Clark, Taylor Shine in Cavaliers’ 63-60 Loss at Georgia Tech

ATLANTA – Camryn Taylor (19 pts, 7-12 FG) and Paris Clark (13 pts, 12 reb, 3 stl) had solid performances, but Virginia (8-5, 0-2 ACC) came up short at Georgia Tech (10-4, 1-1 ACC) Thursday night (Jan. 4) at McCamish Pavilion.

Taylor’s performance marked the second straight game in which she led the Hoos in scoring, while Clark notched her first career double-double. Additionally, London Clarkson also scored in double figures for UVA with 11 points on 4-of-5 shooting and three free throws. Clarkson also added six rebounds and a career-best four blocked shots.

Thursday’s contest was close throughout as neither team ever led by more than seven points and featured nine lead changes. However, the Cavaliers struggled to connect from 3-point range. Virginia finished 1-for-16 from beyond the arc as Taylor was the only UVA player find the bottom of the net from distance.

On the final possession, the Cavaliers had a chance to tie the game, but ultimately could not get off a clean look as Kymora Johnson’s (6 pts, 6 ast) 3-point attempt did not fall.

HOW IT HAPPENED
Virginia led 8-5 midway through the first quarter when the Yellow Jackets scored nine straight points to take a 14-8 lead with just under 2:00 to play in the period. The Cavaliers closed out the quarter by scoring five unanswered points with makes from Taylor and Clark, plus a Clark made free throw. The Cavaliers had eight turnovers in the opening period, but out-rebounded Tech, 13-6. The Yellow Jackets led 14-13 at the end of the first.

There were five tied scores and four lead changes in the second period. Five different Cavaliers found the bottom of the net in quarter No. 2, including reserves Jillian Brown and Kaydan Lawson. UVA took better care of the basketball in the second, turning it over just three times, while the Yellow Jackets had six giveaways. Despite missing their last five field goal attempts of the half, the Cavaliers trailed 27-24 at the intermission.

Tech secured the largest lead by either team in the third, 35-28, which prompted a Virginia timeout. Coming out of the break, the Cavaliers scored four straight points on the front end of 9-3 run, which was highlighted by Taylor’s made 3. UVA grasped a 45-43 lead after Taylor knocked down a pair of free throws with 1:22 to play in the period. With two seconds left in the quarter, Johnson found a cutting Brown whose layup tied the score 48-48 heading into the fourth. The Cavaliers shot 60 percent from the field in the third, while Tech shot 44 percent. Nine of UVA’s 14 total assists came in the third, including five from Johnson.

Taylor broke the tied score on another pair of made free throws early in the fourth, but the Yellow Jackets secured the lead for good with 4:50 to play on a layup by Tonie Morgan (18 pts) at the 4:50 mark. Thirty seconds later, Clarkson picked up her fifth foul, which brought Lawson back on to the floor. A few minutes later, Lawson sunk a pair of free throws to cut Tech’s lead to one, 61-60, with just under 1:00 to play. The Yellow Jackets drew a foul with 20 seconds left as Kara Dunn (24 pts) hit both of her attempts at the line to extend Tech’s lead to three, 63-60. After the pair of made free throws, UVA signaled for time, which automatically advanced the ball to mid-court. Sam Brunelle, Cady Pauley and Johnson checked into the game. With time winding down, Johnson threw up a contested last final shot, which missed the mark just before time expired.

NOTES

• With the win, Georgia Tech improved to 59-19 in the all-time series, which began in 1979. The Yellow Jackets are also now winners of the last three meetings in Atlanta.
• For the second straight game, Camryn Taylor led the team in scoring with 19 points.
• With 13 points and 12 rebounds, Paris Clark recorded her first career double-double … Clark’s 13 rebounds are also a career best.
• London Clarkson finished 11 points on 4-of-5 shooting and three free throws, pulled down six rebounds and recorded a career-high four blocked shots.
• Georgia Tech’s bench accounted for just five points, the lowest by a UVA opponent this season.
• Virginia finished 1-of-16 from 3-point range.

UP NEXT
Virginia returns to John Paul Jones Arena to host Duke (9-5, 1-2 ACC) on Sunday (Jan. 7). Tipoff is set for noon on The CW.