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Virginia Women's Basketball Beats Rutgers, 68-64
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Dec. 6, 2002
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – Virginia women’s basketball overcame a 12-point deficit to beat Rutgers, 68-64, at University Hall on Friday evening.
“We came together tonight,” said Virginia head coach Debbie Ryan. “We did a good job of coming together and playing well. Defensively, we played great.”
The Cavaliers improved to 4-2 on the season, while the Scarlet Knights fell to 3-2.
In the first half, Rutgers jumped out to as many as 12 points, 31-19 with 6:09 to go. RU took a 35-28 lead into the locker room.
The Cavaliers opened the second stanza with a 8-0 run. UVa took over and pushed its lead to eight, 56-48 with 6:34 to play. The Knights came back to tie at the game at 60-60 with 3:47 on the clock. Free throws down the stretch by sophomore Brandi Teamer (Joliet, Ill.) and sophomore Cherrise Graham (Conshohocken, Pa.) sealed the Cavs’ victory.
Graham paced UVa with a game-high 23 points, including 12 of 14 from the line. Junior Anna Crosswhite (Castlecrag, Australia) followed with a career-high 21 points, while Teamer knotted her first double-double of the season with 15 points and a career-high 16 rebounds.
“I knew we had to win this game. I was feeling the shot tonight. I’ve never shot that many shots in my life,” said Crosswhite, who went 8 of 18 from the field, including three treys.
Four Scarlet Knights netted double figures, led by Cappie Pondexter’s 19 points.
“It was pretty intense,” said RU head coach C. Vivian Stringer. “Virginia played much closer to their potential and did a nice job of coming back.”
The Cavaliers take a 10-day break for final exams before hosting Furman on Monday, Dec. 16 at 7:30 p.m. at University Hall. Charlottesville’s WINA Radio (1070 AM) broadcasts each UVa game live with Jed Williams and Myron Ripley calling the action.
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
1 2 - FinalRutgers (3-2) 35 29 - 64Virginia (4-2) 28 40 - 68