MORGANTOWN – Seniors Liz Repella and Korinne Campbell combined for 34 points, but could not hold off Rutgers in the final stretch as the No. 19/18 West Virginia women’s basketball team suffered a 67-58 defeat in Piscataway, N.J., Saturday.
“I thought we were pushing and getting up and down the floor,” WVU coach Mike Carey said. “Korinne Campbell did a good job and was more aggressive offensively and that was good to see. We executed, but when we really needed to execute we didn’t and when we did, we missed some easy shots. When they needed to execute, they hit some shots and that’s what it came down to.”
The Mountaineers (21-8, 7-8 BIG EAST) held the lead for nearly 35 minutes of the game (34:39), but the Scarlet Knights (17-11, 10-5 BIG EAST) capitalized on turnovers as Erica Wheeler hit a 3-pointer off a turnover for Rutgers’ first lead of the game, 52-50, with 5:21 remaining. The Mountaineers tied the game up twice before a Chelsey Lee three-point play sparked a 9-0 run, including 7-of-7 from the free throw line to take the clock down to the final 10 seconds.
Behind Repella’s 20 points, Campbell had 14 and Sarah Miles had seven, aiding West Virginia in 39.6 shooting (19-of-48) from the field. Rutgers’ scoring efforts were led by Wheeler with 22 points on 8-of-16 shooting. The Scarlet Knights were 36.1 percent (22-of-61) from the floor.
Foul shots down the stretch helped Rutgers to 18 points as it was 18-of-25 (72%) from the charity stripe. WVU shot 88.2 percent (15-of-17) from the line, with eight less trips.
Rutgers recorded 22 points off 22 West Virginia turnovers, and took care of the ball, only committing nine turnovers. WVU came back from a 21-17 rebounding deficit at the half to out-rebound Rutgers, 39-33, for the game. Redshirt-sophomore Asya Bussie led WVU’s rebounding efforts with 10, while Lee led Rutgers on the boards with eight.
The Mountaineers will conclude the 2010-11 regular season with one final home game with St. John’s on Monday, Feb. 28 at 7 p.m. Prior to tip there will be a senior recognition ceremony for the five graduating seniors.
“This is the best group of seniors I have ever had in 30 years of coaching,” Carey said. “They’ve won a lot of games over the last few years and I’m proud of them. They play hard. They make great grades and are leaders on and off the court.”
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