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Virginia Wins Second Straight ACC Road Game 77-65 at Miami
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Jan. 22, 2006
CORAL GABLES, Fla. – The University of Virginia women’s basketball team claimed its second consecutive ACC road win with a 77-65 victory at Miami on Sunday afternoon at the BankUnited Center.
Virginia improved to 13-4 overall and 2-3 in the ACC, while the Hurricanes fell to 13-5 overall and 3-2 in the league.
“I’m proud of our team for handling adversity,” head coach Debbie Ryan said after having less than 48 hours to recover from an overtime game on Friday night and traveling to Miami.
In the first half, neither team led by more than five points. UVa scored the first bucket. UM then went ahead by five, 15-10. Sophomore Sharnee Zoll (Marlboro, N.J.) tied the game at 15-15 on consecutive possessions with a three-pointer and a jumper. Miami again went ahead by five, 22-17. The Cavaliers recaptured the lead, 23-22, on a lay-up by junior Siedah Williams (Cleveland, Ohio). Virginia entered the locker room with a one-point advantage, 30-29, on two free throws and a bucket by junior Brenna McGuire (Winchester, Mass.). UVa held the `Canes top scorer, Tamara James (21.5 ppg), to just two points in the first stanza.
“Siedah’s played well in the ACC,” Ryan said. “She came to be a beast tonight (on rebounding).”
In the second half, the Hurricanes went ahead by five for the third time, 42-37. McGuire nailed back-to-back threes to put Virginia ahead for good. The Cavaliers built the lead to 12 points for the win.
McGuire paced UVa with a career-high 22 points, including four second-half treys and a perfect 6-for-6 from the line. Williams finished with a season-high 20 points. Senior Tiffany Sardin (Chicago, Ill.) added her third career double-double with 14 points and a game-high 10 rebounds.
“I’ve been in a slump,” McGuire said of her three-point shooting. “I’ve been taking the same shots, and they haven’t been falling. Tonight they fell. I was due.”
“Tiffany’s been our rock, our go-to player,” Ryan added. “She played extremely well today.”
Rene Taylor led Miami with 21 points, including a perfect 10-for-10 from the line. James finished with 15 points.
Overall, Virginia out-rebounded Miami, 38-32. The Cavaliers shot a 51 percent from the field in the second half and 71 percent from the line for the game. UVa forced 20 turnovers while committing 13.
Virginia travels to No. 22/21 Boston College on Thursday, Jan. 26 for a 7 p.m. game at Conte Forum. EspnU will televise the game live.
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
1 2 - FinalVirginia (13-4, 2-3) 30 47 - 77Miami (13-5, 3-2) 29 36 - 65