No. 14 Virginia Tops Purdue, 56-49, In Big Ten/ACC Challenge

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CHARLOTTESVILLE – The 14th-ranked Virginia women’s basketball team defeated Purdue, 56-49, in the Big Ten/ACC Challenge Thursday night at John Paul Jones Arena. Ariana Moorer lead the Cavaliers with 11 points, while Lexie Gerson added a career-high 10 points.

Virginia improved to 6-1 on the season and 3-0 all-time in the Big Ten/ACC Challenge. Purdue’s record dropped to 3-4 with the loss.

“On a night when I felt we were not playing very well offensively and very well defensively to start the game, I had to call on some very young players,” Virginia head coach Debbie Ryan said. “I feel like the players coming off of the bench were critical tonight. They did a great job, and each player that came off of the bench was better than the last.”

Virginia led 26-14 at the end of a low-scoring first half. Purdue tied the game at 31-31 with 13:06 left on a 3-pointer by Jodi Howell. The teams battled back and forth from there, and the score was knotted again at 37-37 before Virginia went on a 7-1 run to take a 44-38 lead with 7:18 left in the game.

Purdue cut the Cavaliers’ lead to one point, 46-45, but never tied or took the lead down the stretch as UVa hung on for the 56-49 victory.

Monica Wright finished with seven points for Virginia after fouling out with six minutes left in the game. China Crosby chipped in nine points, while Whitny Edwards added eight points and a team-high six rebounds.

Up next for Virginia is a Sunday afternoon match-up with in-state rival James Madison. Tip-off from John Paul Jones Arena is 4 p.m.