For the Virginia women's basketball team, the past two weeks have been forgettable. The Cavaliers are on a four-game losing skid, but could bring their struggles to a halt this weekend as they host two ACC opponents. Tonight the Cavaliers will face the No. 1 Blue Devils who are undefeated (22-0, 7-0 ACC) on the season. Sunday, Virginia will take on Miami, which by contrast, is at the bottom of the conference (10-12, 1-6 ACC).
Virginia has lost its last four games against conference opponents, falling 63-47 to Florida State in its most recent game. The Cavaliers dropped to 12-9 overall and 2-5 in the ACC, but have the opportunity to reverse their fortunes and potentially make headlines by defeating the Blue Devils. Tonight's game opens up a four-game homestretch, which works to Virginia's advantage in trying to end its current streak. At home this season, the Cavaliers are 9-3 (2-1 in the ACC), but the road has not been as friendly to them. Away from Charlottesville, they have gone 3-6 overall, 0-4 in the ACC.
"We let a lot go at home, conference and non-conference," junior guard Sharneé Zoll said. "Especially in the ACC, you have to win home games. It's really tough to win away, so you have to protect your house. So far we haven't done that very well. Every game now is a big one."
Taking on the No. 1 team in the nation qualifies as a big game, and the Cavaliers have experience playing such quality teams. Virginia lost 96-62 to then-No. 2 North Carolina, which left the players humbled.
"I can't even explain to you what that was like," sophomore forward Lyndra Littles said. "The minute we stepped on the floor, I looked up at the clock and it was 15-0. I came back to the bench and had nothing to say; I was speechless."
Virginia will look to make a statement tonight against Duke. One factor that may impact the outcome of tonight's game is the combined play of the three Cavaliers who average the most minutes on the court: Littles, Zoll and senior guard Brenna McGuire. All three play at least 30 minutes per game, while none of the Blue Devils' players average as much playing time. Littles ranks fifth in the ACC in scoring, with 16 points per game, and McGuire is sixth in the conference in three-pointers made, with 2.05 per game. Zoll has been a catalyst to Virginia's offense, averaging 5.62 assists per game, which ranks second in the ACC.
The Cavaliers will need these three to be successful, especially from the outside, as Duke boasts the best shot blocker in the nation, Alison Bales. The 6-foot-7 senior center has totaled 105 rejections in 22 games this season. By comparison, the next two highest shot blockers in the ACC have 113 blocks combined.
Sunday's game presents a more favorable match-up for Virginia, as it faces a Miami team that has been struggling even more. The Hurricanes are 2-9 on the road this season and lost their last two games to Virginia Tech and Clemson. They do boast the conference's leading scorer in senior guard Renee Taylor, who scores 19.5 points per game. She will have to get through Virginia's backcourt, however, which besides Zoll and McGuire, also features Monica Wright. The freshman standout leads the team with 2.38 steals per game. She is also second in scoring for Virginia with 14 points per game and could cause problems for a Miami team that is ranked 11th in the conference in both scoring defense and assist/turnover ratio.
Wright has had some scoring trouble of late, tallying only six points on 3-12 shooting against Florida State. Virginia coach Debbie Ryan, however, does not lack confidence in her freshman guard.
"She knows that I have to have her out there as much as possible and she gives me everything I could possibly ask of a first-year player," Ryan said.
Read More
Buchanan jolts arena with season-best performance
By Michael Liebermann | YesterdayRon Sanchez challenged his players to rebound better, and Buchanan answered resoundingly.
Third-quarter surge pushes women’s basketball ahead of Virginia Tech
By Lauren Halak | YesterdayVirginia conquered its rival, earning an ever-important ACC victory.
With last-second three-pointer, SMU silences men’s basketball
By Michael Liebermann and Thomas Baxter | 2 days agoThe late shot crushed a bouncing arena.
