The Shadow
WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, W.Va. (VR) — Gia Cooke poured in a game-high 22 points Friday night as West Virginia defeated Northwestern 66-53 in the opening game of the GoMart Greenbrier Tip-Off at The Greenbrier.
Zahirah Walton got the Mountaineers going early, accounting for West Virginia’s first eight points. Northwestern battled back to even the score at 16 heading into the second quarter.
West Virginia gained some separation in the second, outscoring the Wildcats 20-14 to take a 36-30 advantage into halftime.
Northwestern kept things close in the third quarter, cutting the Mountaineers’ lead to 46-44 heading into the final period.
The Wildcats tied the contest at 51 with just over four minutes remaining before baskets from Divine Tumba and Walton put West Virginia back in front.
Northwestern pulled within four with 2:45 remaining, but the Mountaineers shut down the Wildcats offensively, closing the contest on a 9-0 run to secure the victory.
Cooke added six rebounds and three assists while connecting on 10 of her 12 attempts from the free-throw line. Walton finished with 16 points, while Khyala Ngodu chipped in 10.
Camdyn Nelson paced Northwestern with 12 points, followed by Casey Harter with 10 and Lily Carmody with nine.
West Virginia’s defense proved to be a difference-maker, recording 15 steals and generating 23 points off 22 Northwestern turnovers. The Mountaineers outscored the Wildcats 20-9 in the final quarter.
