West Virginia Triumphs Over Duke Despite Seven Ejections in Heated Game
In a wild twist, the West Virginia women’s basketball team toppled No. 11 Duke, 57-49, on a Friday night that nobody in Colonial Hall will forget. The game exploded into chaos right before halftime, with a scuffle that led to seven ejections.
West Virginia lost its entire bench, but the remaining five players pulled together. They somehow found a way to win, showing grit and unity that you just don’t see every day.
Game Overview: A Night of High Drama
Table of Contents
Duke held a slim 23-20 lead at halftime. Tensions boiled over when Duke forward Jordan Wood blocked a three-point attempt by West Virginia guard Jordan Harrison.
Wood shouted, “Let’s go,” at Harrison, which kicked off a physical altercation. Harrison shoved Wood, and suddenly both teams were pushing and shoving.
Officials handed both Wood and Harrison Flagrant 2 fouls for fighting, ejecting them from the game. Duke’s Ashlon Jackson and Ari Roberson picked up Flagrant 1 fouls for jumping into the fray.
Things escalated fast. West Virginia’s entire bench stormed the court, and five more Mountaineers got tossed.
Impact of the Ejections
West Virginia played the whole second half with just five players. No subs. That sounds brutal, but somehow, they outscored Duke 24-9 in the third quarter and took control.
The Mountaineers led by as many as 15 points with just over four minutes left, holding on without a single substitution.
Key Players and Performances
Sydney Shaw was the star for West Virginia. She played 38 minutes, racking up 16 points, seven rebounds, and three assists.
Shaw’s free throws down the stretch iced the win, shutting down Duke’s late push.
West Virginia’s Resilience
Head coach Mark Kellogg couldn’t hide his pride after the game. “Disappointed in the ending of the half. I think we are better than that, we are going to learn a huge lesson,” he said.
He praised his five remaining players, calling the win one of the best moments of his career.
Duke’s Struggles
Duke just couldn’t get going. They shot only 38% from the field and hit just 2-of-12 from beyond the arc.
Guard Taina Mair was the lone Blue Devil in double figures, with 10 points, four rebounds, and four assists.
Missed Opportunities
Ashlon Jackson, who got tangled up in the halftime chaos, finished with nine points and six assists. Still, she couldn’t spark a turnaround.
Duke couldn’t take advantage of West Virginia’s thin lineup, and it cost them. Their record dropped to 2-2.
Aftermath and Reactions
The whole night left a mark on both teams and their fans. West Virginia’s players belted out John Denver’s “Take Me Home, Country Roads” after the win, a perfect nod to their roots.
The victory gave them a boost and showed everyone just how tough they can be when things get rough.
Learning from the Experience
Coach Kellogg talked about learning from the chaos and moving forward. “I think we’ve seen it in sports where things like that happen and you rally together,” he said.
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Duke faces some tough questions now. They’ll need to regroup, shoot better, and keep their cool if they want to bounce back.
Conclusion
The West Virginia vs. Duke game turned into one of those wild college basketball nights you just don’t forget. Nobody really saw it coming, but West Virginia’s players pushed through a mess of challenges and somehow pulled off the upset.
Even with all the chaos, they showed grit and a kind of stubborn resilience you can’t help but respect. If you want a deeper dive into every twist and turn, check out the full article on USA Today.