Virginia Wins Third-Straight; Downs UMBC 61-46

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CHARLOTTESVILLE – The Virginia women’s basketball team won its third-consecutive game, defeating UMBC 61-46 Saturday night at John Paul Jones Arena. With the win, the Cavaliers improved to 7-4 overall and remained unbeaten at home this season (5-0).

The loss dropped the Retrievers’ record to 4-7 on the year.

Sophomore center Simone Egwu (Odenton, Md.) led UVa with 16 points (a season-high) and eight rebounds. Freshman guard Ataira Franklin (Bowie, Md.) set a new career-high with 15 points and added five boards, two assists and a block.

The Cavaliers led, 25-21, at halftime but changed the game with a 17-5 run over the course of the first four minutes of the second half to take a 42-26 lead with 15:37 left in the game.

UMBC cut the lead to 11 points with three-consecutive free throws by Erin Brown at the 5:41 mark that made the score 53-42 in favor of Virginia. The Cavaliers responded, however, and the Retrievers never got closer for the rest of the contest.

Virginia out-rebounded UMBC, 42-23, and improved to 7-0 when out-rebounding an opponent this season. The Cavaliers scored 17 second-chance points compared to UMBC’s two.

Brown was UMBC’s high scorer with 16 points, six rebounds and four steals.

Junior forward Chelsea Shine (Wayne, Pa.) was the third Cavalier that scored in double figures, netting 11 points and grabbing five rebounds.

Senior guard Paulisha Kellum (Upper Marlboro, Md.) finished with eight points and a team-high six assists.

Sophomore guard China Crosby (New York, N.Y.) played 11 minutes and had three steals after missing the Cavaliers’ last nine games with a knee injury.

The Cavaliers travel to in-state rival James Madison Monday night (Dec. 20). Tip-off in Harrisonburg, Va., is scheduled for 7 p.m.