/
.
Virginia Beats Temple, 72-71, in Cavalier Classic
Story Links
Dec. 28, 2003
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – Virginia utilized a 10-2 run in final three minutes of action to pull out a 72-71 win over Temple in the first game of the 2003 Cavalier Classic at University Hall on Sunday.
UVa improved to 5-4 overall, while the Owls fell to 3-5. On Monday, Dec. 29, Temple will play Georgia State (4-3) in the Third Place Game at 4:30 p.m. Virginia will face No. 7/6 Minnesota (9-0) in the Championship at 7 p.m.
In the first half, Temple led for the entire stanza, pulling ahead by as many as 13 points with 5:26 to go. Three-point buckets by juniors LaTonya Blue (Baltimore, Md.) and Kate Kreager (Oak Hill, Va.) helped UVa to within five points, 36-31 at intermission.
In the second half, Virginia came out the locker room on fire. The Cavs took the lead for the first time after junior Brandi Teamer (Joliet, Ill.) stole the ball, dribbled the length of the court, and fed a lay-up to freshman Siedah Williams (Cleveland, Ohio). With less than three minutes on the clock, Virginia went on a 10-2 run to lead by eight, 68-60 with 0:49 to go. Blue nailed the second of two free throws to put UVa up by four, 72-68 with 0:09 left. Temple?s Christena Hamilton nailed a three-point bucket as time expired for the 72-71 decision.
“We controlled the second half,” said Virginia head coach Debbie Ryan, who coached against her former three-time All-American standout Dawn Staley (1989-92) for the first time.
“I appreciate Debbie giving us an opportunity to come down here and play,” Staley said. “It was a great game. I couldn’t ask any more of my players.”
Teamer finished with a season-high 21 points, 17 of which game in the second half, and eight rebounds. Kreager was the only other Cavalier in double figures with 15 points.
“That’s why we won today,” Kreager said of Teamer?s fired up performance in the second half.
“Teamer was the difference in the second half,” Staley added.
Cynthia Jordan paced Temple with 19 points, while Candice Dupree added 16 points.
Overall, UVa out-rebounded Temple, 34-25.
“Minnesota is a very, very good team with good scorers,” Ryan said. “Lindsay Whalen is an intelligent player.”
In the second game, No. 6/7 Minnesota remained undefeated by blasting Georgia State, 81-52.
“We’re playing pretty consistently,” Minnesota head coach Pam Borton said. “We’re doing some things really well at this point in the season.”
Lindsay Whalen scored a game-high 19 points, including three treys. Shannon Schonrock added 15 points, while Kadidja Andersson had 14 points. Jamie Broback had 13 points off the bench.
“We have a lot of offensive weapons,” Borton said. “(Brandi) Teamer will be tough to guard inside.”
For the Lady Panthers, Patechia Hartman was the top scorer, finishing with 17 points.
Overall, Minnesota out-rebounded GSU, 40-27. The Golden Gophers held Georgia State to just 23 points in the second half while shooting 55 percent (12-22) from the field.
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL CAVALIER CLASSIC
1 2 - Final
Temple (3-5) 36 35 - 71Virginia (5-4) 31 41 - 72
Georgia State (4-3) 29 23 – 52#7/6 Minnesota (9-0) 43 38 – 81
CAVALIER CLASSIC: Monday, Dec. 29
University Hall, Charlottesville, Va.
Third Place Game: Georgia State vs. Temple, 4:30 p.m.Championship Game: #7/6 Minnesota at Virginia, 7 p.m.