Virginia Hosts Charlotte Saturday Night in WNIT Quarterfinal Action

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CHARLOTTESVILLE – The Virginia women’s basketball team continues play in the 2011 Women’s National Invitation Tournament (WNIT) Saturday (March 26) at John Paul Jones Arena vs. Charlotte. Tip-off vs. the 49ers is scheduled for 7 p.m., and live statistics will be available at VirginiaSports.com.

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 the John Paul Jones Arena and University Hall parking lots.

The game will air live locally on WINA 1070 AM. That audio broadcast is available on the Internet with a subscription to Virginia Sports Online Radio.

Virginia (19-15, 5-9 ACC) earned an at-large berth to the 64-team postseason tournament and advanced to the quarterfinals with wins over Morgan State (69-56), at Loyola (71-49) and against Boston College (53-48). Ariana Moorer (9.7 points per game), Ataira Franklin (9.3 points per game) and Chelsea Shine (9.2 points per game) are the Cavaliers’ leading scorers.

UVa’s three-game win streak in the WNIT matches its longest of the season. Against Boston College, Moorer was the Cavs’ leading scorer (15 points) and Franklin just missed a double-double (nine points, 10 boards).

Virginia is making its fourth WNIT appearance (1980, 2006, 2007, 2011) and holds an 8-4 record in 12 games. This is UVa’s third time advancing to the quarterfinal round. The Cavaliers made the semifinals in 1980.

Virginia is 4-0 all-time vs. Charlotte. The last time the two teams met was in the 2007 WNIT Second Round – a 74-72 UVa victory in Charlottesville.

Charlotte has a 29-6 overall record and earned an at-large berth to the WNIT from the Atlantic 10 Conference. The 49ers finished with a 9-5 league record.

Charlotte defeated Liberty (62-56), South Carolina (69-57) and Florida (81-77, ot) to advance to the quarterfinals.

Shannon McCallum averages 12.9 points per game. Epiphany Woodson adds 12.1 points per game and Jennifer Hailey averages 10.5 points and 8.4 rebounds per game.

The winner of Saturday’s game will face the winner of Syracuse vs. Toledo (Sunday at 2 p.m.) on a date and at a venue to be determined.