The Virginia women’s basketball team (7-6, 0-0 ACC) concluded its non-conference schedule by picking up a 69-47 win over Manhattan (3-8, 0-0 MAAC) on Thursday (Dec. 21) at John Paul Jones Arena in Charlottesville, Va.
The Cavaliers opened the game on an 8-0 run and led 43-25 at halftime. After both teams traded baskets in the third quarter, the Cavaliers went 5-of-9 from the field in the fourth quarter to finish strong and close out the victory.
Senior forward Lauren Moses (Mount Holly, N.J.) scored a season-high 16 points, on 7-of-9 shooting to lead the Cavaliers. Sophomore center Felicia Aiyeotan (Lagos, Nigeria) scored seven points with a team-high nine rebounds.
Kayla Grimme led the Jaspers with 15 points. Amani Tatum scored six points with eight rebounds and five assists.
“It is always great to pick up a win right before the holiday break,” said Virginia head coach Joanne Boyle. “We’ve had a nice little streak here with three wins to close out the non-conference schedule. I think our players are starting to understand how much better we play when the ball goes inside and when we use an inside-out and inside-to-side attack. Lauren Moses and Felicia Aiyeotan are in the gym all the time getting extra work, so that makes a difference. You are really starting to see the results in our post play. We are excited now to go into break, give the girls a short rest and then come back and start the ACC schedule.”
Virginia started the game on an 8-0 run. The Cavaliers converted their first five field goal attempts and started the game going 8-of-9 from the field, pushing out to an 18-9 lead heading into the second quarter. The Jaspers scored the first five points of the second period to narrow the gap to 18-14, but three-pointers from freshman guard Brianna Tinsley (Madison, Va.) and redshirt senior guard J’Kyra Brown (Rocky Mount, N.C.) pushed the Cavalier advantage back out to 24-16. The Cavaliers extended their scoring run out to a 15-2 stretch, with Aiyeotan contributing five points, to make it a 33-16 game with four minutes remaining in the half. Aided by a three-point shot in the final minute from sophomore forward Lisa Jablonowski (Ernster, Luxembourg), the Cavaliers took a 43-25 advantage into the break.
The teams traded baskets throughout the third period and into the first three minutes of the fourth quarter until Jablonowski went to the free throw line, making her first attempt but missing her second. Senior guard Aliyah Huland El (Randolph, N.J.) came up with the offensive rebound and got a put back, being fouled on the shot. She made the free throw to give the Cavaliers a four-point swing and a 58-38 advantage. The Cavaliers outscored the Jaspers 17-11 in the fourth quarter to close out the victory.
The Cavaliers shot 50.9 percent (27-of-53) while Manhattan went 19-of-55 (34.5 percent). Virginia held a 32-31 edge in rebounding. The Cavaliers forced 21 turnovers, scoring 28 points off the miscues.
Virginia will take six days off for the holidays and will return to action when it hosts Pittsburgh (6-5, 0-0 ACC) in both squads’ Atlantic Coast Conference opener next Thursday, Dec. 28 at 7 p.m. at John Paul Jones Arena.
Single-game ticket prices for all home games are $10 for Reserved seating, $8 for adult General Admission and $6 for youth (18 & under), senior (60 & over) and UVA faculty/staff General Admission. Fans may purchase home game tickets through the Virginia Athletics Ticket Office online at VirginiaSports.com, by phone and in person. The Virginia Athletics Ticket Office is located in Bryant Hall at Scott Stadium and open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. Teleph
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