Bittersweet

Wright breaks UVa. scoring record, but Cavs fall to Terps in heartbreaker

Staff Report
UVa. sports: www.virginiasports.com

Monica Wright scored 20 points to pass Dawn Staley as the women’s career scoring leader in Virginia history, but No. 23 Virginia fell 61-60 to Maryland on Monday night.

Wright finished with 20 points, and had a chance to win the game at the buzzer, but was defended very closely, and no foul was called.

Wright, a preseason All-American and the ACC’s preseason player of the year, came into the game needing 16 points to pass Staley’s total of 2,135 points. Staley, the best player in school history, played from 1989-92 and was a two-time national player of the year. She was also the Cavaliers assists leader until Sharneé Zoll passed her record in February 2008. Wright now has 2,140 points for her career.

The Terrapins (13-3, 1-1 Atlantic Coast Conference), coming off a 28-point loss at North Carolina State, only let Virginia lead twice, both times briefly, and won despite turning the ball over 28 times. They also held the Cavaliers to just 30.8 percent shooting overall.

The Cavaliers (11-4, 0-2), who lost by 18 in their league opener at No. 16 Florida State, had several chances in the final minute, but came up short.

Telia McCall scored and was fouled with 11 seconds left to make it 61-60, but her foul shot missed. Maryland got the ball and Diandra Tchatchouang was fouled, but she missed both free throws.

The Cavaliers pushed the ball upcourt and called timeout with 3.1 seconds left. When they inbounded the ball to Wright, she was surrounded and tried a shot at the buzzer with the Terrapins converging. The shot had no chance, and no foul was called as Wright wound up prone on the floor in disbelief, the crowd jeering as the Terrapins quickly rushed off the court.

Earlier, Wright claimed the scoring mark on a three-pointer from the right corner with 13:01 to play. It was followed quickly by a timeout, and a standing ovation from the crowd.

It also capped a 10-2 burst for the Cavaliers, pulling them to within 43-42, and 3 minutes later Chelsea Shine’s free throw gave Virginia its first lead since very early.

But after sloppy play on both sides, Kizer scored inside with 8:16 to play, Bjork hit her sixth three-pointer to push the lead to 54-50 and the Cavaliers never got back to even again.