College hoops roundup: Gia Cooke hits clutch 3-pointer and No. 15 West Virginia women land in Big 12 Tournament title game
By The Associated Press
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Gia Cooke scored 14 points and her go-ahead 3-pointer in the final minute helped No. 15 West Virginia escape with a 48-47 victory over Colorado in a Big 12 Tournament semifinal on Saturday night.
A 3-pointer by Desiree Wooten gave sixth-seeded Colorado a 45-43 lead with 1:08 remaining in the fourth quarter. On West Virginia's next possession, Cooke's offensive rebound led to her clutch 3-pointer that gave the second-seeded Mountaineers a 46-45 lead with 38 seconds remaining.
After a miss by Colorado, Jordan Harrison made two free throws for a three-point West Virginia lead at 16 seconds. Wooten was then fouled on a 3-point try with two seconds left but made only two free throws. Cooke was fouled immediately but missed both free throws, leaving Colorado one last chance. Instead, a steal by Harrison preserved the win for West Virginia.
The sluggish performance was not indicative of two teams that came into the matchup on a roll. Colorado had won seven of nine games and the Mountaineers had won eight of nine.
Harrison led West Virginia (26-6) with 15 points and Kierra Wheeler contributed 12 points and 10 rebounds.
Zyanna Walker scored 16 points and Wooten 12 off the bench for Colorado (22-11).
West Virginia led 13-12 after one quarter, then neither team made a shot in the final six minutes of a dismal second quarter. The Mountaineers missed their last 10 attempts, the Buffaloes their last six, and the score was 17-17 at halftime.
The Mountaineers opened up a 12-point lead in the third quarter, but missed their last nine shots. Still, they took a 34-30 lead to the fourth quarter.
Up next
West Virginia will play No. 10 TCU in the championship game on Sunday.
Colorado is hoping for an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament.
Fielder scores 23, Boise State knocks off Colorado State 78-67
FORT COLLINS, Colo. (AP) — Drew Fielder had 23 points in Boise State's 78-67 victory over Colorado State in a regular-season finale on Saturday.
Fielder had six rebounds for the Broncos (20-11, 12-8 Mountain West Conference). Dylan Andrews shot 6 of 11 from the field, including 1 for 3 from 3-point range, and went 6 for 6 from the line to add 19 points. Andrew Meadow had 11 points and shot 2 for 7 (1 for 3 from 3-point range) and 6 of 6 from the free-throw line.
Jase Butler led the Rams (20-11, 11-9) in scoring, finishing with 15 points and two steals. Kyle Jorgensen added 14 points and three blocks for Colorado State. The loss snapped the Rams' eight-game winning streak.
Boise State took the lead with 6:11 remaining in the first half and did not trail again. Andrews led the team in scoring with 11 points in the first half to help put them ahead 36-28 at the break. Boise State outscored Colorado State in the second half by three points, with Fielder scoring a team-high 14 points after intermission.
The conference tournament runs Wednesday through Saturday in Las Vegas.
Gores scores 20 off the bench, Wyoming takes down San Jose State 88-78
SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) — Gavin Gores' 20 points off of the bench led Wyoming to an 88-78 victory over San Jose State on Saturday.
Gores added five rebounds for the Cowboys (18-13, 9-11 Mountain West Conference). Damarion Dennis scored 15 points while shooting 5 for 10, including 3 for 5 from beyond the arc, and added six rebounds. Leland Walker had 13 points and shot 4 for 9 (1 for 3 from 3-point range) and 4 of 4 from the free-throw line.
Colby Garland finished with 24 points and five assists for the Spartans (8-23, 3-17). Adrian Myers added 17 points and two blocks for San Jose State. Jermaine Washington finished with 14 points and three steals.
Wyoming took the lead with 18:50 left in the first half and did not trail again. Gores scored 15 points in the first half to help put the Cowboys ahead 49-36 at the break. Wyoming was outscored by San Jose State in the second half by a three-point margin, but still wound up on top. Walker scored all of his 13 points in the second half.
The conference tournament runs Wednesday through Saturday in Las Vegas.
