Second-Half Run Powers No. 21 Virginia Past St. Bonaventure, 72-64

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CHARLOTTESVILLE – No. 21 Virginia rallied for a 72-64 win over St. Bonaventure Monday night at John Paul Jones Arena. After trailing by one point at halftime, the Cavaliers had a game-changing 18-6 second-half run that gave them the victory.

Senior guard Monica Wright (Woodbridge, Va.) led UVa with 19 points, and tallied her fourth double-double of the season with 10 rebounds, while freshman guard Lexie Gerson (Fort Washington, Pa.) scored a career-high 13 points and hit two key 3-pointers during the Cavs’ second-half run.

Virginia improved to 11-3 on the season, and won its fourth-straight game. At home in John Paul Jones Arena this year, Virginia improved to 7-2. St. Bonaventure, which began the season on an 11-game win streak and is receiving votes in both national polls, fell to 12-3 on the year.

After the game, Virginia head coach Debbie Ryan announced that freshman guard China Crosby (New York, N.Y.) will miss the remainder of the 2009-10 season. Crosby had an MRI performed on Monday that revealed a season-ending left knee injury.

St. Bonaventure opened up an early six-point lead in the first half, 12-6, at the 15:37 mark. Virginia played catch-up for the rest of the half, and Whitny Edwards nailed a 3-pointer with two seconds remaining in the half to pull the Cavaliers within one-point at halftime, 29-28.

The teams traded baskets to open the second half, but Virginia took its first lead since an early 2-0 margin on a 3-pointer by rookie Lexie Gerson. That basket put UVa up, 50-49, and began a 10-0 run over a four-minute span that put the game away. Eventually the Cavaliers stretched the run to 18-6 and took their largest lead of the game, 65-55, at the 5:49 mark.

Virginia held on for the 72-64 win.

Wright continued to chase Virginia’s all-time scoring record, upping her career total to 2,101 points. Virginia’s all-time leading scorer is Dawn Staley, who scored 2,135 points in 131 games as a Cavalier. Wright is now 35 points from surpassing Staley.

Whitny Edwards (Charlotte, N.C.) finished with 11 points and five rebounds for UVa, while Chelsea Shine (Wayne, Pa.) added eight points, five rebounds and three steals.

The Bonnies were led by Jessica Jenkins’ game-high 22 points and 18 points from Dana Mitchell.

Next up for the Cavaliers is the beginning of Atlantic Coast Conference play. UVa travels to Florida State for a 7 p.m. contest on Thursday, Jan. 7.