No. 24 West Virginia Defeats Northwestern 66-53 After Late Run

Northwestern pushed No. 24 West Virginia deep into the fourth quarter before a late 15-2 run sealed a 66-53 loss for the Wildcats on Friday night, Inside NU reported.

Guard Camdyn Nelson paced the Wildcats with 12 points and six rebounds, while senior Casey Harter added 10 points and junior Lily Carmody contributed nine. The Wildcats kept the score tied with under five minutes remaining in regulation, but persistent foul trouble and turnovers ultimately derailed the upset bid.

West Virginia established an early 5-0 lead behind a full-court press and high-tempo offense. Northwestern fought back through a layup by center Jasmyn Cooper-Derba and five points from forward Lexi Blue, keeping the deficit at 8-7.

Wildcats defenders forced four turnovers in the first quarter and held the Mountaineers to under 50% shooting from the field. Nelson converted a turnover into a fast-break layup, tying the game 16-16 at the end of the opening period.

Northwestern vs. #24 West Virginia Highlights — Big 12 Conference

Offensive struggles mounted in the second quarter as Northwestern committed four turnovers before Harter scored the team’s first field goal on an “and-1” layup with 5:22 left on the clock. West Virginia capitalized on trips to the free-throw line to build a 28-21 advantage.

Northwestern narrowed the gap before halftime as Cooper-Derba and Kat Righeimer added layups. The Wildcats entered the locker room trailing 36-30, having turned the ball over 10 times while committing nine fouls.

Momentum shifted immediately after the intermission when Harter opened the half with a three-pointer and followed with a coast-to-coast layup. Carmody connected from deep shortly afterward, tying the game at 38.

West Virginia responded by attacking the paint and earning frequent trips to the charity stripe. Harter provided a defensive highlight with 6:38 remaining in the third quarter, single-handedly stopping a 3-on-1 fast break with a block.

Brooke Golden added a mid-range jumper late in the third period, and Northwestern kept the deficit at two points, trailing 46-44 heading into the final frame. Righeimer tied the game 48-48 with a layup and a free throw at the 4:37 mark of the fourth quarter.

West Virginia answered immediately with a transition basket from Zahriah Walton and a tough layup from guard Gia Cooke, who finished with 16 points. The Mountaineers forced four fourth-quarter turnovers and capitalized on 26 total free-throw attempts to close the game on a 15-2 run over the final three minutes.

Northwestern head coach Carla Berube and her squad must regroup quickly to face Appalachian State on Saturday at 5 p.m. CST.

Earlier coverage: West Virginia Outlasts Northwestern Behind Cooke's 22 Points