In a remarkable display of resilience, the West Virginia women’s basketball team defeated No. 15 Duke 57-49 after six players were ejected in a first-half scuffle, forcing the Mountaineers to play the entire second half with only five players. This stunning upset unfolded at Colonial Hall in The Greenbrier Resort in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia, during the opener of The Greenbrier Tip-Off series, captivating a home crowd that rallied behind the shorthanded squad.
The game was tightly contested in the first half, with Duke holding a 23-20 lead as time expired. However, the momentum shifted dramatically when a confrontation erupted between West Virginia’s Jordan Harrison and Duke’s Jordan Wood. After Wood blocked Harrison’s shot and taunted her, Harrison responded with a shove, sparking a brief on-court fracas that drew in other players from both teams.
In the aftermath, officials ejected Harrison and Wood for their roles in the altercation, while five additional West Virginia players—Gia Cooke, Carter McCray, Madison Parrish, Kierra Wheeler, and Jordan Thomas—were tossed for leaving the bench area during the incident. This left the Mountaineers with just five eligible players for the remainder of the game, all of whom had to avoid foul trouble and fatigue without any substitutions.
Despite the daunting challenge, West Virginia emerged from halftime with renewed energy, outscoring Duke 24-9 in the third quarter to seize control. Sydney Shaw, the only starter not ejected, led the charge with a team-high 16 points and seven rebounds, playing nearly the entire game and sinking critical free throws down the stretch. Senior forward Célia Rivière also delivered a standout performance, tying career highs with 12 points and eight rebounds while providing crucial defense and passing.
Duke, ranked 15th nationally, struggled offensively throughout the contest, shooting just 38% from the field and 17% from three-point range. The Blue Devils’ scoring was led by Taina Mair with 10 points, but key players like Toby Fournier were held in check, highlighting their ongoing offensive inconsistencies after a previous loss to Baylor.
As the game entered its final minutes, West Virginia’s fatigue became apparent, but Shaw’s composure at the free-throw line—where she made five consecutive shots—secured the victory. The win improved the Mountaineers’ record to 4-0, while Duke fell to 2-2, raising questions about their ability to compete against resilient opponents.
After the game, West Virginia coach Mark Kellogg praised his team’s unity and determination, calling it one of the most memorable wins of his career. The incident underscores the unpredictable nature of sports and sets the stage for both teams’ continued play in the tournament, with West Virginia gaining momentum and Duke seeking to address its vulnerabilities.
