The Mountaineers earned their second win over the UFF Knights by a score of 74-62 on Wednesday night in Orlando at Addition Financial Arena. The Mountaineers went into the half trailing, but battled back for a comfortable win.

Here are some instant takeaways from West Virginia women’s hoops’ 23rd win of the season.

West Virginia Proves They Can Overcome Slow Starts

It was a very slow first half for the Mountaineers. West Virginia trailed 27-25 at halftime, but came out in the third quarter firing on all cylinders. Within the first minute of the third quarter, the Mountaineers had regained the lead off of a Gia Cooke layup and a tough finish inside by Carter McCray.

West Virginia went on to have a 31-9 run in the third quarter, leading by as many as 21 to propel them to victory. The way that the Mountaineers were able to regroup and go on a run in the second half shows that this team is built to win in many ways. They have depth at guard in particular that can keep them in the game against almost any team in the nation.

The Mountaineers Have Depth Everywhere

When the Mountaineers came out of the second half, it ended up being guards Gia Cooke and Jordan Harrison who led the way, scoring the ball. Harrison, who scored 16 points against UCF, in particular, has displayed through her three seasons at West Virginia that she fits perfectly into head coach Mark Kellogg’s defensive style of basketball. Harrison has also been molded into a solid offensive player. Cooke leads the team in points per game and leads the team with 19 points tonight. When the Mountaineers need a bucket, they can count on the experience of Cooke and Harrison down the stretch.

Meme Wheeler and Carter McCray had nearly identical stat lines that included 12 points and 7 rebounds each. Having Wheeler and McCray capable of rebounding with just about anybody in the Big 12 is part of what West Virginia has been missing during Kellogg’s tenure. This truly does feel like the most complete team of the Kellogg era thus far.

The win moves West Virginia to 14-4 in Big 12 play and 24-6 overall. The Mountaineers sit behind only TCU in the Big 12, with Baylor a game back and WVU owning the head-to-head victory over the Bears. Kellogg and his crew will finish their 2025-26 regular season campaign on Sunday against the Cincinnati Bearcats at Hope Coliseum. The game will be broadcast on ESPN+ with tipoff scheduled for 1 p.m.

CHARLESTON, W.Va. –The West Virginia Department of Transportation is making it easier for motorists to stay informed about construction underway in the Kanawha Valley as crews begin work on dozens of bridge rehabilitation projects.

Department officials unveiled a new website Tuesday designed to keep the public informed about construction and rehabilitation efforts tied to the Charleston Metro Projects program, which will highlight more than 50 planned and active projects.

Division of Highways spokesperson Brent Walker said with the site now live; the agency can begin sharing up-to-date information with motorists.

“It will really just allow us to just get the information out to the public, because it does include the Fort Hill bridge and the Montrose bridges, those are a part of the larger bridge initiative,” Walker said.

According to a WVDOT release, the website will allow motorists too:
– see an overview of a project and its goal
– shows an interactive map with location specific details
– info on the types of repairs or replacements planned at each site
– shows expected construction schedules and anticipated timelines
– traffic management plans, including detours, if necessary
– resources for real-time travel information during construction

Currently, crews have already begun work on the Montrose Drive Bridge and the First and Second Avenue bridges in South Charleston. The Eugene A. Carter Memorial Bridge, also known as the Fort Hill Bridge in Charleston, is expected to be under construction beginning in 2027.

Walker said when work begins on the Fort Hill Bridge, it will most likely be the only bridge crews focus on at that time in order to get it completed as quickly as possible.

“Because of the impacts that will have on the Capitol City, it will probably be a standalone, but as that is happening, we will begin communicating what’s up next which will be 50 plus bridges just in and around the City of Charleston,” he said.

Walker said the new website and the broader plan to address dozens of bridges are part of an initiative focused on the state’s aging infrastructure, driven in part by a push from Gov. Patrick Morrisey.

He said it’s been a long time coming.

“For the last couple of years, we’ve made a list, we’ve been trying to secure money,” Walker said.

Walker also said the department is committed to keeping the website up to date, emphasizing that clear and consistent communication is critical for projects of this scale.

“It’s important that we continue to let the traveling public know the kind of work that’s happening on these bridges, give them schedules, so the type of work, schedules, I think that allows them to make better choices when they’re traveling through Charleston and the Kanawha Valley,” he said.