The Virginia women's basketball team needed little time in handling the North Florida Ospreys as they rolled to their 14th victory, 90-57.
The Cavaliers had six players score in double figures, including all five starters. That had not happened since the Women's National Invitation Tournament game against Miami last season.
Virginia took an early lead and did not look back -- after pulling out to a 16-8 edge, with 14:27 left in the half, the Cavaliers went on a 27-7 run which left the Ospreys in the dust.
"We had some goals coming into this game," Virginia coach Debbie Ryan said. "I thought the first group did a good job reaching those goals. I thought everyone went out and played hard tonight, that's what matters."
During that stretch, junior guard Sharnee Zoll found freshman guard Monica Wright in the low blocks for her third assist of the game and number 500 for her career. Zoll finished the game with 503, two shy of passing former Cavalier Tora Suber for fourth all-time.
Zoll was not the only one working on her career resume last night-- senior guard Brenna McGuire had one of her best shooting nights in quite some time. Her 14 points were the most she had scored since matching that number against Boston College seven games ago. Her four three-pointers also leave her two shy of second all-time for career three-point baskets.
"They were very focused tonight and business-like coming out of the gate, Ryan said. "I didn't have to play my starters much and that was the nice thing."
Senior forward Siedah Williams and sophomore forward Lyndra Littles led a strong post presence which accounted for 38 points in the paint. Williams picked up her fifth double-double of the season with 13 bounds and 10 rebounds, Littles picked up her 11th double-double with 18 points and 11 rebounds. Littles' biggest moment last night came on a breakaway late in the second half where she attempted a dunk, hitting the rim but just coming up short. Though Littles has dunked in practice, the Cavalier fans are still waiting for her to do it in the game.
"She tried to give me some excuse about how she wasn't really trying to dunk but I know that she was," Ryan joked. "She was really enjoying the game and she was just trying to make the most of her 19 [minutes]."
Six-time ACC Rookie of the Week Monica Wright also continued to show why she has earned such accolades, scoring a team-high 20 points. The biggest surprise, however, was Wright's fellow freshman Jayna Hartig. Hartig has played sparingly in the ACC but given some extra playing time tonight, she stepped up her game and picked up 10 points and seven rebounds. Having experience like this will bode well for Hartig as her career progresses as a Cavalier.
"It's definitely motivation for her to come in and now that she can score at will," Williams said. "It's going to carry over and she is going to work hard this summer. She is a hard worker."
After playing three games in five days, the Cavaliers will now get a much needed break before playing the defending NCAA champion Maryland Terrapins at home Sunday afternoon.
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