Cavaliers Set for First Clash with Virginia Tech

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – Virginia (10-10, 2-7 ACC) travels to in-state rival Virginia Tech (16-4, 7-2 ACC) in a Smithfield Commonwealth Clash on Thursday (Feb. 1). Tipoff from Cassell Coliseum is set for 6 p.m. on ACC Network and 98.9-FM/1070-AM WINA.

FOR OPENERS

• The Cavaliers are in search of their third win over a ranked opponent in as many tries.
• Kymora Johnson has led UVA in scoring in its last four games, which include 35-point and 25-point performances in ranked wins over Florida State and North Carolina, respectively.
• The Hokies’ current three-game win streak is tied with NC State for the longest among all ACC teams.
• Virginia (78.0) and Virginia Tech (76.9) are the league’s top-2 free-throw shooting teams.

BROADCAST INFORMATION

• Jen Hildreth (play-by-play) and Brooke Weisbrod (analyst) will have the call on ACC Network.
• The game will also be broadcast on 98.9-FM/1070-AM WINA, VirginiaSports.com and the Virginia Sports mobile app.
• Live statistics will be located on VirginiaSports.com and the Virginia Sports mobile app.

SERIES HISTORY

• Virginia leads the all-time series, which began in 1974, 51-18.
• Virginia is 20-8 all-time against the Hokies in games held in Blacksburg.
• Tech has won the last four meetings of the series, including the last two at Cassell Coliseum.
• From 2007-15, the Cavaliers won 18 straight games in the series.
• The Hokies have won six of the last seven meetings.
• On Jan. 26, 2017, the Cavaliers posted one of the most dominant victories in program history in a 76-27 rout over VT at John Paul Jones Arena.

LAST MEETING BETWEEN THE HOOS & VIRGINIA TECH

• Virginia Tech won both matchups last season, including the most recent, 72-60, on Jan. 29, 2023, at JPJ.
• The Hokies went up 16-2 in the first quarter and ultimately led by 15 points in the first half. UVA cut its deficit to as little as four with six minutes remaining, but eight unanswered points by the Hokies helped seal the win.
• With 22 points, Camryn Taylor recorded her then-second straight 20-point game, and London Clarkson tallied 15 points.
• Tech’s Elizabeth Kitley scored 16 points and had seven rebounds and four blocked shots.

LAST TIME OUT

• Virginia knocked off its second ranked opponent in as many tries as the Cavaliers took down then-No. 20 North Carolina 81-66 at John Paul Jones Arena this past Sunday (Jan. 28).
• The Cavaliers trailed by as many as 13 points in the first half, but outscored the Tar Heels by exactly 21-9 in both the second and fourth quarters.
• Virginia shot a season-best 58 percent from 3-point range with the help of Kymora Johnson (25 pts, 4-5 3FG) and Sam Brunelle (14 pts, 4-5 3FG).
• UVA’s clip of 58 percent from distance marked its best in a game since Feb. 12, 2017, after shooting 58.3 percent against Wake Forest.
• Paris Clark (14 pts, 4-5 FG, 5-5 FT) and London Clarkson (10 pts, 4-5 FT) also scored in double figures for Virginia.
• The Cavaliers were without 2023 All-ACC second team selection Camryn Taylor (injury) and backup point guard Yonta Vaughn (injury).

WINS OVER RANKED OPPONENTS

• For the first time since the 2013-14 season, the Cavaliers have recorded two wins over ranked opponents (at #15 Florida State and vs. #20 North Carolina).
• Prior to Virginia naming Amaka Agugua-Hamilton head coach on March 21, 2022, the Cavaliers had lost 27 consecutive matchups to ranked opponents.
• Entering its matchup against FSU, the Cavaliers were 3-47 in their last 50 games against ranked opponents.

AGUGUA-HAMILTON APPROACHING 100 CAREER WINS

• Virginia head coach Amaka Agugua-Hamilton is one win away from career No. 100.
• Currently in her fifth season overall as head coach, Agugua-Hamilton is 99-40 (.712) all-time, including 25-25 at UVA.
• In three seasons Missouri State (2019-22) Agugua-Hamilton compiled a 74-15 (.831) record, which included back-to-back NCAA Tournament berths.

KYMORA JOHNSON LEADING THE CHARGE

• First-year guard Kymora Johnson is one of the top freshmen in the nation.
• Johnson is currently leading the Cavaliers in scoring in conference play with an average of 16.8 points per game, good for 11th among all ACC players.
• She has led UVA in scoring in its last four games, including a career-high 35 points in the Hoos’ 81-87 road upset over then-No. 15 Florida State (Jan. 21).
• In UVA’s last four games, Johnson is averaging 23.3 points per game and shooting 57 percent from the field.
• Notre Dame’s Hannah Hidalgo (5.6 apg) and Johnson (5.2 apg) are the nation’s top-2 freshman assist leaders.

OLD SCHOOL BASKETBALL

• For games played through Jan. 30, Virginia is ninth in the nation in rebounds per game (45.10), 14th in defensive rebounds per game (29.9), 21st in offensive rebounds per game (15.2) and 15th free throw percentage (78.0).
• The Hoos also lead the ACC in rebounding and free throw percentage.
• The Cavaliers are 10-5 this season when either leading or tying their opponents in rebounding.
• Virginia has been outrebounded in just four contests this season.
• UVA has shot at least 80 percent from the charity stripe in eight games this season.

SMITHFIELD COMMONWEALTH CLASH

• The Smithfield Commonwealth Clash is a rivalry between Virginia and Virginia Tech across all school-sponsored sports with 21 individual event points on the line.
• The school that accumulates 11 points or more will be crowned the winner of the Smithfield Commonwealth Clash trophy.
• Thursday’s UVA-VT game is worth a half point in the Clash as the Cavaliers currently command a 6-1 lead in this year’s standings.
• Virginia captured the Clash in 2015, 2016, 2019 and 2023, while Virginia Tech won the Clash in 2017, 2018 and 2022. The 2020 and 2021 clashes were canceled due to the pandemic.

ON THE HORIZON

• Virginia returns home to host Clemson (9-12, 2-7 ACC) on Sunday (Feb. 4) in the Cavaliers’ annual Play4Kay game.
• Tipoff from John Paul Jones Arena is set for 4 p.m. on ACC Network.