After leaving Blacksburg victorious Thursday night, Virginia women’s basketball traveled to Raleigh, N.C. in hopes of upsetting No. 21 NC State on the road. There was hope for the Cavaliers (11-8, 3-4 ACC) all game as a handful of players contributed on offense and kept the Wolfpack (14-4, 6-1 ACC) below their season-average shooting percentage of 43.8 percent. However, in line with much of this season, Virginia petered out, going scoreless in the last 1:43 of the matchup. NC State scored six unanswered points, taking down the Cavaliers 73-68.
It is optimistic for Virginia that it was able to stick with the Wolfpack for nearly 40 minutes, particularly after doing the same with No. 16 Duke, but both games have ended disappointingly for Virginia. A loss is a loss — no matter how close the score was — and is particularly painful because the Wolfpack and Blue Devils are ACC opponents.
Despite the disappointing end to Sunday’s game, Virginia’s performance on offense should not go unnoticed. The Cavaliers ended the game with a field goal percentage of 54 percent, way above their season average of 42 percent.
Not only was Virginia’s overall shooting percentage well above average, but a variety of players contributed to this offensive game. Despite star sophomore guard Kymora Johnson going scoreless in the first quarter, senior forward Latasha Lattimore and junior guard Paris Clark came up big, scoring seven and eight points, respectively, to keep the Cavaliers within one point of NC State. Lattimore led the day with 21 total points, her second 20-plus-point game in a row. Clark finished the game with 12 points.
Virginia remained neck-and-neck with the Wolfpack as Johnson found her stride and sophomore guard Olivia McGhee added six for the Cavaliers, helping them end the half up 35-34. Virginia closed out the half outperforming NC State in both field goal and three-point scoring percentages, as well as in rebounds.
A battle ensued through the third quarter as Johnson took off, but the Wolfpack held scoring to only three Cavaliers including the sophomore. Virginia has not been unfamiliar with relying on a few players — namely Lattimore and Johnson — to hold the offense down, but Lattimore, Johnson and McGhee’s points were not enough to stay ahead of NC State, particularly as the Cavaliers also had seven turnovers in these ten minutes.
Virginia appeared prepared to fight through the fourth quarter as it began, and it did so in many ways defensively — the Wolfpack saw only a 20.8 percent success rate from the two-point range in the second half. Furthermore, two free throws from Lattimore put the score at 68-67, giving Virginia a glimmer of hope with 1:43 left.
But that hope would fade, as Lattimore’s free throws would be the last points the Cavaliers scored. The Wolfpack took off in the final minute, making all four free throws they received. Not even a timeout could help Virginia as it turned the ball over a final time, sealing the game.
Despite the final score, Cavaliers have a lot to be proud of after Sunday’s showing. Their shooting percentage shot up, even in comparison to their most recent win against Virginia Tech, where Virginia had just a 35.3 percent field goal success rate. But this loss to NC State also marks yet another heartbreaking defeat for the Cavaliers, one where they have shown greatness but been unable to do so through the end of their matchup. It adds yet another unnecessarily frustrating loss to their season.
Virginia has the opportunity for ACC redemption Thursday at home against Georgia Tech, who sit above the Cavaliers in the conference rankings. Tipoff begins at 7 p.m., and the game can be streamed on ACCNX.
Read More
Jeremiah Nubble breaks both school and ACC indoor records at Virginia Tech Invitational
By Caroline Wulff | 10 hours agoA bevy of Cavaliers turned in stellar performances over the weekend.
Wrestling gets destroyed by NC State in ACC opener
By Ryan Weiner | YesterdayVirginia's conference opener did not go exactly the way it wanted.
No. 9 women’s tennis breezes past James Madison in 7-0 victory
By Gracie Genereux | YesterdayVirginia's blazing start to the season sets up a titanic showdown.
