Virginia Travels to No. 6 Ohio State for ACC/Big Ten Challenge

Story Links

CHARLOTTESVILLE – The Virginia women’s basketball team plays its fourth-consecutive ranked opponent, No. 6 Ohio State, on Thursday (Dec. 2) in Columbus, Ohio, as part of the 2010 ACC/Big Ten Challenge. Tip-off from St. John Arena is scheduled for 7 p.m., and live statistics are available at VirginiaSports.com.

The game will be broadcast over the airwaves on WINA 1070 AM in the Charlottesville area, with Jay James and Larry Johnson calling the action. That broadcast is available on the Internet through VirginiaSports.com with a subscription to V Pass.

Additionally, the game will be streamed live over the Internet at BigTenNetwork.com. A $7.95 subscription is required to view the webcast. The game will air on the Big Ten Network (channel 715 on Comcast cable in the Charlottesville area or DIRECTV channel 610) on tape delay on Friday, Dec. 3 at 5 p.m.

Virginia (4-3) is coming off a 59-55 win over then-No. 21 Texas Christian University at the Paradise Jam in St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands. The Cavaliers went 1-2 at the Thanksgiving tournament, falling to two nationally ranked opponents, Iowa State (66-48) and West Virginia (57-43).

Junior forward Chelsea Shine (Wayne, Pa.) finished with 20 points against the Horned Frogs en route to Paradise Jam All-Tournament Team honors. She is second on the team in scoring at 9.3 points per game and averages 6.7 rebounds per game.

Through seven games, junior guard Whitny Edwards (Charlotte, N.C.) is averaging 8.1 points per game.

This is the fourth annual ACC/Big Ten Challenge and the Cavaliers are seeking their fourth-straight victory in the event. Virginia defeated Wisconsin, 84-60, at home in 2007, Illinois, 63-39, on the road in 2008 and Purdue, 56-49, at home in 2009.

The Buckeyes are ranked sixth in both national polls and are undefeated with a 5-0 record. Jantel Lavender leads the team by averaging 25.0 points and 11.2 rebounds per game.

Ohio State is out-rebounding opponents, 220-187, on the season.

Point guard Samantha Prahalis missed the first three games of the season but started the next two and averaged 19.5 points and 8.0 assists per game.

Head coach Jim Foster faced Virginia four times while head coach at Vanderbilt and holds a 2-2 record against the Cavaliers.

Following Thursday’s game, Virginia returns to John Paul Jones Arena for a three-game homestand. First up is Drexel on Saturday, Dec. 4, at 7 p.m.