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Cavaliers Open 2011-12 Season Friday vs. Appalachian State
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CHARLOTTESVILLE – The Virginia women’s basketball team, led by first-year head coach Joanne Boyle, begins its 2011-12 season by hosting Appalachian State on Friday (Nov. 11). Tip-off from John Paul Jones Arena is scheduled for 7 p.m., and the game will be carried live on WINA 1070 AM in the Charlottesville area. A live audio broadcast is available through Virginia Sports Online Radio and live statistics will be available at VirginiaSports.com.
Virginia commences its 39th season of women’s basketball and sixth season in John Paul Jones Arena. The Cavaliers have won six-consecutive season openers and hold a 34-4 (.895) all-time record in season-opening contests.
In her career as a head coach, Boyle has won all nine of her season openers, including her debuts as the head coach at Richmond in 2002 (vs. Delaware, 65-48) and at California in 2005 (vs. Eastern Washington, 55-46).
Overall, Boyle has compiled a 204-93 record over six seasons at Cal (2005-11) and three seasons at Richmond (2002-05).
In its lone preseason exhibition contest, UVa downed Division II opponent Alaska Anchorage, 69-57, on Nov. 5 at JPJA. Senior Chelsea Shine led all players with 24 points and the Cavaliers shot 43 percent from the field (27-of-63), including 50 percent (17-of-34) in the first half.
Virginia returns four of its top five scorers from 2010-11, a season in which the Cavaliers registered a 19-16 record and advanced to the quarterfinals of the Women’s National Invitation Tournament (WNIT).
Senior Ariana Moorer returns for her fourth year after leading the Cavaliers in scoring (9.7 points per game) and assists (3.1 per game) in 2010-11. She was voted the Atlantic Coast Conference’s Sixth Player of the Year after leading UVa in scoring despite starting just eight games.
Shine completes the senior class for Virginia and has appeared in 100 games during her Cavalier career (67 starts). She averaged 9.0 points and 4.8 rebounds per game for the ‘Hoos in 2010-11.
Sophomore Ataira Franklin, the Cavaliers’ first ACC All-Freshmen Team selection since Monica Wright in 2007, led the ACC in 3-point field goal percentage. She connected on 43-of-90 treys (48 percent) while averaging 9.4 points per game.
Appalachian State is coming off a 25-7 mark from a season ago in which they also earned a WNIT berth. The Mountaineers set school records for total wins (25) and wins in Southern Conference play (17) while winning the SoCon regular season title for the first time since the 1995-96 season.
The squad returns three starters and 10 of its 12 letterwinners, including junior guard/forward Anna Freeman. Freeman returns as the leading scorer (14.2 ppg) and rebounder (6.9 rpg) from a season ago.
This is the first meeting in women’s basketball between Appalachian State and Virginia.
Following Friday’s game, Virginia travels to Big East opponent Providence for a Monday (Nov. 14) night match-up.
Parking Changes For 2011-12 Virginia Women’s Basketball Game Days
Reserved season parking passes are required for all levels of the John Paul Jones Arena Garage and the John Paul Jones Arena West Lot. Fans should note this is a change from previous seasons. The John Paul Jones Arena West Lot that was previously free public parking will now be reserved for permit holders only. Fans attending the game without a reserved parking permit should park in the University Hall and McCue parking lots. Lots open 1.5 hours pre-game and must be vacated 1 hour post-game.
Parking permits for the John Paul Jones Arena West Lot were distributed to season ticket holders for the 2011-12 season.
A limited amount of reserved parking permits for the John Paul Jones Arena Garage are available for purchase for $50 through the Virginia Athletics Ticket Office. Entrance to levels 1 & 2 of the JPJA Garage is from Copeley Road only.