Johnson Named USBWA National Freshman of the Week

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – Virginia guard Kymora Johnson (Charlottesville, Va.) has been named U.S. Basketball Writers Association’s (USBWA) Tamika Catchings national freshman of the week for games played Jan. 15-21, the organization announced Tuesday (Jan. 23).

Johnson averaged 25.5 points, 7.5 rebounds, 6.5 assists and shot 59 percent from the field in the Cavaliers’ pair of games against then-No. 19 Notre Dame (Jan. 18) and at then-No. 15 Florida State (Jan. 21).

Johnson scored a career-high 35 points on 14-of-20 shooting to lead UVA to its first road win over a ranked opponent since the 2010-11 season. She shot 70 percent against the Seminoles and made four free throws late in the fourth quarter to seal UVA’s first win in Tallahassee since 2012. Johnson is one of just five freshmen nationally – and the only ACC freshman – to score 35 points in a game this season. Her 35-point performance also tied for sixth all-time in program single-game history. Johnson is the first Cavalier to score 35 points in a single game since Monica Wright did so during the 2009-10 season. Dawn Staley (37) and Johnson are the only two freshmen in UVA history to score at least 35 points in a single game.

Virginia (9-9, 1-6), which received a vote in this week’s AP top-25 poll, returns to John Paul Jones Arena to host Pittsburgh (6-13, 0-6 ACC) on Thursday (Jan. 25). Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. on ACC Network Extra.