MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — West Virginia University women’s basketball defeated Miami (Ohio) 82-54 in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Thursday, March 21, 2026, at the WVU Coliseum. The victory marked the Mountaineers’ first home NCAA Tournament game in three decades, drawing a crowd of 13,504 – the largest attendance for a women’s basketball game in the Coliseum’s history.
Despite NCAA regulations prohibiting the display of team traditions like playing “Country Roads” after a win or showcasing sponsor branding, the atmosphere was electric. West Virginia head coach Mark Kellogg acknowledged the unique energy of the home crowd, stating, “It met what the expectation would be… That was certainly one of [the goals] when we took over three years ago.”
The Mountaineers capitalized on the home-court advantage from the opening tip-off. Guard Jordan Harrison and forward Kierra Wheeler both expressed their astonishment at the sheer number of fans in attendance. “Can you believe this?” Harrison asked Shaw during warm-ups, while Wheeler noted the excitement generated by fans filling even the highest seats in the arena.
Miami (Ohio) head coach Glenn Box had anticipated a hostile environment and encouraged his team to embrace the challenge. While he stated his team wasn’t phased by the crowd, the RedHawks were visibly met with boos as they entered the court. Miami forward Ilse de Vries even described the negative reaction as “motivation.”
West Virginia quickly established control of the game, fueled by the enthusiastic crowd. Shaw’s early and-1 plays ignited the fans, and the Mountaineers maintained a double-digit lead for the majority of the contest. WVU shot over 50% from the field and connected on seven 3-pointers, further energizing the home audience. Kellogg actively encouraged the crowd to amplify the energy during key moments, and they responded with a deafening roar.
Kellogg reflected on the significance of the win, stating, “What a great environment… It was electric. It was everything I think you aim for.” He also emphasized the challenge of replicating that energy in the second round, where West Virginia will face No. 5-seeded Kentucky on Monday, March 23, at 5 p.m.
The coach expressed hope for a similar turnout for the next game, adding, “Let’s run it back Monday, maybe.” He described hosting an NCAA Tournament game at home as a “really, really special” achievement, one he had envisioned since taking the job in 2023.
