The secret ingredient for the Virginia women's basketball team Sunday against Duke was not its usual precision shooting or even its reliable free throw percentage. The three-point shots weren't falling, only 2-of-14 found their mark. Overall field goal percentage hovered around a dismal 37 percent. Even free throws down the stretch were troublesome, leaving the Cavs free throw average at 59 percent.
So how did the now-No. 24-ranked Cavaliers conquer the then-No. 9-ranked Blue Devils?
The Cavs' magic ingredient was hard-nosed defense. Virginia scored 17 points off of 15 Duke turnovers in the first half. The Devils average slightly above 18 turnovers per game but finished with 25 Sunday, thanks to the Cavaliers' pressure.
"I thought the turnovers were the difference in the first half," Virginia Coach Debbie Ryan said following the battle for first place.
Our main focus was "not to give up any threes," Ryan said. "Our main goal was to limit their three-point shooting and make them score either off the move or driving to the basket."
The Cavs achieved their goals by dominating Duke's powerful shooting offense. Before Sunday's game, Duke's 45 percent shooting average placed them second in the ACC, and its three-point percentage was first at 38 percent. Virginia limited the Blue Devils' three-point shooting to just 17 percent and overall shooting to a measly 31 percent.
It was "a very, very strong defensive effort," Ryan said. "I just can't say enough about how hard they worked to get to this point."
Some will say that Duke's dismal shooting performance was a result of the absence of Peppi Browne, who missed the game due to a possible ligament injury. However, Georgia Schweitzer did play. Schweitzer, who is ranked third in individual scoring for the ACC, was held to only 11 points. It was the Cavs in-your-face, arm-waving defense that rocked Duke's top scorer, not Browne's absence.
Steals were another key to Sunday's landmark victory. The Blue Devils were unable to protect the rock, and allowed the Cavs to take it away nine times.
"I don't know how many times we were able to step in the passing lane and take the ball away," Ryan said.
This victorious battle won back the confidence that the Cavs lost in Durham last December.
"We were definitely ready to play," fourth-year forward Lisa Hosac said. "We were excited because they beat us pretty bad" earlier in the season.
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