/
.
Virginia Opens WNIT Play Thursday at Home vs. Morgan State
Story Links
CHARLOTTESVILLE – The Virginia women’s basketball team begins play in the 2011 Women’s National Invitation Tournament (WNIT) Thursday (March 17) at John Paul Jones Arena. Tip-off vs. Morgan State is scheduled for 7 p.m., and live statistics will be available at VirginiaSports.com.
The game will air live locally on WINA 1070 AM with Jay James (play-by-play), Myron Ripley (analyst) and Larry Johnson (statistician) calling the contest. That audio broadcast is available on the Internet with a subscription to Virginia Sports Online Radio.
Ticket prices are $8 for adults and $6 for youth, students and seniors. All tickets will be sold as general admission. Gates to John Paul Jones Arena will open at 5:30 p.m.
Tickets can be purchased online at VirginiaSports.com, by calling the Virginia Athletics Ticket Office at (800) 542-UVA1 or in person at the John Paul Jones Arena box office beginning 90 minutes prior to tip-off.
Gameday parking will be available, free of charge, at John Paul Jones Arena and University Hall parking lots.
Virginia (16-15, 5-9 ACC) earned an at-large berth to the 64-team postseason tournament. Ariana Moorer (9.3 points per game), Ataira Franklin (9.2 points per game) and Chelsea Shine (9.1 points per game) are the Cavaliers’ leading scorers.
Virginia has participated in the WNIT three times (1980, 2006 and 2007) and holds a 5-4 record in nine games. It is Virginia’s 29th overall postseason appearance.
UVa advanced to the WNIT quarterfinals in 2007 and 2006 and the semifinals in 1980.
Virginia is 3-0 all-time vs. Morgan State. The teams have not met since 1992 – a 110-49 victory for UVa at University Hall.
Morgan State has a 17-14 overall record and earned the MEAC’s automatic berth to the WNIT with a 10-6 conference record. Brittany Dodson leads the team in scoring, averaging 11.0 points per game. Theresa Davis adds 8.7 points and 6.9 rebounds per game for the Lady Bears, who are making their first-ever WNIT appearance.
The winner of Thursday’s contest will face the winner of Old Dominion vs. Loyola (Md.) in the second round.