Virginia Earns 73-71 Overtime Victory At Virginia Tech

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BLACKSBURG, Va. – The Virginia women’s basketball team concluded regular-season play with a 73-71 overtime victory at Virginia Tech on Sunday (Feb. 27) in Cassell Coliseum. It was the 10th-straight victory for UVa in the series with its ACC and in-state rival.

Sophomore point guard China Crosby (New York, N.Y.) was UVa’s leading scorer with 15 points and she scored the Cavaliers’ final three points in overtime to seal the victory.

Virginia’s record improved to 16-14 overall and 5-9 in ACC play. Virginia Tech’s record dropped to 11-18, 1-13 in league play.

Freshman Ataira Franklin (Bowie, Md.) finished with 14 points and six rebounds for the Cavaliers, while fellow rookie Jazmin Pitts (Mosely, Va.) just missed a double-double with nine points and nine rebounds.

Ariana Moorer (12 points) and Paulisha Kellum (11 points) also scored in double figures for UVa.

In the first half, Virginia Tech jumped out to a 15-7 lead after lay-up by Alyssa Fenyn with 13:41 left. Virginia clawed its way back and eventually took a 37-33 lead at halftime.

Each team held a five-point lead at separate points in the second half, but neither squad could hold onto it. With the Cavaliers trailing 65-63, Kellum scored four-consecutive points for UVa to give the Wahoos a 67-65 lead with 1:13 left to play.

Shanel Harrison tied the score with less than three seconds left on a jumper.

Playing in its third overtime game of the season, Virginia out-scored Virginia Tech 6-4 in the final period. After an overtime-opening three-pointer by Virginia Tech’s Harrison, Virginia retaliated with a jumper by Telia McCall (Marietta, Ga.), a free throw by Pitts and a jumper by Crosby.

Holding on to a slim 72-70 lead, Harrison converted one of two free throws with one minute left in the game to pull Virginia Tech within one, but Crosby converted a free throw on the other end to extend Virginia’s lead to 73-71.

A jumper by Harrison was off the mark at the buzzer.

Fenyn finished with 17 points for the Hokies, and Harrison added 14.

Virginia out-rebounded Virginia Tech, 42-39. The Cavaliers had just five turnovers in the 45-minute contest.

The ACC Tournament begins on Thursday (March 3) in Greensboro, N.C. The tournament bracket and seedings will be released at the conclusion of the final regular-season game later tonight.