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Sardin, Zoll Help Cavaliers Past Holy Cross 80-39
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Dec. 29, 2005
Senior captain Tiffany Sardin (Chicago, Ill.) led the Cavaliers with a season-high 20 points and 10 rebounds en route to MVP honors as Virginia (9-1) defeated Holy Cross 80-39 on Thursday night (Dec. 29) at University Hall. Sardin’s double-double was the second of the season and of her career and helped the Cavaliers win the 2005 Marriott Cavalier Classic. The Cavaliers held the Crusaders to 28.6% shooting and two long scoring droughts en route to the victory. Teammates Siedah Williams (Cleveland, Ohio) and Sharneé Zoll (Marlboro, N.J.) also notched double-digits in scoring and joined Sardin on the All-Tournament team, as did freshman forward Lyndra Littles (Washington, D.C.). Zoll led the Cavaliers with seven assists. Sarah Placek led the Crusaders (4-7) with 14 points and three assists.
The 80 points for the `Hoos marked the second consecutive game Virginia has scored 80 points and ranks as the second-highest output of the season. It also marks the sixth straight game that the UVa defense has held the opponent to under 50 points.
The Cavaliers opened the game with a 13-0 run, led by four points and two offensive boards from Sardin. A Shannon Bush jumper ended the run, but Sardin started a 7-0 run with a defensive rebound and added a field goal, a steal, and another defensive rebound to stretch the lead to 20-2, the largest for the Cavaliers in the first half. Virginia led 37-18 at the break.
Sardin opened up the second half with a jumper after a steal by sophomore guard Takisha Granberry (Charlotte, N.C.), and the teams played back and forth over the next nine minutes as the Cavaliers held a 56-34 lead with10:12 remaining after Holy Cross’ Placek hit a jumper. Virginia then held the Crusaders scoreless for the next 8:18, going on a 22-0 run. Sardin scored five of the first eight points in the run, and Littles and freshman forward/center Abby Robertson (Springfield, Va.) both added five in the run as six different Cavaliers contributed points in the run.
“We had very balanced scoring tonight,” said UVa head coach Debbie Ryan. “Somebody was there to make the play for us.”
Overall, Virginia out-rebounded Holy Cross, 47-30. UVa forced 33 turnovers, including 18 steals. The Cavaliers also notched a season-high 21 assists, led by Zoll’s seven and junior guard Brenna McGuire’s (Winchester, Mass.) six. The last time the Cavaliers had more than 20 assists in a game was against ODU in the NCAA tournament win in 2005.
Joining Sardin, Littles, Zoll and Williams on the All-Tournament team were Holy Cross’ Bush and Boston University’s Katie Meinhardt. Boston University defeated Yale 53-41 in the consolation game played earlier on Thursday.
Virginia returns to action on Monday, January 2 with a game against Middle Tennessee State. Game time against the Blue Raiders is 4:00 pm at University Hall.
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL 1 2 – FinalHoly Cross (4-7) 18 21 – 39Virginia (9-1) 37 43 – 80- Cavaliers –