GREENSBORO, N.C. --Field goal percentage -- not the opposing team-- proved to be the greatest antagonist to the Virginia women's basketball team in the ACC Tournament, as the Cavaliers shot a dismal 21.7 percent from the field in their 64-45 season-ending loss to North Carolina last week in Greensboro, N.C.
Virginia (13-16) displayed its poorest shooting performance of the season against the Tar Heels, converting on only 4-30 attempts in the first half for 13.3 percent.
"We got really good shots, especially in the first half," Virginia coach Debbie Ryan said. "We just weren't able to put them down. We were missing shots that we routinely make. We just couldn't put the ball in the basket enough times."
Perhaps even more frustrating for the Cavaliers than their poor shooting performance was that North Carolina wasn't playing to its potential either. The Tar Heels committed 26 turnovers in the game, with 12 coming in the first half. North Carolina shot only 30 percent from the field in the opening 20 minutes, but still held a 10-point lead at the half.
Virginia junior forward LaTonya Blue scored 10 points and freshman forward Siedah Williams contributed 10 points and eight rebounds. Senior guard Anna Prillaman led the Cavalier offense with 11 points, but shot only 3-16 from the floor, with all three baskets coming from behind the arc.
"Carolina was right there on every shot I took," Prillaman said. Candace "Sutton was contesting my shot, even [Ivory] Latta and [Leah] Metcalf. It was definitely them that beat us and not necessarily us that beat ourselves."
Despite their solid defense and rebounding, Virginia's lack of offensive production held the game out of reach.
"We did a good job on the boards today for the most part, getting 18 or 19 offensive rebounds," Ryan said. "We were really forcing turnovers today too, but we just couldn't finish for some reason."
The Cavaliers started out hot on offense, taking an early 7-2 lead in the opening three minutes on baskets by Blue, Jocelyn Logan-Friend and a three-pointer by Prillaman.
But Virginia failed to score another field goal in nearly the next 10 minutes, allowing the Tar Heels to catch up and take the lead. Prillaman's second three of the game
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