Entering the season this year, the Virginia women's basketball team counted their depth as a strength. Unfortunately, that depth has been diminished in the past few games.
The Cavaliers have lost three scholarship players, leaving them with only nine on the roster. Center Siedah Williams suffered a leg injury in the Cavaliers' loss to South Dakota State in the opening round of the Junkanoo Jam Tournament.
"Well, she's not good," Virginia coach Debbie Ryan said of Williams's injury, "It could be a fracture, so that's really what they're concerned about right now. She couldn't go today, and it's not a good situation. We're just going to have to wait and see."
Virginia has also lost Denesha Kenion and Takisha Granberry from the team for undisclosed reasons.
"It's been very tough," Ryan said of the absences, "We started with Aisha [Mohammed] going down. You start with your center going down. We're expecting freshmen to step up all the time. They're not even through the first semester, and they're really struggling with handling such big roles. That's really been a problem. We just can't seem to get Monica [Wright] on track. It's tough; it's a lot of stuff you have to deal with."
In the wake of these losses, Virginia is turning to its senior guards Brenna McGuire and Tara McKnight for leadership. McGuire has shown flashes of leadership potential, with her four second-half three-pointers in Virginia's 76-47 win over the Central Florida Golden Knights Saturday.
"It just hit me a little bit more that we only have about eight players," McGuire said. "Everybody has to step up, and I just wasn't stepping up. I think today I did a good job of it, but I just have to make that consistent."
Though McKnight did not have a stellar day against the Golden Knights, the team believes she has the intangibles needed to contribute in the other players' absences.
"We have great leadership, and Tara's one of our captains," Ryan said. "It's hard to get elected captain as a walk-on. I think she's established the respect of everyone on our team. Whether it be the veteran players or the young players, Tara's a player that everyone loves and wants to be on the court. The harder we play, the more likely it is that she gets on the court. It's sort of a team thing. Tara's provided us with great leadership, along with Sharnee [Zoll] and Siedah [Williams]."
Some of the team's younger players also may have to step up in the team's time of need. Sophomore forward Lynda Littles was named to the All-Tournament Team at the Junkanoo Jam after her double-double against Central Florida. Littles especially will be expected to carry a heavy load with Williams injured. She is tied for second on the team in minutes and leads the team in points per game.
Virginia's next game Wednesday will be a tough one, as the Cavaliers face the Temple Owls, who have won the last three Atlantic 10 Championships. The Owls are coached by former Cavalier legend Dawn Staley. Staley holds Virginia's all-time records for career points, scoring average and assists, as well as the single-season record for assists.
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