The Virginia women's basketball team (9-11, 3-6) enters tonight's game poised for revenge against Wake Forest (10-9, 1-8). The Cavaliers are coming off an impressive win against Clemson (11-9, 3-6) at home, avenging their bitter one point road loss to the Tigers earlier this season.
The Cavaliers are pumped and poised to start the latter portion of the season on a good note and hope the momentum will carry through to the ACC tournament.
"It's a good way to start the second part of the season," coach Debbie Ryan said. "Its great to be able to be at home and to be able to win."
Clearly, the Cavaliers have struggled in conference road games, bearing an awful 0-5 record. In contrast, Virginia boasts an impressive 3-1 record for conference games played at U-Hall. Their one home loss was the result of a thrilling one-point defeat at the hands of Duke (20-1, 8-0), then number one in the nation.
The Cavaliers come into tonight's game determined to redeem themselves after a demoralizing 77-66 loss on the road to the Demon Deacons Jan. 5.The loss broke a 49-game winning streak that the Cavaliers enjoyed prior to facing Wake Forest, and has left the Cavaliers hungry for redemption.
"They just beat us and they just took a streak away from us that was 49 games long, do you think I'm going to have to motivate them," Ryan said."I don't think I'm going to have to say a word, I mean I better not have to say a word.I think they've been looking forward to [tonight's] game ever since we were in the locker room at Wake Forest."
The Cavaliers once again will look to sophomore Cherrise Graham to lead the team.The guard has been playing exceptionally well at home during the past three games, scoring 25, 23, and 22 points respectively, and currently leads the team with an average of 15.1 points per game.
Virginia also is hoping that junior Anna Crosswhite -- who came off the bench to provide the lacking momentum in the Cavaliers win over Clemson -- will turn out a similar performance tonight. During the second half of the Clemson win, Crosswhite scored 13 points, including three three-pointers.
"It was fun, it was a great game and we really needed this game," Crosswhite said."I think this is going to be a good start for the second-half of the ACC season and get [us] to the point that when the ACC Tournament comes along, we're really ready for it."
The Deacons come into the game looking for their first win on their road, with their sole conference victory being their win over the Cavaliers.
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