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CHARLOTTESVILLE Virginia welcomes in-state and ACC rival Virginia Tech to John Paul Jones Arena Sunday for a 2 p.m. tip-off. The Cavaliers (12-4) have won six-straight games and are looking to improve to 2-0 in Atlantic Coast Conference play, while the Hokies (12-5, 0-3) will be fighting for their first ACC win of the year.
The game will be streamed live on ACC Select and live audio is available through V Pass.
A season ago, each squad won on the other’s home court. The Cavs prevailed in February in Blacksburg, 79-76, while Virginia Tech took the game at John Paul Jones Arena in January, 60-58. The Cavaliers lead the all-time series, 29-10.
Sophomore sensation Monica Wright continues to lead Virginia on both ends of the floor. She leads the team by averaging 17.6 points per game, which ranks fourth in the ACC. A tenacious defender as well as a prolific scorer, Wright also ranks first on the squad in steals per game (2.75), good enough for fourth in the league. The reigning ACC Rookie of the Year, Wright has been named the conference’s player of the week once this year and was also selected as a member of the Naismith Trophy preseason watch list.
As for their inside game, the Cavaliers’ post dominance has been evident in the play of junior Aisha Mohammed. The center has posted seven double-doubles on the year, including a 15-point, 11-rebound performance in her last effort vs. Rhode Island (Jan. 9). After being sidelined with an injury during the 2006-07 campaign, she has burst onto the scene and averages nearly a double-double with 12.3 points and 9.2 rebounds per game.
Also coming on strong for the Cavs is sophomore Enong Stovall. She has started the last three games in place of an injured Lyndra Littles and is averaging 10.7 points in those games.
Rounding out the starting lineup are guards Paulisha Kellum and Sharne Zoll. Zoll joined the 1,000-point club against Rhode Island and is chasing Dawn Staley’s all-time assist mark of 729, set from 1989-1992. With 650 assists in her career, Zoll is just 80 shy of setting the new record.
Kellum, meanwhile, has emerged as one of the most consistent players on the Cavaliers’ roster. An underrated scorer and smart passer, Kellum contributes 9.8 points per game and has the lowest turnover total of any starter.
Virginia Tech is led by Brittany Cook (17.8 points per game) and Charlottesville native Andrea “Kat” Barbour (16.4 points per game). The Hokies have dropped three ACC contests in a row (Boston College, Florida State, North Carolina) but had won four-straight prior to that stretch. Head coach Beth Dunkenberger is in her fourth season in Blacksburg.
On deck for Virginia is another ACC foe, Maryland. The Terrapins visit JPJA on Friday, Jan. 18 at 7 p.m.