West Virginia's defense challenges North Carolina in tournament

West Virginia will face third-seeded North Carolina in the second round of the NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament. West Virginia's strong defense has made them tough to beat. They are known for their aggressive full-court press, which creates many turnovers for their opponents. North Carolina coach Courtney Banghart mentioned that her team has faced various challenges during the season. She believes that their experiences will help them against West Virginia. The Mountaineers are currently leading the Big 12 and rank high nationally in forcing turnovers. West Virginia has a reputation for intense defense, as shown in their last game where they forced Columbia into 25 turnovers. The players enjoy this style of play. Guard JJ Quinerly said it is fun for them to create turnovers and score easy points. Meanwhile, North Carolina has been tested this season as well. They have had close games, like a recent overtime win against Duke. Banghart sees similarities between West Virginia's style and that of other teams they have faced, like Louisville. However, she acknowledges that West Virginia is unique and presents its own challenges. North Carolina is looking for their first Sweet 16 appearance since 2022, after defeating Oregon State in the first round. West Virginia, on the other hand, has not reached the Sweet 16 since 1992. Mountaineers coach Mark Kellogg knows the importance of this game but emphasizes that they will take it one step at a time. Interestingly, West Virginia is one of the smaller teams in the tournament. Most of their starters are under 5-foot-10. In contrast, North Carolina boasts taller players. Kellogg is confident that his team can compete despite this size disadvantage, drawing on their experiences in the Big 12.