Virginia Advances To WNIT Quarters With 53-48 Win Over Boston College

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CHARLOTTESVILLE – Virginia advanced to the Women’s National Invitation Tournament (WNIT) quarterfinals with a 53-48 victory over visiting Boston College Thursday night (March 24) at John Paul Jones Arena.

Virginia will host Charlotte on Saturday (March 26) at John Paul Jones Arena. Ticket prices (on sale Friday at 9 a.m.) 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 the John Paul Jones Arena and University Hall parking lots.

With the victory, UVa improved to 19-15 and won its third-consecutive game. Boston College finished its season with a 20-13 record. The ‘Hoos improved to 13-5 in John Paul Jones Arena this season and avenged a 73-50 loss to BC in the regular-season on Feb. 20.

Junior guard Ariana Moorer (Woodbridge, Va.) scored 15 points to lead UVa, while freshman Ataira Franklin (Bowie, Md.) chipped in nine points and tied a career-high with 10 rebounds. Junior forward Chelsea Shine (Wayne, Pa.) added eight points and eight boards.

Trailing 24-20 late in the first half, Moorer converted back-to-back three-point plays and then nailed a jumper with nine seconds left in the period to put Virginia up, 28-24, and complete an 8-0 run by herself.

In the second half, Boston College rallied to take a one-point lead, 29-28, at the 17:27 mark. Virginia responded with a 3-pointer by Whitny Edwards (Charlotte, N.C.) that gave the Cavaliers a 31-29 lead with 14:03 left in the game.

It proved to the game-winning basket as the ‘Hoos never relinquished the lead and won by a final score of 53-48.

Virginia improved to 8-4 all-time in WNIT games and will play in the quarterfinals of the postseason tournament for the third time in school history.

Senior guard Paulisha Kellum (Upper Marlboro, Md.) played in her 132nd-career game moved into sixth place on the all-time list. She trails former Cavalier guard Monica Wright (2006-2010), who occupies fifth place with 133 games played.

Carolyn Swords had a double-double for Boston College with 21 points and 15 rebounds. Stefanie Murphy battled foul trouble to score 14 points and pull down five boards.