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Virginia Falls to Liberty in OT, 77-69
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Nov. 26, 2002
Lynchburg, Va – Virginia women’s basketball suffered its first loss of the season with a 77-69 overtime decision at Liberty on Tuesday evening.
The Cavaliers stand 2-1 overall while Liberty improves to 3-0.
In the first half Liberty jumped out by 5 points early, but the Cavs squirmed back to an 8 point lead, 31-23. UVA held a 3 point lead at intermission, 33-30.
In the second half Virginia pushed its lead to 10 points, 54-44, with 5:20 on the clock.
The Lady Flames chipped away to come within two, 59-67 with 23 seconds to go. With 12 seconds left in regulation Cherrise Graham (Conshohocken, Pa.) nailed the first of two free throws to put UVA ahead by three, but Liberty’s Kristal Tharp nailed a 3-pointer at the buzzer to push the game into overtime.
“Our team knew this was a good team coming in,” said Virginia’s head coach Debbie Ryan. “All the credit goes to Liberty.”
In overtime the Lady Flames dominated going ahead by eight for the final tally 77-69.
“We just self-destructed,” Ryan said.
Graham paced the Cavs with a career-high 25 points, including 3 treys and a career-high 5 steals. Sophomore Brandi Teamer (Joliet, Ill.) added 12 points.
“I tried my best. I think I tried too hard,” said point guard Cherrise Graham. “I missed the last free throw to put us up by four. I’ll just have to learn.”
Five Liberty players netted double figures,led by Tharp’s 20 points.
Overall Liberty out-rebounded UVa 45-37.
Virginia returns to University Hall on Saturday, Nov. 30 for a 2 p.m. contest with Long Island.
Charlottesville’s WINA Radio (1070 AM) will broadcast each UVa game live with Jed Williams and Myron Ripley calling the action.
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL 1 2 OT - FinalVirginia (2-1) 33 27 9 - 69Liberty (3-0) 30 30 17 - 77
– CAVALIERS-