CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- West Virginia State University women's basketball team opened their non-conference slate with an electrifying performance, building an early lead and maintaining momentum to secure a decisive victory over West Chester in the MEC/PSAC Challenge at the Wehrle Innovation Center at the University of Charleston. Behind an outstanding first-quarter effort that saw multiple three-pointers and defensive stops, the Yellow Jackets moved to 1-0, while West Chester fell to 0-1.

West Virginia State forced an astounding 43 turnovers, converting them into 40 points, and tallied 32 steals as part of a relentless defensive effort. Leading the charge offensively was Shanley Woods, who erupted for 26 points on near-perfect shooting, going 9-of-10 from the field and 8-of-9 from beyond the arc. The Yellow Jackets also dominated on the boards, with Emyah Fortenberry securing a game-high 17 rebounds (six offensive) to go with her 12 points. Baylee Goins chipped in 13 points, hitting three of six three-pointers, while Latisha Parris contributed across the board with six points, four rebounds, three assists, and three steals.

WVSU's balanced attack featured 64 points off the bench and 43 points in transition, showcasing their depth and pace. They shot 40% from the field, including an impressive 39% from long range (16-of-41), and converted 76.2% of their free throws (16-of-21).

West Chester was led by Michelle Kozicki, who tallied 17 points, seven rebounds, and four assists, and Erin Daley, who matched Kozicki with 17 points while adding seven rebounds and four steals. Anna McTamney rounded out the Golden Rams' top performers with 11 points and three rebounds. Despite their efforts, the Golden Rams struggled to keep pace with the Yellow Jackets' aggressive tempo and efficient scoring, shooting just 37.1% from the field and 24% from three-point range.

West Virginia State opened the game with strong defensive intensity, forcing an early turnover by Ava Mazur and setting the tone for a high-energy start. Despite losing the ball on their first possession, the Yellow Jackets capitalized moments later when Hallie Bailey's steal led to a scoring opportunity. After an initial offensive struggle, West Chester's McTamney broke the deadlock with a fast-break jumper, assisted by Bella Mazur, and converted the and-one free throw to give the visitors a 3-0 lead.

WVSU responded quickly as Kenly Rogers knocked down a three-pointer off an assist from Bailey, tying the score at 3-3. West Chester regained the lead on a paint jumper from Daley, assisted by Mazur, but the Yellow Jackets started to find their rhythm. Substitutions at the 8:42 mark brought fresh energy, highlighted by Fortenberry's inside jumper to knot the score at 5-5. A turnover by McTamney allowed Goins to secure a steal and set up Woods for a transition three-pointer, giving WVSU their first lead at 8-5.

Kozicki's jumper brought West Chester back within one, but Woods drained her second triple of the quarter to extend WVSU's lead to 11-7. A flurry of turnovers ensued as both teams battled for control. Parris's hustle earned her two free throws, which she calmly sank, pushing the lead to 13-9. McTamney responded for West Chester, hitting a pair of free throws after drawing contact inside.

As the quarter progressed, Woods continued her hot shooting, nailing another three-pointer off an assist from Emily Anthony to make it 16-9. Fortenberry's defensive rebound set up another scoring opportunity, and she later added two free throws to cap an impressive first-quarter stretch for WVSU, giving the Yellow Jackets an 18-14 advantage heading into the second period.

The second quarter began with West Chester narrowing the gap as Kozicki scored on consecutive possessions—a jumper and a fast-break layup—to cut the deficit to 41-25. However, West Virginia State struggled offensively early in the period, committing turnovers and missing several contested shots. The Golden Rams capitalized further when Alainna Hopta's offensive rebound led to a second-chance layup, trimming the Yellow Jackets' lead to 41-27.

West Virginia State's struggles continued as Latifat Olatunji was called for a shooting foul, allowing McTamney to convert both free throws. Substitutions by WVSU brought Woods and Anthony back into the game, and the fresh legs made an immediate impact. Woods drained a three-pointer off a fast break, assisted by Parris, extending WVSU's lead to 44-29 at the 8:06 mark.

