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Virginia Hosts Temple, Dawn Staley on Wednesday
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Nov. 28, 2006
THIS WEEK
Virginia returns home to Charlottesville for two games this week. On Wednesday, Nov. 29, UVa welcomes Temple, coached by former Virginia All-American Dawn Staley. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. at John Paul Jones Arena.
On Saturday, Dec. 2, the Cavaliers host Seton Hall at 7 p.m. at JPJA.
SCOUTING TEMPLE
The Owls, under the tutelage of seventh-year head coach Dawn Staley, stand 3-1 after a 61-51 win at Toledo on Nov. 26. Senior forward Kamesha Hairston is the team leader with 19.5 ppg and 6.8 rpg. Senior guard Fatima Maddox follows with 15.3 ppg, while junior center Lady Comfort is third with 10.3 ppg. Temple out-scores its opponents by +4.0 ppg and out-rebounds foes by + 3.5 rpg.
SERIES VS. OWLS
Virginia leads Temple 3-1 in series action since the teams first met in 1979. In their last meeting, Owl head coach Dawn Staley squared off against her mentor Debbie Ryan for the first time in the opening round of the Cavalier Classic on Dec. 28, 2003. Virginia picked up the one-point win, 72-71 at University Hall.
WELCOME BACK, DAWN
Temple head coach Dawn Staley (1989-92) returns to her alma mater for the second time in her coaching career.
Words will never fully describe the person and player that took the University of Virginia’s women’s basketball program to the level it is today and made the nation notice women’s basketball like Dawn Staley did in her four years.
Staley set the NCAA record for career steals (454). She became the only player (male or female) in ACC history to have a combination of over 2,000 points, 700 rebounds, 700 assists, and 400 steals. Staley was also the first UVa women’s basketball player and fifth woman in ACC history to score over 2,000 career points. She played in 131 games and helped UVa to 110 wins. Staley also became the second person in ACC history and the first Cavalier to have a triple-double, and she did it twice.
The two-time National Player of the Year and three-time Kodak All-American helped the Cavaliers to four NCAA Tournament appearances, three consecutive Final Four appearances, three ACC Tournament championships, and two ACC regular-season titles.
With her record-breaking career, Staley ushered in a new era of women’s basketball, not only at Virginia, but in the nation as well. Her contributions to Virginia and women’s basketball are much more valuable than any title.
LAST OUTING
Virginia captured third place at the Junkanoo Jam in Freeport, The Bahamas. In the opening game, UVa fell to South Dakota State, 62-55. Sophomore Lyndra Littles (Washington, D.C.) racked up a double-double of 18 points and 13 rebounds. Overall, Virginia out-rebounded SDSU, 43-41.
In the 76-47 win over Central Florida in the third-place game, Littles once again had a double-double, tallying 21 points and 12 rebounds. Freshman Monica Wright (Woodbridge, Va.) added 13 points, and senior Brenna McGuire tallied 12 points, all from three-point range. Overall, Virginia out-rebounded UCF, 44-30. For her efforts, Littles was named to the five-member Junkanoo Jam All-Tournament Team.
IN THE STATISTICS
After six contests, sophomore Lyndra Littles leads the Cavaliers with 16.0 points and 9.3 rebounds per game. Freshman Monica Wright follows with 11.0 ppg, while senior Siedah Williams adds 10.8 ppg and 6.2 rpg. Junior Sharneé Zoll (Marlboro, N.J.) is fourth with 10.7 ppg and 29 assists. UVa out-scores its opponents by +9.8 points and out-rebounds its foes by +3.2 boards.
INJURY UPDATE
Senior Siedah Williams suffered a sprained right knee against South Dakota State in the opening round of the Junkanoo Jam. She missed the Central Florida game and is listed as day-to-day.
IN THE POLLS
Virginia has received votes in both the Associated Press writers’ poll for the week of Nov. 27.