West Virginia Dominates Miami (Ohio) in NCAA Women’s Tournament Opener Behind Stifling Defense
CINCINNATI — March 23, 2024 — West Virginia’s women’s basketball team delivered a commanding performance in their NCAA Tournament opener, overwhelming Miami (Ohio) 82-54 on Saturday behind a relentless defensive effort and balanced scoring.
The fourth-seeded Mountaineers (28-6) seized control early with a suffocating press, forcing Miami into costly turnovers and building an insurmountable lead by halftime. Sydney Shaw led the charge with 19 points and nine rebounds, while Gia Cooke added 18 points in front of a record home crowd of 13,000—the largest ever for a women’s game at their arena.
Defense Sets the Tone
Miami (28-7), the No. 13 seed and Mid-American Conference champions, struggled to handle West Virginia’s aggressive defense. After trailing just 14-11 late in the first quarter, the RedHawks collapsed under a 17-0 Mountaineers run fueled by five turnovers in three minutes.
“It was a domino effect,” said Miami forward Amber Tretter, who finished with 13 points. “Their pressure was unlike anything we’ve faced.”
West Virginia’s Jordan Harrison (15 points, eight assists) and Kierra Wheeler (14 points, nine rebounds) also shined, while the team dominated the paint 48-22 and outrebounded Miami 40-24.
Home Court Advantage
Playing in their first NCAA Tournament home game since 1992, the Mountaineers thrived in front of a raucous crowd. “We fed off that energy,” Harrison said. Head coach Mark Kellogg praised his team’s poise, saying, “I woke up at peace, just excited for the opportunity.”
Even luck seemed to favor West Virginia—Cooke converted a circus shot while falling backward for a three-point play, and Harrison banked in a blind layup to close the third quarter with a 69-41 lead.
Miami’s Tough Exit
The loss ended a historic season for Miami, which set a program record for wins but fell to 0-2 all-time in the NCAA Tournament. Amber Scalia led the RedHawks with 14 points, while Ilse de Vries added 12.
“We ran into a buzzsaw today,” admitted Miami coach Glenn Box. “They hit us with everything.” The defeat followed the Miami men’s team’s first-round exit Friday, halting what had been a dream season for the school.
What’s Next?
West Virginia advances to face fifth-seeded Kentucky on Monday, aiming to secure the program’s first-ever back-to-back NCAA Tournament wins. The Wildcats defeated James Madison earlier Saturday, setting up a high-stakes showdown.
For Miami, the season ends with pride—but for West Virginia, the march toward March Madness glory continues.
— Reported by Nexio News
