Coming off of a 92-69 loss to Ohio State in the semifinals of the Preseason WNIT, the West Virginia women’s basketball team wanted a strong performance to rebuild its confidence.
After beating Iowa and Nevada to win the Nugget Classic Championship Saturday, that’s exactly what it got.
It is the second consecutive year West Virginia has won a Thanksgiving tournament; the Mountaineers won the Dead River Company Classic hosted by Maine last season.
Four Mountaineers finished in double-figure scoring, led by Asya Bussie’s first career double-double, to help WVU down Nevada in the title game, 66-41.
Bussie, a freshman, finished with 16 points and 12 rebounds, earning her tournament MVP honors.
Point guard Sarah Miles, who was named to the all-tournament team, finished with 15 points, seven assists and four rebounds while both Korinne Campbell and Liz Repella finished with 10 points and nine rebounds each.
After being tied at nine, West Virginia went on a 10-0 run and hung on for a 35-19 halftime lead.
The Mountaineers would then cruise in the second half, despite continuing their struggles from behind the arc.
West Virginia shot just 4-for-21 throughout the tournament for 3-point land. Repella, who was second on the team in three-point shooting last season, was 1-for-8.
The Mountaineers host Radford Wednesday at the WVU Coliseum.
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