Virginia Falls 83-44 at No. 4 UConn
HARTFORD, Conn. – The Virginia women’s basketball team (2-3) suffered an 83-44 loss at No. 4 Connecticut (4-0) on Tuesday (Nov. 19) at the XL Center in Hartford, Conn.
Virginia held an early 9-5 lead, but UConn went on a 21-1 run at the end of the first quarter to take control of the game and outscored the Cavaliers in every frame to pick up the win.
Senior guard Jocelyn Willoughby (East Orange, N.J.) ended the game with 13 points and seven rebounds. Megan Walker led UConn with 19 points, one of four Huskies to finish the game in double figures.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Senior guard Dominique Toussaint (Staten Island, N.Y.) scored the first four points of the game and senior forward Lisa Jablonowski (Ernster, Luxembourg) hit a three-pointer to give UVA and early 9-5 advantage, but UConn countered with a 17-0 run. Freshman guard Carole Miller (Alexandria, Va.) ended a 9:55-long UVA field goal drought by draining a three-pointer with 6:42 remaining in the second period, making it a 33-13 game. Virginia trailed 42-17 at halftime. Virginia found its offensive drive in the third quarter, scoring 17 points, with Willoughby contributing 12 of those, but the Huskies extended their lead out to 64-34 by the end of the period. In the fourth quarter, freshman guard Dylan Horton (Los Angeles, Calif.) provided a spark, hitting a pair of three pointers.
FROM HEAD COACH TINA THOMPSON
“We got a little tired, but they are good. They are just really good. There is a reason they are the number four team in the country. All though our kids played hard, they are a lot. They do a good job of countering what you are trying to take away. They read each other very well. It is reminiscent of a team that has been playing together for a while and is very well trained. When a team runs a motion offense like that and they move and they move, it is ivery difficult to guard. They do counters and reads based on what the defense is giving.”
NOTES
- Virginia went 14-of-57 (24.6 percent) from the field. UConn shot 50.8 percent (30-of-59)
- UVA was 10-of-14 from the free throw line (71.4 percent)
- UConn held a 42-35 edge in rebounding
- Virginia started the game going 4-of-5 from the field but closed the first quarter on an 0-of-9 shooting drought, going 1-of-4 from the free throw line
- UConn was 7-of-8 from the field and 2-of-2 from the free throw line during their first quarter run
- UVA led for 3:29 of the game
- Willoughby went 7-of-8 from the free throw line. She had her consecutive free throws made streak snapped at 25
- Jablonowski had seven points and seven rebounds
- Miller had six points and five rebounds
- UConn outscored Virginia 36-8 in the paint. The Huskies scored 20 fast break points while the Cavaliers had four
- UConn scored 20 points off 19 UVA turnovers
ON THE HORIZON
- Virginia returns home to host Old Dominion on Sunday, Nov. 24, at 2 p.m.
- It will be the first of three-straight home games for the Cavaliers as they will host the Cavalier Classic Tournament November 30 and December 1. Virginia takes on James Madison in the tournament’s first game on Saturday (Nov. 30) at 2 p.m. followed by UCLA and UCF at 4:30 p.m. On Sunday (Dec. 1) JMU and UCF play at 1 p.m. followed by UVA and UCLA at 3:30 p.m.
TICKET INFORMATION
- Reserved single-game tickets are $8 if purchased in advance or online and $10 if purchased at the JPJ Box Office. General admission tickets are $5 if purchased in advance or online and $8 if purchased at the JPJ Box Office. Single-game courtside tickets may be purchased for $15
- For more information or to purchase tickets, fans should contact the Virginia Athletics Ticket Office at 1-800-542-UVA1 (8821). Fans can also purchase tickets online at VirginiaSports.com or in-person at the Virginia Athletics Ticket Office in Bryant Hall at Scott Stadium