Women's Basketball Drops Season Opener, 73-61

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Nov. 21, 1999

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. — Cheryl Kulesa scored 18 points to lead St.Joseph’s University to a 73-61 win over Virginia, the first time theCavaliers lost a season opener at home in its history. Virginia falls to0-1 while St. Joseph’s record stands at 1-0.

The two teams battled to a 34-34 tie at half-time with the leadchanging hands six times in the first stanza. Virginia scored the firstbucket of the second half, but quickly fell behind by 17 points over thenext nine minutes on a 15-2 run. The Hawks held the Cavaliers scorelessfora span of 4:31 seconds during that stretch and never allowed Virginia togain momentum. The Hawks shot 50.0 percent from the field in the secondhalf (9-18) while Virginia could only muster 33.3 percent from the field(12-36). For the game, the Hawks shot 42.2 percent from the field(19-45)and Virginia shot 39.7 percent (27-68).St. Joseph’s made 28 of 37 freethrows while Virginia converted four of seven.

Angela Zampella had 17 points for St. Joseph’s while teammatesJanaLichnerova had 13 points and 12 rebounds and Susan Moran contributed 13points.

For the Cavaliers, Schuye LaRue led the team with 18 points andseven rebounds. Elena Kravchenko recorded 13 points and Lisa Hosac had10points and seven rebounds.

Virginia travels to Honolulu, Hawaii for the Rainbow WahineClassicon Nov. 26-28. The Cavaliers play Grambling in the first round on Nov.26at 4:10 p.m. (ET) and will play either Texas or Long Beach State on Nov.27at either 1:00 p.m. (ET) or 8:30 p.m (ET). The third round game will beagainst either Virginia Commonwealth, Portland, Washington or Hawaii onNov. 28 with the game time to be determined following the second roundgame.