Virginia Hosts Virginia Tech Thursday in the Smithfield Commonwealth Clash

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – The Virginia women’s basketball team (3-13, 0-6 ACC) hosts Virginia Tech (14-5, 6-2 ACC) in the Smithfield Commonwealth Clash on Thursday, Jan. 27 at 7 p.m. at John Paul Jones Arena.

BROADCAST INFORMATION

• The game will stream online through ACCNX. ACCNX streams are available through participating TV providers that carry ACC Network and can be watched on the ESPN app and through WatchESPN
• All of the 2021-22 Virginia women’s basketball games are available locally on the radio on NewsRadio 1070 AM and 98.9 FM WINA
• Live stats will also be available for the game

COVID 19 & CLEAR BAG POLICIES

• In accordance with UVA Policy, all attendees 12 years of age and older are required to provide proof of vaccination or of a negative COVID-19 test result for entry into John Paul Jones Arena on event days. Fans are also required to wear their mask inside the arena at all times. CLICK HERE for more information
• The university announced Jan. 14 a temporary prohibition on food and beverages at University-sponsored events including athletics competitions at John Paul Jones Arena. This policy, which will be in effect from Jan. 17 to Feb. 4 will impact the home games during this time period.
• A clear bag policy is in place for the arena. CLICK HERE for details

NOTING THE CAVALIERS

• This is only the second home game for UVA since Dec. 8. The Cavaliers played NC State on Jan. 13 but have had their three other scheduled home games in that span postponed
• This is the second meeting in 10 days between Virginia and Virginia Tech. The Hokies won the Tuesday, Jan. 18 meeting in Blacksburg 69-52
• Taylor Valladay scored a then-career-high 16 points against Virginia Tech and then topped that with an 18-point performance at UNC on Thursday. She has four double-digit scoring efforts in the last seven games
• Valladay is averaging 12.2 points per game in conference contests. She averaged 6.7 points per game against non-conference opponents
• In Virginia’s three games last week, Valladay scored 43 points, a 14.3 per game average
• Kaydan Lawson came off the bench on Thursday to grab a career-high 14 rebounds at North Carolina. It was the most rebounds in a single game for a UVA player this season and just the third time this year a Cavalier grabbed double-digit boards. The guard ranks third on the team in rebounding, averaging 4.9 per game and 5.7 in ACC contests
• Lawson then led the team in scoring against Duke with a 10-point performance. It was her third double-digit scoring effort of the season
• In the last five games, four different Cavaliers have led the team in scoring. At Georgia Tech, Amandine Toi and Carole Miller split the team lead with eight points apiece. Toi scored 14 at NC State. Valladay led at Virginia Tech (16) and North Carolina (18) and Lawson at Duke (10)
• Eleah Parker is second in the conference in blocked shots per game in ACC contests at 2.8 per game. She ranks sixth overall with 1.47 per game for the season
• Parker is averaging a team-best 6.6 rebounds per game in conference contests
• On Thursday at UNC, the Cavaliers cut a 17-point deficit to six points in the final minute of the game. On Sunday at Duke, the Cavaliers cut an 18-point deficit down to five and trailed 50-45 in the final minute of the game, but could not complete either comeback
• Virginia is limiting conference opponents to 28.4 percent shooting from beyond the arc. Virginia Tech started the game 4-of-18 from three-point range (22.2 percent) before going 3-of-4 in the fourth quarter

SMITHFIELD COMMONWEALTH CLASH

• The Smithfield Commonwealth Clash, originally called the Commonwealth Challenge (2005-2007), has been a part of the UVA-Virginia Tech rivalry since 2014. It was an all-sports points-based program with the Commonwealth
• Clash trophy presented to the winning school each year for its dominance in head-to-head competitions. This game is worth 0.5 points. The Hokies currently lead 3.5-1.5
• Virginia Tech has been ranked as high as No. 24 in the AP Poll this season
• Virginia Tech also played three games last week, picking wins against UVA and Pitt (75-65) before falling 51-45 at NC State
• The Hokies lead the ACC in made-three-pointers per game (8.6). Aisha Shepard leads that charge with 2.8 per game. Cayla King is shooting a conference-best 42.6 percent from behind the arc
• Elizabeth Kitley is second in the ACC in scoring and rebounding, averaging 18.7 and 10.5 respectively
• Virginia leads the all-time series 51-15 and has won six of the last nine meetings
• In 2020, the teams split the contests with Virginia Tech winning in Charlottesville (69-61) and the Cavaliers coming out on top in Blacksburg (86-76)

ON THE HORIZON

• Virginia closes out the week with a road game at Florida State on Sunday, January 30 at 12 p.m. The game will be televised on the ACC Regional Sports Networks and will not stream online