No. 15 Virginia Wins Eighth-Straight Over St. Francis (Pa.), 82-66

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CHARLOTTESVILLE No. 15 Virginia used a big second half to put away St. Francis (Pa.) Monday night, 82-66, at John Paul Jones Arena. Monica Wright had 22 points to lead the Cavaliers, who won their eighth-straight game and remained unbeaten at home this season.

“I felt like the start of the game was a little uninspired,” said Virginia head coach Debbie Ryan. “Give St. Francis a lot of credit. We want to be playing a little better when we head into the Wake Forest game and then on to North Carolina. It’s all correctable, we just need to figure out where some of the energy is going to come from off the bench.”

The first half featured five lead changes and four ties. St. Francis had its largest lead of the half at the 3:02 mark, when Quinessa Johnson hit a 3-pointer to put the Red Flash up, 32-25.

UVa (13-2) battled back and tied the score at 35-35 with two free throws by Jayna Hartig with 32 seconds left in the half. The score remained tied at halftime.

Wright hit a 3-pointer to open the second half, broke the tie and gave the Cavaliers a 38-35 lead with 19:40 left in the game. Virginia never trailed again, using a 12-2 run over the first three minutes of the second half to put the Red Flash away.

Aisha Mohammed tallied her fifth double-double of the season with 16 points and 12 rebounds, while Jayna Hartig contributed nine points.

Lyndra Littles added nine points and five rebounds for Virginia, while Ariana Moorer had five points and six rebounds.

Britney Hodges led St. Francis (3-10) with 13 points.

Virginia begins ACC play on Sunday, Jan. 11, at 2 p.m. vs. Wake Forest. The Cavaliers will then travel to unbeaten North Carolina on Jan. 16.