Cavaliers Welcome Miami for Black History Celebration Game

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – Virginia (12-13, 4-10 ACC) returns to John Paul Jones Arena on Thursday (Feb. 22) to host Miami (16-9, 6-8 ACC) for the Cavaliers’ Black History Month celebration game. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. on ACC Network Extra.

FOR OPENERS

• Both Virginia and Miami look to get back on track as the Cavaliers are coming off an 85-79 loss to then-No. 19 Syracuse, while the Hurricanes dropped both of their games last week, also to the Orange (60-71) and Florida State (68-74).
• The two teams, which will meet just once this regular season, are separated by two games in the ACC standings.
• With 15 points and a career-high 10 assists, Kymora Johnson recorded her first career double-double against Syracuse. She also tallied five steals. Johnson is averaging 21.4 points in UVA’s last eight games.
• Miami’s Shayeann Day-Wilson is one of just two players in the ACC shooting over 40 percent from 3-point range among conference matchups.

BROADCAST INFORMATION

• Zealand Shannon (play-by-play) and Lauren Moses (analyst) will have the call on ACC Network Extra.
• 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.

A WIN FOR THE CAVALIERS WOULD…

• Give Virginia its third win in its last four games.
• Surpass last year’s ACC win total (4).
• Snap a six-game losing skid in the series.
• Pull Virginia back to a .500 overall record on the season.

SERIES HISTORY

• Miami leads the all-time series, which began in 1987, 12-10.
• However, the two teams are tied 6-6 among games played in Charlottesville.
• The Hurricanes are currently riding a six-game win streak in the series.
• The Cavaliers’ last win over Miami was on Jan. 3, 2016, when UVA defeated the Hurricanes 76-56 at JPJ.
• Miami is 11–9 all-time against UVA in ACC regular-season games since the Hurricanes joined the league in 2004-05.

LAST MEETING BETWEEN THE HOOS & MIAMI

• In the lone meeting between the two teams last year, Miami won the regular-season finale, 85-74, at the Watsco Center on Feb. 26, 2023.
• Four of Virginia’s six players finished the game in double figures. Camryn Taylor had her fifth 20-point game of the season with 21 points and seven rebounds.
• Cady Pauley came off the bench to score 12 points, matching her career high.
• The Cavaliers scored 30 points in the third quarter.
• Miami shot 52.5 percent from the field and outrebounded UVA, 38-29.

LAST TIME OUT

• After falling behind early, the Cavaliers dropped an 85-79 decision to then-No. 19 Syracuse at John Paul Jones Arena this past Sunday (Feb. 18).
• Virginia dished out a season-high 27 assists, the most in a single game since the 2009-10 season.
• In her second game back from injury, Camryn Taylor (20 pts, 8 reb) recorded the 15th 20-point game of her career, including third this season.
• With 15 points and a season-high 10 assists, Kymora Johnson notched her first career double-double.
• Syracuse’s Dyaisha Fair scored a game-high 33 points on 13-of-23 shooting, including 5 of 10 from beyond the arc. Fair’s 13 made field goals are the most by a UVA individual opponent and tied Monica Wright’s JPJ record.

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 17.5 points per game, which is good for ninth among all ACC players.
• Johnson has led the Hoos in scoring in nine games this season, including when she scored a career-high 35 points in the Hoos’ 81-87 road upset over then-No. 15 Florida State (Jan. 21).
• In UVA’s last eight games, Johnson is averaging 21.4 points per game and shooting 49.2 percent from the field.
• Notre Dame’s Hannah Hidalgo (5.5 apg) and Johnson (5.3 apg) are the nation’s freshman assist leaders.

OLD SCHOOL BASKETBALL

• For games played through Feb. 20, Virginia is 13th in the nation in rebounds per game (42.9), 33rd in defensive rebounds per game (28.6) and 32nd in offensive rebounds per game (14.2).
• The Hoos lead the ACC free throw percentage (78.3), good for 13th nationally.
• The Cavaliers are 12-5 this season when either leading or tying their opponents in rebounding.
• UVA has shot at least 80 percent from the charity stripe in 11 games this season, including a clip of 92 percent in its most recent contest against Syracuse.

ON THE HORIZON

• The Cavaliers travel to No. 20 Louisville (21-6, 10-4 ACC) on Sunday (Feb. 25).
• Tipoff from KFC Yum! Center is set for noon on The CW.