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LOS ANGELES – No. 22/24 ranked and No. 5 seed Virginia faces fourth-seeded California in the second round of the 2009 NCAA Tournament on Monday. Tip-off from the Galen Center in Los Angeles is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. local time, and the game will be televised by ESPN2. Live audio is available through V Pass and live statistics can be accessed at VirginiaSports.com.
Additionally, the Virginia-Cal game will air live nationally on ESPN Classic.
Virginia (24-9) is making its 23rd appearance in the NCAA Tournament. The Cavaliers earned an at-large berth after finishing tied for fifth in the ACC (8-6) and advancing to the quarterfinals of the league tournament.
Head coach Debbie Ryan has reached the 20-win mark for the 22nd time in her career. The Hall of Fame coach’s career record is 699-297, just one win shy of 700.
Virginia continues to be led offensively by national player of the year candidate and first team All-ACC selection Monica Wright, who averages 20.3 points per game, and senior Lyndra Littles, who averages 20.2 points per game and was also named to the All-ACC first team.
Aisha Mohammed, meanwhile, was named an honorable mention All-ACC selection and averages 12.9 points and 10.2 rebounds per game. She led the Cavaliers with 14 double-doubles on the season, and had 10 points and 14 rebounds in the first round against Marist.
Ariana Moorer, Virginia’s freshman point guard, earned the start against Marist and was UVa’s leading scorer with 16 points. She added three rebounds, four assists
Cal enters the contest with an overall record of 26-6 and Pac-10 mark of 15-3. The Bears defeated Fresno State in the opening round, 70-47. Cal is led by Ashley Walker (19.3 ppg, 8.6 rpg) and Alexis Gray-Lawson (12.0 ppg).
The winner of Monday’s game would advance to the Trenton Regional.