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CHARLOTTESVILLE – No. 20 Virginia defeated NC State, 73-60, Wednesday night at John Paul Jones Arena for its fourth-consecutive Atlantic Coast Conference victory. Senior guard Monica Wright (Woodbridge, Va.) led the Cavaliers with 26 points and six steals.

Virginia’s record improved to 15-5 overall and 4-2 in the ACC, while NC State fell to 12-9 overall and 2-4 in the league.

For Wright, it was her fifth-consecutive game of scoring at least 20 points (13th of the season).

Whitny Edwards (Charlotte, N.C.) scored 10 points for UVa, including two key 3-pointers in the second half that sealed the victory for Virginia.

Holding onto a slim three-point lead, 54-51, with 5:50 left to play, Edwards banked in a 3-pointer from the top of the key to put UVa up, 57-51. On the next possession, she nailed another trey in transition to put the Cavaliers up, 60-51, and essentially put the game away.

Virginia used a 10-0 run in the first half to battle back from a 20-12 deficit and take a 22-20 lead at the four-minute mark. With the score tied with time running down in the period, NC State’s Nikitta Gartrell hit a 3-pointer to give the Wolfpack a 29-26 lead at the break.

UVa improved to 35-30 in the all-time series with NC State and 9-3 at home in JPJA this season.

Also scoring in double figures for Virginia was Lexie Gerson (Fort Washington, Pa.) with 11 points and Chelsea Shine (Wayne, Pa.) with 10 points and seven rebounds.

Wright began the night No. 8 on the ACC’s all-time scoring list, but with 26 points moved up two spots to No. 6. She passed Duke’s Chris Moreland (1985-88) and Maryland’s Crystal Langhorne (2004-08) and finished the night with 2,255 points for her career.

NC State was led by Bonae Holston’s 20 points. Virginia was out-rebounded, 34-29, but held a 28-14 advantage in paint points.

Up next, Virginia hits the road for an ACC contest at Wake Forest on Sunday, Jan. 31. The game begins at 1 p.m., and will be televised by the ACC’s Regional Sports Network.

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