Virginia Falls to Virginia Tech in Commonwealth Challenge on Last-Second Shot, 60-58

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Jan. 22, 2007

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CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – Virginia women’s basketball dropped its Commonwealth Challenge game to intra-state rival Virginia Tech, 60-58, at John Paul Jones Arena on Monday night.

The Cavaliers fell to 12-7 overall and 2-3 in the ACC, while the Hokies improved to 13-8 overall and 3-3 in the league. With the victory, Tech receives one point in the Commonwealth Challenge. Following tonight’s game, Virginia leads the all-sports contest, 4.5 to 3.5.

Virginia jumped out to a seven-point lead to open the game, 15-8. The Cavaliers then went on an 8-0 run to go ahead by 13 points, 31-18. Uva held a 12-point advantage at halftime, 33-21.

In the second half, the Cavaliers led by 14 points on the first bucket, but the Hokies then went on a 13-2 run of their own to come within three, 37-34 with 14:57 on the clock. UVa rebounded with back-to-back three-pointers from senior Brenna McGuire (Winchester, Mass.) to go ahead by 12, 47-35. The Hokies closed out the contest with a 16-5 run for the win. With 2:17 to go, Tech tied the game at 56-56. Both teams had missed opportunities to score before freshman Monica Wright (Woodbridge, Va.) nailed two free throws to go ahead by two, 58-56. The Hokies’ Kirby Copeland then made a lay-up to tie the game with just 43 seconds to play. On UVa’s last possession, junior Sharneé Zoll (Marlboro, N.J.) drove the paint and missed a lay-up. Tech’s Brittany Cook grabbed the rebound and made the game-winning lay-up with two seconds on the clock.

Wright paced UVa with her second career double-double of 17 points and a career-best 11 rebounds. Sophomore Lyndra Littles (Washington, D.C.) followed with 14 points, while senior Siedah Williams (Cleveland, Ohio) added 10 points. The 14-point lead is the largest the Cavaliers have given up in a loss this season and at JPJA.

Nare Diawara led the Hokies with 17 points and a game-high 14 rebounds. Copeland finished with 14 points. Overall, VT out-rebounded Virginia, 39-35.

Virginia travels to NC State on Thursday, Jan. 25 for a 7 p.m. game.

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

				1	2	-	FinalVirginia Tech (13-8, 3-3)	21	39	-	60Virginia (12-7, 2-3)		33	25 	-	58