03/21/26 06:15:00
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03/21 18:13 CDT Shaw, Cooke help West Virginia roll over Miami (Ohio) 82-54 in
women's NCAA Tournament
Shaw, Cooke help West Virginia roll over Miami (Ohio) 82-54 in women's NCAA
Tournament
By JOHN RABY
AP Sports Writer
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (AP) --- Sydney Shaw had 19 points and nine rebounds, Gia
Cooke scored 18 points and West Virginia used an early defensive lockdown to
take control in a 82-54 victory over Miami (Ohio) in the first round of the
women's NCAA Tournament on Saturday.
West Virginia (28-6), the fourth seed in the Fort Worth region, will meet No. 5
seed Kentucky in the second round on Monday. The Wildcats beat 12th-seeded
James Madison earlier Saturday.
Jordan Harrison had 15 points and eight assists, while Kierra Wheeler added 14
points and nine rebounds for the Mountaineers.
Amber Scalia led Miami with 14 points, Amber Tretter added 13 and Ilsa de Vries
12.
Miami (28-7), the No. 13 seed which set a school record for wins this season,
fell to 0-2 all-time in the tournament. It's other appearance came in 2008.
Buoyed by a loud sellout crowd at its home arena, West Virginia used a 16-3 run
spanning the halves to put away Miami. But it was a flurry of earlier steals
that turned the tide.
West Virginia trailed 14-11 late in the first quarter when its pressure defense
went into overdrive. Miami committed five turnovers in a three-minute stretch,
and the Mountaineers took control with an ensuing 17-0 run.
Miami, the Mid-American Conference tournament champion, went more than five
minutes between field goals and fell behind 40-26 by halftime.
The RedHawks seemed to wear down under the defensive pressure. There was a
10-second violation trying to get the ball past halfcourt, passes that were
thrown to nobody, and Miami defenders who were a step behind. West Virginia
held a 48-22 advantage in points in the paint and outrebounded Miami 40-24.
Up Next
West Virginia has never won twice in the same NCAA Tournament in 16 previous
appearances. The Mountaineers will try to break that streak Monday.
___
AP March Madness bracket: https://apnews.com/hub/ncaa-womens-bracket and
coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/march-madness
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