Liz Repella scored 27 points leading four players in double figures and West Virginia defeated Coppin State 70-40 in an opening round game of the Women's National Invitation Tournament on Thursday at the West Virginia Coliseum..

 

Repella was 10-of-23 from the floor, but made 6-of-13 three-point attempts to lead the Mountaineers. Ashley Powell had 14 points and Sarah Miles and Takisha Granberry each added 10 points for West Virginia.

 

Coppin State, which concluded its season with a 14-15 overall record, was led by senior Whitney Cunningham who scored 15 points in her final game in a CSU uniform. The Eagles also received seven points from freshman Shinaa Cross and six points each from Shante Cummings and Lakeytah Irving.

 

West Virginia (18-14) advanced to a second round meeting with St. Bonaventure by limiting Coppin State to 28.8 percent shooting from the floor and outrebounding the Eagles 47-38.

 

The Mountaineers took a 38-21 lead at halftime on the strength of 48.4 percent shooting from the field.

 

West Virginia, which never trailed in the game, jumped out to a 10-0 lead as Granberry and Repella each connected on a three-pointer.

 

The Mountaineers increased the lead to 17-2 at the 13:59 mark of the first half on a layup by Powell.

 

The Eagles, who were making their fifth consecutive postseason appearance, countered with back-to-back baskets by Cunningham to climb to within 17-6 with 12:56 to play in the first half.

 

CSU cut the lead to under double figures at 19-10 on a driving layup by Cross with 8:37 to play in the opening period.

 

Johnson knocked down a jumper with 7:40 left in the first half, which cut the West Virginia lead to 21-12 but that would be as close as the Eagles would get for the rest of the game.

 

The Mountaineers stretched the lead to 33-16 with a 12-4 run and took a 38-21 lead into the halftime.

 

Johnson and Cunningham hit back-to-back baskets cutting the lead to 39-25 with 18:17 to play in the game, but West Virginia answered with a 7-0 run to take a 46-25 lead with 15:21 remaining.

 

West Virginia held its largest lead of the contest at 70-36 before Cummings and Cunningham scored the final two baskets of the game.

 

Cunningham, Danielle Anders and Jennifer Martin each made their final appearances in a Coppin State uniform.