Virginia Beats Maine, 86-66, in Marriott Cavalier Classic Opening Round

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Dec. 28, 2006

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CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – Virginia women’s basketball beat Maine, 86-66, in the opening round of the Marriott Cavalier Classic at the John Paul Jones Arena on Thursday afternoon.

The Cavaliers improved to 9-3 on the season, while the Black Bears fell to 5-5- overall. UVa advances to the championship game against UAB, coached by former Cavalier Audra Smith, which defeated Northwestern State, 84-77, in the first game.

On Friday, Dec. 29, the Third Place Game of the Marriott Cavalier Classic between Maine and Northwestern State tips at 4:30 p.m. The championship between Virginia and UAB tips at 7 p.m. All games will be played at JPJA.

Virginia opened with five straight points and built its lead to 11, 19-8, with 14:30 on the clock. Maine barreled back to tie the game at 31-31 with 4:09 remaining in the stanza, but never took over the lead. UVa closed the half with a 9-2 run to enter the locker room with a six-point edge, 40-34.

In the second half, Virginia built its lead to double digits, going ahead by as a many as 22, and never looked back.

Five Cavaliers netted double figures, paced by sophomore Lyndra Littles’ (Washington, D.C.) 20 points.Junior Sharneé Zoll (Marlboro, N.J.) added 17 points and a season-high 10 assists for her first double-double of the season (fourth in her career). Senior Brenna McGuire (Winchester, Mass.)followed with 14 points, including four treys. Senior Siedah Williams (Cleveland, Ohio) tallied her second double-double of the season (sixth of career) with 12 points and 10 rebounds. Freshman Monica Wright (Woodbridge, Va.) rounded out the scoring with 11 points.

Kris Younan and Lindsey Hugstad-Vaa led Maine with 12 points each. Ashley Underwood and Katie Whittier added 11 points apiece.

Overall, Virginia out-rebounded Maine, 39-27. The Cavaliers shot 48 percent (28-59) from the field, while the Black Bears shot 41 percent (25-61).

In the UAB-NWLA game, Carmen Guzman led UAB with 29 points, while Britney Jones came off the bench for 27 points. Diamond Rogers and Christon Ingram added 10 points each. Chassidy Jones paced Northwestern State with 20 points as all five starters netted double-digit scoring.

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
MARRIOTT CAVALIER CLASSIC- FIRST ROUND

				1	2	-	FinalNorthwestern State (4-8)	45	32	-	77UAB (5-6)			38	46 	-	84

1 2 – FinalMaine (5-5) 34 32 – 66Virginia (9-3) 40 46 – 86