Post Game Notes vs. California
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March 16, 2018
(10) Virginia Cavaliers improved to 19-13, 10-6; (7) California Golden Bears fell to 21-11, 11-7 Pac-12
Seven Virginia players scored in the first quarter; five different players scored the first five baskets
Virginia took a 19-18 lead to start the second quarter on a bucket from Dominique Toussaint (7:40 mark)
Virginia scored the final seven points of the first half and held Cal scoreless for the final 4:29 of the second period
Cal’s Kianne Smith scored the Bears’ first seven points. Smith scored a team-high 20 points in the game quarter alone. It is a new career high for the PAC-12 All-Freshman team member.
The Cavaliers went on a 9-0 run in a span of 2:38 in the third quarter, including a fastbreak layup from Huland El and capped by a jumper from Willoughby to take a 39-35 lead. The Cavaliers extended it to a 12-2 run, holding Cal scoreless for the final 4:29 of the quarter
Felicia Aiyeotan came off the bench to score a team-high 16 points on 8-of-11 shooting. It was one point shy of her season high (17 against Notre Dame on 2/15).
The Cavaliers had five players finish the game in double figures: Aiyeotan (16), Jocelyn Willoughby (13), Aliyah Huland El (12), J’Kyra Brown (11), and Dominique Toussaint (10). It was the first time since Jan. 15 (win over North Carolina) that the Cavaliers had five players finish in double figures
Willoughby went 6-of-6 from the free throw line in the fourth quarter
J’Kyra Brown hit a three-pointer with 8:36 remaining in the fourth quarter, extending her streak to 26 games in which she has made at least one three-pointer this season
Brown had a career-high seven assists
20 of the Cavaliers’ 26 baskets were assisted
The Cavaliers deviated from their normal starting lineup with Lauren Moses making her first start since Nov. 29 against Maryland. J’Kyra Brown made her fifth start of the season and her first since Dec. 4 at Rutgers
Willoughby and Aiyeotan led the team with six rebounds apiece
The Cavaliers played a clean first half, committing just two turnovers. They finished with six in the game, nine fewer than the Golden Bears. Moses led Virginia with three of the team’s eight total steals
Virginia shot 39.4 percent (26-of-66). Cal shot 44.6 percent (25-of-56)
Cal held a 38-31 advantage in rebounding
There were four lead changes and the score was tied four times
The Cavaliers made their first appearance in the NCAA Tournament since 2010 and their 25th overall appearance in the championship
Virginia picked up its first win in an NCAA Tourament game for the first time since topping Marist, 68-61, in a 2009 first round game. Virginia lost to California (coached by Joanne Boyle) in the 2nd round that year
The Cavaliers were the first lower-seeded team to record a victory in the 2018 Women’s Basketball Tournament
This was the first victory for the Cavaliers as a lower seeded team since 1996 when 3-seed UVA topped 2-seed Old Dominion in the regional semifinal
Virginia is now 11-7 in NCAA tournament first round games
Virginia is 3-2 all-time against Cal, having lost the previous two meetings