The Cavalier women's basketball team opens their 2004 season this weekend. Virginia will face off against UNC Greensboro in their season opener tonight and will face Virginia Tech Sunday at 1 p.m. in the Hokies' first road contest.
Virginia is ranked 24th in the USA Today/ESPN coaches preseason poll and 25th in the Associated Press media preseason poll. This season is highly anticipated since Virginia finished 17-14 overall and third in the ACC last season.
Virginia opened their 2003 season with a 63-65 upset at No. 22 Old Dominion. They went on to post an 11-2 (7-1 ACC) record at home. The Cavaliers go into this season nationally ranked and open their season at home.
"This team is ready to hit the floor," Virginia coach Debbie Ryan said. "This team has worked harder, physically and emotionally, so I don't think we have any excuses."
Despite falling to Premier Players 88-81, in exhibition action, the team feels that they learned from the experience and will prove themselves in the regular season.
"It was our first try around, and we made mistakes, no doubt," freshman forward Alisa Wulff. "Hopefully we can learn from them and compete real hard like we do in practice every day, and hopefully we'll be ready for Greensboro."
The Cavaliers used the exhibition game to allow young players to gain game experience. Three of the veterans were sidelined with injuries: Junior swingman LaTonya Blue, sophomore captain Tiffany Sardin and junior forward Jocelyn Logan-Friend. Both Blue and Sardin are expected to return soon, while Logan-Friend continues to recover from knee surgery.
With the loss of Cherrise Graham, Virginia's leading scorer last season, the Cavalier lineup has a new look.
"Different players are going to have to step up," Ryan said. "We're going to have to get more broad-based scoring. I think the post game is going to have to give us more points."
The Cavaliers seem to have an appropriate mix of leadership from experienced players and freshman providing new talent. Junior Brandi Teamer provided guidance for new players while providing the Cavaliers with 35 points and 17 rebounds last Friday. Freshman Siedah Williams stepped up as the only other player to record double digits, with 10 points. Other freshmen played well including Brenna McGuire and Wulff, who got the start in the exhibition.
The Cavaliers will face off against the Spartans in their season opener tonight at home. Tip off is set for 7:30 p.m. at University Hall.
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