West Virginia Mountaineers head coach Mark Kellogg looks on during the first quarter against the Princeton Tigers of the NCAA first-round game at Carver-Hawkeye Arena. Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports

WVU advances past Princeton

Originally posted on WV Sports Now | By Mike Asti | Last updated 3/23/24

It’s now time for Mark Kellogg and his WVU women’s basketball team to fully focus on Caitlin Clark and Iowa. West Virginia took care of business in their first-round matchup on Saturday night, beating Princeton 63-53.

After trailing 14-11 at the end of the first quarter and then 26-24 going into halftime, JJ Quinerly and the Mountaineers turned it on and never looked back. West Virginia dominated the third quarter, outscoring the Tigers 18-6 in that session.

Entering the fourth quarter with a 42-32 advantage, it was all about holding on for Kellogg’s Mountaineers, especially based on the added pressure his viral comments created for his team.

Beyond Quinerly, who finished with 29 points, seven rebounds and two assists in the game, Jordan Harrison chipped in with 15 points of her own and Kylee Blacksten also reached double digits with 10.

The Mountaineers are on #MarchMadness x ESPN2 / @WVUWBB pic.twitter.com/5sLjUOvPsV

— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessWBB) March 23, 2024

The win advances the Mountaineers one round further than last year’s team and gets the WVU women’s basketball program its first NCAA Tournament win since 2021. But West Virginia’s prize is now a date with the region’s No. 1 seed, Iowa.

If WVU can win again, not only will it get the Mountaineers to the Sweet 16 for the first time in 32 years, but it will do exactly what Kellogg said their goal is – send Clark packing and end her historic college career with an upset loss.

Kellogg addressed what he said about Clark at a watch party for his team on Selection Sunday in the week leading up to the NCAA Tournament tipping off.

This article first appeared on WV Sports Now and was syndicated with permission.

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