MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Mike Carey called his West Virginia women lackadaisical, but the Mountaineers played enough defense to overcome 24 turnovers and defeat TCU 58-50 Tuesday night.
The Mountaineers (11-5, 3-2 Big 12) won their third straight conference game by holding the Horned Frogs to a season-low three 3-pointers and 28.1 percent shooting from the field. TCU (7-9, 0-5) managed only six second-half baskets.
Christal Caldwell led WVU with 14 points and Taylor Palmer added 13 points. Ayana Dunning contributed nine points and eight rebounds. Linda Stepney had four of West Virginia’s season-high 10 blocks.
Averee Fields and Caldwell each pulled down seven rebounds, to help the Mountaineers to a 48-38 rebounding advantage.
“It was a very lackadaisical effort,” coach Mike Carey said. “We turned the ball over too much. I give a lot of credit to Akilah Bethel, Darius Faulk, Bria Holmes and Crystal Leary. They came in with energy and got us going and got us moving.
“I am very proud of that. I told them after the game that is why you always have to be ready. They did an excellent job of coming in and giving us energy and getting us moving again. We didn’t play well, but I would rather not play well and get a win then play well and not get a win. We will take it, but we have to get a lot better.”
WVU shot 37.2 percent overall and 38.9 percent (7-18) from 3-point range.
From a 27-all halftime tie, the teams traded leads six times in the second half. The game was even at 40 with eight minutes left when Bethel’s layup sparked an 8-0 Mountaineers run, which included five points from Holmes.
TCU had three players in double figures with Veja Hamilton recording 15 and Kamy Cole and Zahna Medley adding 10 each. Latricia Lovings pulled down 13 rebounds and blocked five shots.
Next up for the Mountaineers is Saturday’s road matchup at No. 1 Baylor.
“It is good to be over .500, but we have a lot of games coming up,” Carey said. “We just have to get better. Hopefully this will wake us up. Seems like we play up or down to our competition and you can’t do that in the Big 12.”