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May 30, 2007

TENERIFE, Spain – The Virginia women’s basketball team finished its international tour with a 72-58 win at the University of Tenerife in the third exhibition game on Wednesday afternoon in the Canary Islands.

The Cavaliers, who were fighting the effects of motion sickness following the 70-minute ferry ride to the island of Tenerife, concluded their foreign tour with a perfect 3-0 record.

Facing perhaps the most difficult opponent of the tour, UVa used a strong starting line-up with Sharnee Zoll (Marlboro, N.J.), Lyndra Littles (Washington, D.C.), Paulisha Kellum (Upper Marlboro, Md.), Monica Wright (Woodbridge, Va.), and Jayna Hartig (Highlands Ranch, Colo.). UVa scored the first bucket, but Tenerife would take its only lead of the game at 7-4. Back-to-back lay-ups from Kellum tied the game and gave the `Hoos the lead for good. UVa led by five at the end of the first quarter and closed the half with an 18-9 run to enter the locker room with an 11-point edge, 42-31.

In the second half, Virginia continued to build upon its double-digit lead, going ahead by as many as 20 points, 68-48.

Wright paced four Cavaliers in double-digit scoring with 14 points. Junior Britnee Millner (Martinsville, Va.) came off the bench for 12 points and three steals, while Littles and junior Aisha Mohammed (Lagos, Nigeria) added 11 points each. Junior Abby Robertson (Springfield, Va.) added nine points and a team-best nine rebounds.

Saray Cruz led Tenerife with 19 points. Laura Fernandez added 10 points.

Overall, UVa out-rebounded UT, 43-26. The Cavaliers shot 17-of-31 from the free throw line, while Tenerife was 24-of-32.

INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITION TOUR
GAME #3

                    	1	2	3	4	-	FinalVirginia (3-0)		23	19	16	14	-	72University de Tenerife	18	13	14	13	-	58

Box Score
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Boxscore attached in PDF.English translation of statistical categories: TL (free throws), REBOTES (rebounds), AS (assists), REC (steals), PER (turnovers), TAP com (blocks), FALTAS (personal fouls), VAL (computer rating of player’s value to team; the higher the number, the better).

POST GAME QUOTES

Debbie Ryan, Virginia head coach
On team’s defensive effort:
“I thought the defense coming into this game was a lot better than it was the first night. We obviously got progressively better as we played. We did have some travel issues coming over here with the ferry rocking a lot, and our players being a little under the weather because of the boat (ride). I thought they showed great maturity to come out here and play with a lot of energy all the way through the game. We had good chance to give everyone a run also.”

On Britnee Millner:
“Britnee’s really, really improved, and we’ve worked hard with her on getting to a consistent level of what she does. She was just very consistent over here, scoring the basketball, playing good defense, giving us great energy the entire time she’s out there. She gives us a lift. I think she’s had a great tour.”

On Abby Robertson:
“Abby did a great job in the low post. She’s been very strong and looking to score more, and that’s what we need from Abby. We need for her to score the basketball. She’s really done a great job on this tour as well.”

On facing Tenerife following travel sickness:
“I was little concerned about it, because I think some of our players had a queasy stomach coming in. But I think they shook that off and were able to get loose. After we got going, I think they felt a little bit better. These are good experiences. Whenever you have these experiences, you learn how to play sick, injured, whatever it is, and you know you have to play. They stepped up and I thought they gave us a great effort in the first half, gave us a nice lead, and then we pushed it to 20 in the second half. Then I was able to substitute more liberally.”

On Tenerife’s strength with two Spanish National Team players:
“I thought they were very good the way they spread the floor on us. They ran some nice offense. They ran a couple of slice, staggered plays, and then they ran a play with a double screen at the top which we haven’t seen in a while. So it was good to have to make adjustments in the locker room at halftime. I thought they had some nice three-point shooters.”

Who would you pick as the team’s MVP over the last three games:
“Just off the top of my head, it might be Britnee. She’s had a really consistent tour, and she’s probably the most improved player on the team right now. I think that she’s showing she’s going to fight for (playing) time.”

Brittany Millner
On performance today:
“We came out ready to play. We knew the competition was going to better than we’ve playing. We just came out and everyone came to play.”

Comparing Tenerife to the first two teams:
“It was a little bit more difficult to guard them, because they were more organized. They had more sets than the other teams had. They were more difficult to defend.”

On team MVP honor:
“It’s an honor, but it also goes to show how your teammates help you and how you can better yourself because of your teammates. They helped me out a lot.”

Abby Robertson
On performances the last three days:
“As a team our confidence is boosted. This trip has brought us together. I’ve noticed different people have been stepping up, and it’s definitely more of a team ballgame, different people scoring or rebounding. It’s been more of a collective effort. I just try to fit into that role and do what I can. I definitely felt like more confident in my game and was able to contribute more. ”

On Tenerife post players:
“They were definitely physical. They were good. Europeans are always skillful on fundamentals. Aisha (Mohammed) definitely had the athletic advantage. I thought we did well. Overall as I team, I think these last three days have been good learning and bonding as well as the growth experience. I’m happy we came.”

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