UVa. women win one on road in OT

 
Staff Report
UVa. sports: www.virginiasports.com

Paulisha Kellum (Upper Marlboro, Md.) scored 10 points in overtime to lead No. 21 Virginia to a 69-63 road victory at Miami Thursday night. Monica Wright (Woodbridge, Va.) finished with 24 points as the Cavaliers’ high scorer.

It was UVa’s first overtime game of the 2009-10 season, and its record improved to 18-6 overall and 7-3 in the Atlantic Coast Conference. With the loss, Miami’s record went to 16-8 overall and 3-6 in the ACC.

Kellum finished with 14 points and also had five rebounds. Wright, meanwhile, contributed six rebounds and three steals in addition to her 24 points.

Virginia raced out to a 10-2 lead in the first half. An 8-1 run by the Hurricanes, however, cut UVa’s lead to one point, 11-10, at the 12:46 mark. Virginia extended its lead to seven points, 28-21, on a basket by Telia McCall with 3:55 left in the half, but Miami out-scored the Cavaliers 6-1 for the final minutes of the period and the halftime score was 29-27.

Miami opened the second half on an 8-0 run to take a 35-29 lead on a jumper by Diane Barnes with 17:45 left. Virginia battled back and took its first lead of the second half on a 3-pointer by Wright that made the score 48-47 with 4:40 left. The teams traded baskets from there, and at the end of regulation the score was tied, 54-54.

In overtime, Kellum scored the first six points of the period and Virginia never looked back. Free throws down the stretch sealed the 69-63 victory.

The Cavaliers outrebounded the Hurricanes, 52-39.

Miami was led by Shenise Johnson’s double-double of 22 points and 11 rebounds. Riquna Williams added 15 points and seven rebounds.

Up next, Virginia hosts North Carolina on Monday, Feb. 15, in a nationally televised (ESPN2) contest at John Paul Jones Arena.