Virginia Hosts Cavalier Classic Tournament This Weekend

November 24, 2017

The Virginia women’s basketball team (2-3) hosts the Cavalier Classic Tournament, presented by DoubleTree by Hilton University Area, on Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 25-26 at John Paul Jones Arena in Charlottesville, Va.

Tournament Schedule:
Nov. 25
Virginia (2-3) vs. Harvard (3-2), 2 p.m.
NC A&T (2-2) vs. Duquesne (3-2), 4 :30 p.m.

Nov. 26
NC A&T vs. Harvard, 1 p.m.
Virginia vs. Duquesne, 3:30 p.m.

Security Information
– Virginia Athletics has implemented a clear bag policy and enhanced security procedures for home football and men’s and women’s basketball games. The changes in policy and entrance procedures are a result of recommendations for large-scale events held on Grounds by the University of Virginia’s security consultant.
– All bags entering John Paul Jones Arena for home men’s and women’s basketball games must be clear plastic, vinyl or PVC and cannot exceed 12″ x 6″ x 12″. Clear, one-gallon plastic freezer bags (Ziploc bags or similar) are also permitted.
– Additionally, all fans entering the arena will be screened upon entry, typically with walk-through and hand-held metal detectors.
– The new policy does not change the items fans may bring into John Paul Jones Arena.
– Click here to read the full bag policy and description of game day entry procedures.

All of the 2017-18 Virginia women’s basketball games – home and away – are available locally on the radio on NewsRadio 1070 AM and 98.9 FM WINA. The Virginia games will also stream live online as an ACC Network Extra production. All four games will have live statistics available through GameTracker.

The Cavalier Classic started as the precursor to the ACCÃÆ’¢Ãƒ¢’¬Ãƒâ€¹Ã¢â’¬ Tournament in 1976, with Virginia capturing 24 of the 29 Cavalier Classic team titles. Since 2014, the tournament has deviated from the previous format and does not have a declared champion, playing instead as a true “classic” tournament with set match-ups. At the conclusion of the tournament, there will be a six player all-tournament team announced, including a tournament MVP. Last season, Jocelyn Willoughby (East Orange, N.J.) was the MVP and Dominique Toussaint (Staten Island, N.Y.) earned all-tournament team honors. Lauren Moses (Mount Holly, N.J.) was named the 2015 Cavalier Classic MVP.

This is the first time since 2004 that the Cavaliers have been home during Thanksgiving weekend. This is also the first time since the Cavalier Classic Tournament was revived in 2003 that the tournament has not been played in December.

Virginia is coming off a 66-62 victory over Hampton on Thursday. Toussaint scored 14 points against Hampton, also dishing a career-high six assists. In the last three games, Toussaint is averaging 5.0 assists per game. Willoughby had a team-high 15 points against Hampton, going 6-of-9 from the field. Willoughby is shooting 55.1 percent overall, 66.7 percent from three and 80.0 percent from the free throw line.

In three games at JPJ this season, the Cavaliers are shooting 49.5 percent while limiting opponents to a 34.8 percent efficiency.

Harvard opened the season with a 72-66 loss to Dayton and also had a setback against Maine at the Black Bears’ kickoff tournament before picking up wins over Siena, Sacred Heart, and Boston University. Taylor Rooks and Jeannie Boehm both rank in the top five in the Ivy League in rebounds per game. As a team, the Crimson has been dominant on the offensive glass, averaging a conference-best 17.5 offensive rebounds per outing. Last season, the Crimson went 21-9 overall, making it to the second round of the WNIT after a win in the first round against New Hampshire. The WNIT appearance marked the seventh time in the past nine years, and the program’s 13th appearance in the postseason, the most of any other Ivy League team. Virginia is 1-0 all-time against Harvard. This is the first meeting since Dec. 3, 2005, when the Cavaliers defeated the Crimson 54-48 in the final season of playing at University Hall.

Duquesne was selected fourth in the preseason A-10 poll. Chassidy Omogrosso and Julijana Vojinovic were named preseason third-team All-A-10. The junior guards are Duquesne’s leading returning scorers, averaging 13.7 and 10.9 points per game last season. Conor Richardson was named to the preseason All-Defensive team. The junior guard led the Dukes with 41 steals last season. The Duquesne women’s basketball team ended the 2016-17 season by falling to Drexel 70-47 in the First Round of the WNIT. The squad amasses an 18-16 overall record. Duquesne already has a win over an ACC opponent this season, defeating Pitt, 66-53. This is the first-ever meeting between UVA and Duquesne.

The Cavaliers are closing in on the 900th win in program history coming into the game with an 898-443 record in the 45 years of Virginia women’s basketball.

Single-game ticket prices for all home games are $10 for Reserved seating, $8 for adult General Admission and $6 for youth (18 & under), senior (60 & over) and UVA faculty/staff General Admission. Fans may purchase home game tickets through the Virginia Athletics Ticket Office online at VirginiaSports.com, by phone and in person. The Virginia Athletics Ticket Office is located in Bryant Hall at Scott Stadium and open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. Telephone purchases can be made by calling 1-800-542-UVA1 (8821) or locally at 434-924-UVA1 (8821).