, I think we were just super excited to get back out there,” Harrison said. “I was just taking what the defense gave me, not overthinking, and having fun with my teammates.”
Harrison finished with 23 points, matching her WVU career high. “Obviously, I’m pretty proud of myself,” she said. “I stayed aggressive, didn’t force too many shots, and just played with a rhythm.”
Quinerly Reaches 2,000-Point Milestone
JJ Quinerly hit a career milestone during the game, scoring her 2,000th point.
“It’s an amazing accomplishment,” she said. “I dreamed about scoring 2,000 points my whole life, so seeing it happen with this group of girls and this coaching staff is really special.”
Despite knowing she needed 19 points to reach the mark, Quinerly didn’t let it distract her. “I wasn’t really thinking about it. I just shot it.”
Beyond scoring, she made her presence felt in other areas grabbing rebounds, dishing out assists, and racking up steals. “I love attacking the hoop, so that’s what I focused on. I did take a few threes I wasn’t too happy with, but you have to shoot to get into a rhythm.”
Defense Remains WVU’s Calling Card
While the offense shined, defense remained the Mountaineers’ foundation.
“For us, defense is just fun,” Quinerly said. “We love flying around, getting steals, and turning them into easy points.”
Kellogg praised Harrison and Quinerly as “elite” defenders, emphasizing that toughness matters more than size. “People talk about our lack of size, but it’s about heart and determination. Their will to defend is what sets them apart.”
Freshman Jordan Thomas Steps Up
Freshman Jordan Thomas played a crucial role, logging 12 points in 22 minutes in her NCAA Tournament debut.
“She’s been improving all year,” Kellogg said. “Her first stint, she looked a little freshman-like, but then she settled in and played really well for us.”
Harrison also commended Thomas. “She played hard. I think she felt she could’ve done even better, but we kept encouraging her to keep rebounding and attacking the basket. I’m super proud of her.”
Mountaineers Maintain Control
Columbia managed to cut the lead to 15 in the second half, but WVU responded quickly.
“They got a little run going, but we stayed composed and figured it out,” Quinerly said. In the closing moments, WVU committed just one turnover in the final three minutes to seal the win.
“We had a few turnovers from moving too fast, but overall, I thought we handled it well,” Quinerly added.
Fan Support Fuels WVU
The Mountaineers fed off the energy of their traveling fans.
“We love our fans,” Harrison said. “We play better when we have that energy, and their support means everything to us.”
History Within Reach
With the victory, WVU is just one win away from its second-ever Sweet 16 appearance.
“If we win two games in the tournament, we’d be the first team in school history to do that,” Kellogg said. “We’re going into the next game expecting to do something really special.”
For now, all focus shifts to the next challenge and the opportunity to make history.
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