West Virginia University's Women's Basketball team showcased an extraordinary display of defensive prowess against Temple on Sunday. Playing on ESPN 2 to a national audience, the No. 15 Mountaineers' full court pressure tactics left the Temple Owls flustered, resulting in 17 turnovers on 11 steals by WVU. This dominant performance led to a resounding 68 - 46 win and improved the team's record to 10 - 1.

Unleashing Defense's Power - WVU's Sunday Victory

Opening Minutes - Offense in Disarray, Defense on Point

The opening minutes of the game witnessed a chaotic offensive display from West Virginia. The Mountaineers committed two turnovers within the first three minutes, indicating some initial struggles. However, on the defensive end, it was business as usual. The Temple Owls found it extremely difficult to handle WVU's full court pressure, setting the tone for the rest of the game.Despite the early turnovers, WVU's defense was unwavering. They forced all of Temple's five turnovers in the first quarter, grabbing four steals and even forcing a shot clock violation. This aggressive defensive approach kept the Owls at bay, although Temple managed to keep up with six turnovers of their own and shot just 5 - 18 from the field in the period.

Second Quarter - Efficiency and Pressure

Entering the second quarter with a 16 - 13 lead, West Virginia upped their game. They shot 5 - 13 from the field, increasing their efficiency and maintained the pressure on Temple. This led to a significant lead of 31 - 21 at halftime.Jordan Harrison and Kyah Watson were the standout players in the first half. Harrison ran the team's offense superbly, scoring eight points on 3 - 7 shooting from the field and 2 - 4 from three-point range, while also dishing out three assists. Watson was a force at the rim, grabbing six defensive rebounds for a total of eight rebounds. She also scored six points and stole the ball once.

Second Half - Pacing Up and Scoring

The second half saw both teams pick up the pace. West Virginia led 52 - 36 at the end of the third quarter, as both teams had their most productive quarters. The Mountaineers' defense continued to be a force to be reckoned with, while the offense started to find its rhythm.By the end of the game, Kyah Watson emerged as the leading scorer with 15 points and a double-double with 10 rebounds, along with two steals and a block. Célia Rivière also made a significant impact with a season-best 12 points and eight rebounds in just 20 minutes. She also grabbed a steal and a block.

Perimeter Struggles and Team Versatility

WVU struggled from the perimeter, shooting 9 - 25 from three-point range. Their usual top scorer, JJ Quinerly, had a tough game, knocking down just three shots in nine attempts to finish with 11 points. Fellow guards Sydney Shaw and Jordan Harrison scored 10 and 11 points respectively, but Shaw shot just 2 - 9 from three.However, the team's versatility and consistent defense were key factors in their victory. Mark Kellogg's squad was able to adapt and overpower Temple. The Owls had just one scorer in double digits, senior guard Tiarra East, who made six free throws and two threes for 12 points on 2 - 12 shooting from the field.WVU will now be looking ahead to their first conference game against Colorado on Saturday. Tip-off is set for 8 p.m. ET in Boulder, Colorado.Photo by Korey Moore, Blue Gold Sports