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CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. The 15th-ranked Virginia women’s basketball team faces Utah Friday night in its first game at the WBCA Classic. Tip-off from The Al McGuire Center in Milwaukee, Wis., is 5 p.m. (CT), and live audio and statistics are available at VirginiaSports.com.
Virginia is coming off of a 77-43 victory over Big 12 opponent Colorado on Monday night. Three Cavaliers had double-doubles, led by Whitny Edwards with 14 points and 10 rebounds. Monica Wright leads the team in scoring by averaging 21.3 points per game and was named the ACC Player of the Week on Monday after leading UVa to a 1-1 record against ranked opponents on the road last week (including an upset at No. 6 Tennessee).
Several Cavaliers are at or near the top of the ACC rankings. In statistics as of Nov. 27, two UVa players rank in the top-20 in scoring in the league. Monica Wright leads the league at 21.3 ppg, followed by Aisha Mohammed at No. 14 (13.8 ppg).
Wright ranks fourth in the league in steals (4.0 per game), Mohammed ranks second in rebounding (9.8 per game) and Ariana Moorer ranks tied for second in assists (4.8 per game).
Utah is 1-2 on the year with a victory over Jackson State and losses at South Dakota State and to Louisville. Morgan Warburton leads the team by averaging 19.0 points per game. The Utes are receiving votes in the AP poll.
Friday will be just the second meeting between Utah and Virginia in women’s basketball action. Virginia won the sole meeting in the series on March 16, 1997, 65-46 in the NCAA Tournament second round at University Hall.
It’s three games in three days for Virginia, who next faces host Marquette Saturday at the WBCA Classic. Tip-off is 7 p.m. (CT) and live audio and statistics will be available at VirginiaSports.com. On Sunday, the Cavaliers face Gonzaga at 1 p.m. (CT), to close out the tournament.