Virginia Wins at Virginia Tech, 61-58
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Feb. 13, 2005
BLACKSBURG, Va.- – With seven seconds on the clock, Virginia freshman Takisha Granberry (Charlotte, N.C.) nailed two free throws to seal the Cavaliers’ 61-58 win at longtime rival Virginia Tech on Sunday afternoon.
UVa improved to 17-8 overall and 6-5 in the ACC, while the Hokies fell to 14-9 overall and 3-7 in the league. Virginia’s win is the first at Cassell Coliseum since Feb. 6, 1997, when UVa won by 49 points, 90-41.
“We really, really needed it,” UVa head coach Debbie Ryan said of the win. “I was very proud of the character and strength (the players) showed today.”
In the first half, the Cavaliers quickly jumped ahead by nine points, 17-8, on very balanced scoring. The Hokies came within one, 21-20, but never took the lead again in the half. UVa led by seven at intermission, 29-22.
In the second half, the Hokies stormed out of the locker room for a 13-0 run to go ahead by four, 35-31. The teams played within a two-point margin until UVa went ahead by three, 55-52 on a jumper by sophomore Siedah Williams (Cleveland, Ohio) with 4:33 to go. Williams added another jumper for a four-point edge, 57-54, but Tech came back within one, 57-56, on a three-pointer by Carrie Mason with 43 seconds on the clock. Senior LaTonya Blue (Baltimore, Md.) gave UVa a three-point advantage with 17 seconds to go. Tech converted two free throws with eight seconds on the clock to come within one again, 59-58. That’s when Granberry stepped up and nailed both shots in the one-and-one situation to seal the Cavaliers’ win.
“We talked about the situation in the last minute to shoot free throws,” Granberry shared. “(Ryan) told us to tell ourselves that `we love free throws.’ And I did that, and told myself I like this atmosphere and all the noise. That’s what made me calm down to make them.”
Blue scored a game-high 16 points. Williams followed with 12 points, while senior Kate Kreager (Oak Hill, Va.) added 10 points in her first start of the season. Senior Jocelyn Logan-Friend (Cheverly, Md.) grabbed 11 rebounds.
“LaTonya Blue stepped up big today,” Ryan said. “Her teammates trust her.”
“She knows she’s our go-to player,” Granberry said of Blue. “She’s my hero.”
Overall, Virginia Tech out-rebounded Virginia, 45-43.
Virginia has a six-day break before hosting No. 19/21 Maryland on Sunday, Feb. 20. Tip-off is set for 4 p.m. at University Hall. The game will not be televised.
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
1 2 - FinalVirginia (17-8, 6-5 ACC) 29 32 - 61Virginia Tech (14-9, 3-7 ACC) 22 36 - 58