Four Cavaliers Score In Double Figures In Win Over Virginia Tech
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Dec. 20, 1999
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – Svetlana Volnaya scored 13 points to leadfourVirginia starters in double figures as the Cavaliers defeated staterivalVirginia Tech 67-62 in University Hall. The win improves Virginia to5-4overall while Virginia Tech falls to 5-4.
The Cavaliers played without its second leading scorer, ErinStovall, who left the team last week for person reasons. In a freakcollision during a lay-up drill prior to the start of the second half,Telisha Quarles had to leave the floor to get stitches in a cut lipaftercolliding with teammate Chalois Lias. Quarles returned to the floor atthe12-minute mark of the second half and scored eight points including akeythree-pointer. Quarles hit a three-pointer at the 5:55 mark to extendVirginia’s lead to 10, 55-45. The Hokies then reeled off a 12-3 run ledbyAmy Wetzel and Nicole Jones who scored four points to cut Virginia’sleadto 58-57. Volnaya then hit on a driving lay-up and Renee Robinsonthenstole the ball from Wetzel and scored on a lay-up to give Virginia a62-57cushion with 2:10 remaining.
Virginia Tech started the game on 13-0 run in the first threeminutes of the game. Sophomore Telisha Quarles hit a 16-foot jumper,Virginia’s first basket of the game, at the 17:05 mark to startVirginia’s own 17-0 run that put Virginia in the lead. The Cavaliers ledbyas much as eight points, 26-18 with 6:13 remaining in the half. Techclosedthe gap to one point on a Tere Williams eight-foot jumper at 3:24 andTechtook the lead on two Williams free throws. Robinson hit a three-pointerwith 56 seconds remaining to give Virginia a 31-29 lead going intohalf-time.
“Our confidence was pretty far down after the Old Dominion gameandthe biggest job for me this week was to keep them up and believing inthemselves,” said Head Coach Debbie Ryan. “Even when we were down by13,I had alot of faith in this team and I knew that it was very, very earlyand there was plenty of time to whittle away.”
Four Virginia Tech starters scored in double figures led by TereWilliams with 15 points, Jones with14, Wetzel and Sarah Hicks had 11.Williams also had a double-double with 10 rebounds. The Hokies playedwithout starting point guard Emily Lipton who had a stress fracture inherfoot.
“I’m proud of my basketball team. It’s eerie for us how muchourDuke game and our Georgia game and the last four minutes of this gamewerethe same,” said Virginia Tech Head coach Bonnie Henrickson. “I’mdisappointed we still don’t have what it takes to finish but I’m proudofthem for what ever they find to make a run.”
Virginia Tech returns to action on Dec. 29 vs. Hampton at 7:30p.m.in the Hokie Hardwood Classic in Blacksburg. Virginia hosts Siena onDec.27 at 7:30 p.m.