After finally making their way into the polls during the closing weeks of the 2008 season, the Virginia women’s basketball team enters this season ranked No. 15 in the nation. Unlike last year, the Cavaliers have garnered preseason accolades and the expectations are theirs to fulfill. The players have set the bar high for themselves.
“We always have the ultimate goal of winning an ACC championship or a national championship,” junior guard Monica Wright said. Reaching such a high goal involves “working to get to those [smaller] goals — we definitely have our goals that have to do with defense and rebounding each game.”
Wright is one of the players who has demonstrated the ability to execute in both these categories. Her 82 steals last season led the team, while she averaged 5.0 rebounds per game — third on the team and an excellent number for a guard.
Last Friday, the Cavaliers took a step in achieving their goals by defeating DT3 91-77 in a preseason exhibition. Though the game did not affect the Cavaliers’ season standing, it provided the team an opportunity to get used to the rhythm of a regulation game.
“I saw a lot of upside, with our first-years especially,” Wright said. “Britny and Whitny Edwards were very solid in the exhibition game. They didn’t have too many turnovers, and they were very active on their on-the-ball defense. I feel like they’re going to be a great addition once they get used to the pace, and we’ve built a little more team chemistry.”
Virginia’s season tips off tomorrow at 7 p.m. against High Point. To repeat the success of last Friday’s win, the team needs to establish a high level of play through the consistency of their veterans, refreshed from the offseason.
“I think players like Aisha [Mohammed] and Lyndra [Littles] and Monica Wright came back with just a renewed passion for the game,” Virginia coach Debbie Ryan said.
The favored Virginia squad will prepare against getting caught Friday sleepwalking. Though the two games following its contest against the Panthers are high profile — a Nov. 17 showdown against No. 7 Tennessee and a Nov. 21 rematch against No. 25 Old Dominion, the team that ousted the Cavaliers from the 2008 NCAA Tournament in the second round — Virginia is still focusing on the game at hand.
“Right now, our main goal is to win the next game, run through our offenses pretty organized, and just get everyone on the same page,” Wright said. “It isn’t ACC basketball, but High Point is definitely a good team. I think they’re from North Carolina, which is like the basketball capital of the world.”
Friday’s matchup will give the Cavaliers a chance to work out the team’s point guard situation. With the graduation of point guard Sharneé Zoll and the injury to Zoll’s likely replacement, junior Paulisha Kellum, the spot is up for grabs. The team will likely look to senior Britnee Millner, freshman Ariana Moorer and even Wright to help run the offense.
In last Friday’s game, both Moorer and Millner started, playing 20 and 27 minutes respectively.
In addition to defense, the Cavaliers must develop confidence from the free-throw line, a skill that could prove significant during the conference schedule and postseason.
“We’re definitely going to have to play good defense and work on our free throws and get the win,” Wright said.
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