MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Led by a double-double from sophomore forward Esmery Martinez, the West Virginia women’s basketball team began its home slate with an 80-51 victory over North Alabama, on Thursday night at the WVU Coliseum, in Morgantown.
With her second double-double of the season, Martinez posted 17 points and grabbed 22 rebounds to become the first Mountaineer to record 15-plus points and 20-plus rebounds in a game since Donna Abbott did so against Rhode Island in 1992. The Hato Mayor Del Ray, Dominican Republic, native also became just one of 15 players in the Big 12 since 1999-2000 to score 17 or more points and grab 22-plus rebounds.
Redshirt senior guard Kysre Gondrezick paced WVU’s scoring efforts with 20 points, while junior guard Madisen Smith also dished out eight assists in the contest.
“Yeah, it’s sloppy,” WVU head coach Mike Carey said. “I hate these kinds of games. We came in here, and we weren’t executing. (We were) sloppy. They were sagging, but part of it is my fault. It’s partially my fault because I told them I don’t want any quick 3s. We were open all night at the 3, but I just didn’t want a bunch to sit there and shoot a bunch of 3s, so we forced some things. Defensively, I let them switch one through four. That’s over. I’ll never let that happen again.We didn’t guard their shooting guard, 14 (North Alabama senior forward Olivia Noah). We didn’t do a good job on her, so those are things we have to get better at. We have a big game Sunday. We can’t worry about this game. We have to move on and get ready for Tennessee on Sunday.
“I thought (sophomore forward) Esmery (Martinez) rebounded the heck out of the ball. She’s a sophomore. She’s only going to continue to get better. I thought (redshirt senior guard) Kysre (Gondrezick) was really efficient. She had 20 points, assists, steals, all that. I thought she was very efficient on that. (Junior guard) Madisen (Smith) had eight assists. We just didn’t have it all night. It was just slow all night. We’ll get ready for Tennessee. We’ve got two days to get ready for Tennessee.”
Gondrezick opened the scoring for the Mountaineers with a lay-up at the 9:31 mark of the first quarter. Deans added a pair at the line before a North Alabama jumper put the visitors on the board. The two teams traded baskets through the middle of the frame, but a pair of North Alabama 3-pointers gave the Lions a 12-8 advantage with 5:43 remaining. West Virginia then went on a 12-1 run to end the first and take a 20-13 lead into the second quarter.
North Alabama ended its scoring drought with a triple to start the second frame, but the Mountaineers responded by adding a pair of 3-pointers of their own from Gondrezick and Smith. Sophomore guard Jayla Hemingway then added two at the foul line, followed by a lay-up from redshirt sophomore guard Rochelle Norris for a 30-16 WVU advantage. Behind a free throw from sophomore guard Kirsten Deans with 3:15 to go, the Mountaineers held on to a double-digit advantage to end the half and take a 40-27 lead into the locker room.
A lay-up from Deans opened second-half scoring for WVU, before Martinez and Niblack connected on a pair of jumpers. Niblack then added a pair of lay-ups, as well as one at the line, to put WVU ahead 53-29 with 3:57 remaining. The Mountaineers’ defense held the Lions to just eight points in the third quarter, giving WVU a 56-35 lead heading into the final frame.
The Lions opened the fourth quarter with a lay-up and a trio of free throws to cut into the WVU lead, but the Mountaineers ultimately went on to take the victory 80-51.
Up next, the Mountaineers welcome Tennessee to Morgantown at 2 p.m. on Sunday as part of the Big 12/SEC Challenge.
