#6 Virginia Ends Season at #3 Minnesota, 73-58
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March 22, 2005
MINNEAPOLIS, Minn.- – The No. 6 seed Virginia women’s basketball team ended its season on Monday night with a 73-58 decision to host and No. 3 seed Minnesota in the NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament second round at Williams Arena in Minneapolis.
The Cavaliers finished the year at 21-11 on the season, while the 12th-ranked Golden Gophers stand 26-7 en route to the Tempe Regional next weekend.
“We had a good start tonight,” UVa head coach Debbie Ryan. “I felt our players executed well. Then the game became more physical. We dug ourselves into a hole before halftime.”
In the first half, Minnesota jumped out to a 3-0 lead, but UVa came back and went ahead by seven, 14-7 on a 12-2 run. UM caught up and went ahead by as many as eight points. The Gophers led at intermission by six, 34-28.
In the second half, Minnesota built its lead to double digits, going up by 12 points, 42-30. The Cavaliers didn’t give up and used an 8-1 run to come back within five, 43-38 with 15:05 to go. The Golden Gophers regained control and went ahead by as many as 21 points, 63-42 before claiming the 15-point win.
Freshman point guard Sharnee Zoll (Marlboro, N.J.) led Virginia with a career-high 20 points. Senior LaTonya Blue (Baltimore, Md.) was the only other Cavalier in double digits with 16 points.
“Sharnee and LaTonya had a great game in terms of effort,” Ryan added. “We just weren’t as strong in the post as we usually are.”
“I was trying to bring some emotion to our team,” Zoll said. “We played well, but not well enough to win.”
The game marked the end of the collegiate careers of UVa’s five seniors. Blue, who attended the post-game press conference, was inconsolable.
“I don’t know what it feels like for their career to be over,” Zoll shared, “especially LaTonya. She doesn’t know who much she’s helped me. I model my game after hers.”
Minnesota had four players in double figures, led by Jamie Broback’s 23 points. Janel McCarville added 11 points and a game-high 14 rebounds.
Overall, Minnesota out-rebounded Virginia, 41-30.
NCAA WOMEN’S BASKETBALL TOURAMENT- Second Round
1 2 - Final#6 seed Virginia (21-11) 28 30 - 58#3 seed Minnesota (26-7) 34 39 - 73