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Virginia Hosts Indiana Thursday In 2011 Big Ten/ACC Challenge
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CHARLOTTESVILLE – The Virginia women’s basketball team (5-2) returns to John Paul Jones Arena, where it is undefeated at 3-0 this season, to host Indiana as part of the 2011 Big Ten/ACC Challenge. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m., and the game will be broadcast over the airwaves on WINA 1070 AM in the Charlottesville area. That broadcast, along with live statistics, can be accessed at VirginiaSports.com.
This is the fifth annual women’s Big Ten/ACC Challenge, and Virginia holds a 3-1 record in all-time games that have been part of the Challenge:
2010-11: L, 46-74 at Ohio State
2009-10: W, 56-49 vs. Purdue
2008-09: W, 63-39 at Illinois
2007-08: W, 84-60 vs. Wisconsin
Virginia is 2-0 all-time against Indiana, with the most recent meeting coming at the Junkanoo Jam in Freeport, The Bahamas on Nov. 26, 2009. Virginia came away with an 84-79 victory and then-sophomore Chelsea Shine (10 points, nine rebounds) and then-freshmen China Crosby (12 points, seven assists) had standout performances.
The other meeting between UVa and IU was on Dec. 27, 1980 – a 58-56 Virginia win in Flushing, N.Y. (Queens Tournament).
The Hoosiers are 2-3 on the young season and are looking to snap a two-game losing streak. Indiana is coming off a 69-58 loss at home to Toledo, and before that dropped a 77-72 decision at Miami (Ohio).
Junior guard Jasmine McGhee leads three IU players who average double figure scoring with 13.0 points per game. Junior forward Aulani Sinclair adds 11.6 ppg and paces the team from behind the arc, shooting 58 percent (7-for-12). Senior forward Georgia Jones also contributes 10.4 ppg in addition to her team-best 9.6 rebounds per game.
Head coach Felisha Legette-Jack is in her sixth season at Indiana and has led the Hoosiers to three postseason appearances.
Virginia returned from a 9,000-mile (roundtrip) road swing to Hawaii with three games in Honolulu from Nov. 25-27. Senior guard Ariana Moorer was named to the Waikiki Beach Marriott Rainbow Wahine Showdown All-Tournament team after scoring in double-figures for the fifth-consecutive time in the Cavaliers’ 50-59 loss to Cal. Moorer leads the team by averaging 11.6 points per game.
Virginia is allowing 53.1 points per game by its opponents – an average that ranks third in the ACC behind North Carolina (42.6) and Duke (49.2).
In terms of defending the 3-point basket, Virginia leads the league. UVa’s opponents have connected on 31-of-142 3-point attempts (21.8 percent).
Following Thursday’s game, Virginia heads to in-state foe Richmond for a Sunday, Dec. 4 contest. Tip-off is 2 p.m.