The Library Media — Sports · Sports Desk
Cooke Reaches 1,000 Points as No. 24 West Virginia Closes Out Northwestern, 66-53
By Megan McCarthy
Photo: Sphilbrick / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)
WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, West Virginia — Gia Cooke reached a career milestone, and No. 24 West Virginia finished the game with a defensive surge, pulling away from Northwestern for a 66-53 victory at Colonial Hall at The Greenbrier in the Greenbrier Tipoff.
Cooke scored a game-high 22 points, making 10 of 12 free throws, and added six rebounds and three assists. She reached 1,000 career points on a layup with 3:04 remaining, according to West Virginia Athletics.
The Mountaineers improved to 4-0 and never trailed. They led 36-30 at halftime, but Northwestern made its push in the second half, tying the game at 51-51 with about 4:30 left.
West Virginia answered by taking control of the final minutes. The Mountaineers won the fourth quarter 20-9 and closed on a 15-2 run over the final 3:52. Northwestern went without a field goal during that stretch and did not score over the final 2:45.
The defensive pressure was central to the finish. West Virginia forced 22 turnovers and converted them into 23 points, according to the Associated Press and West Virginia Athletics. The Mountaineers forced five turnovers in the final two minutes as Northwestern’s opportunity to complete the comeback disappeared.
Zahirah Walton scored 16 points and contributed six steals and three assists for West Virginia. Khyala Ngodu added 10 points, while Skylar Forbes finished with seven points, six rebounds, three blocks and three steals.
Camdyn Nelson led Northwestern with 12 points. Casey Harter scored 10, and Lily Carmody added nine.
The final margin was 13, but the game was tied with less than five minutes remaining. West Virginia’s closing defense turned that deadlock into a comfortable finish, while Cooke’s milestone gave the win another marker.
The Mountaineers left the Greenbrier Tipoff unbeaten at 4-0, having controlled the game from the opening lead and delivered their strongest stretch when Northwestern threatened.
Megan McCarthy
Women’s College Basketball, The Library Media
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