West Chester's defense tightened, forcing back-to-back personal fouls on Woods and Goins. Despite a missed three-pointer by Bella Mazur, the Golden Rams retained possession after an offensive rebound but failed to convert on their ensuing attempts. WVSU countered with strong defensive rebounding from Fortenberry, who also blocked a jumper by Sofia Coleman.

Hopta kept West Chester in the game, hitting a clutch three-pointer at 6:29 to make it 44-32. WVSU responded with Bailey, who created opportunities on both ends but struggled to finish at the rim. After another defensive stand, West Chester continued to chip away as Hopta scored a jumper, cutting the lead to 44-34 with 5:23 left in the quarter. Despite their efforts, WVSU maintained their composure, highlighted by a strong defensive rebound from Olatunji to close the half.

Both teams battled through turnovers and missed opportunities, with WVSU holding a slight edge in defensive stops. A media timeout at the five-minute mark provided a reset for both squads, with the Yellow Jackets clinging to their lead.

The Yellow Jackets leaned on their defensive prowess, forcing seven turnovers and securing 11 defensive rebounds. Woods continued her hot hand, hitting a crucial three-pointer at the 4:22 mark, assisted by Anthony, to push the lead to double digits. Goins added a defensive rebound and a layup off a fast break, furthering WVSU's momentum.

Parris shone on both ends, contributing a steal and finishing a fast-break layup at the 3:33 mark, while Fortenberry converted a layup off another assist from Anthony, who racked up multiple helpers in the frame. Despite a late three-pointer from Rogers and a driving layup by Bailey, West Chester showed resilience with strong offensive rebounding, including key contributions from Ava Mazur and Daley. The Rams managed to trim the deficit with free throws, but WVSU's defensive blocks, including one by Olatunji at 1:32, kept the visitors at bay.

The third quarter saw West Virginia State come out strong, leveraging their defensive pressure to create opportunities on the offensive end. Woods set the tone with a three-pointer at 6:30, assisted by Anthony, extending the Yellow Jackets' lead to 61-45. WVSU forced several turnovers early in the period, highlighted by steals from Anthony and Woods, as they disrupted West Chester's attempts to close the gap.

Daley provided a bright spot for the Golden Rams with a three-pointer at 6:01, but WVSU responded swiftly, including a pull-up jumper by Ahjanae Young at 5:28. With their defensive intensity and efficient ball movement, the Yellow Jackets continued to control the pace as they approached the media timeout with a comfortable lead.

After the media timeout, West Virginia State continued to dominate the third quarter, capitalizing on turnovers and converting in transition. Bailey scored a fast-break jumper at 3:58, assisted by Rogers, extending the lead to 68-48. Zakorrah Russell added to the momentum with two free throws at 3:24 after drawing a foul during a strong defensive sequence.

WVSU's defensive pressure was relentless, as steals by Goins and Bailey led to fast-break layups, pushing the lead further. Daley managed a pair of free throws for West Chester, but the Golden Rams struggled to find offensive rhythm, hampered by turnovers and missed shots. A late steal and layup by Bailey capped the quarter, giving the Yellow Jackets a commanding 80-52 lead entering the final period.

West Virginia State played a controlled final quarter, maintaining their substantial lead while keeping West Chester at bay. Both teams scored 16 points in the period, but WVSU's consistent defensive pressure and timely scoring secured their dominance.

Key moments included Anthony and Goins combining for crucial offensive rebounds, while Ashley Kerekes added a strong inside presence with a layup midway through the quarter. Bailey and Woods provided vital defensive stops and fast-break opportunities, keeping the Golden Rams' offense in check.

Despite West Chester's late effort, highlighted by Daley's three-pointer and Kyla Glasser-Hyman's inside play, turnovers and missed free throws hindered their ability to mount a comeback. A late three-pointer from Ava Mazur brought the score closer, but WVSU's earlier lead proved insurmountable.

The Yellow Jackets sealed the game with their balanced scoring and teamwork, earning a decisive 96-68 victory.

State will next play the final game of the Conference Challenge on Sunday, Nov. 10 at 4:00 p.m. against Shepherd University at the Wherle Innovation Center.