The Virginia women's basketball team never has been easily intimidated. So it's fitting that even when the U.S. National Team came into Charlottesville Friday night, the Cavaliers were confident they could beat them.
But in the 96-44 loss, the Cavs saw that competing against the team that will represent the United States in the 2000 Olympics is not an easy task.
For one thing, the Cavaliers said the national team that appeared in U-Hall was a completely different team than the one that lost to Tennessee last week.
"They're a good team," Cav guard Renee Robinson said. "They're professionals. You would expect that. They definitely played better than what I saw on film. That game against Tennessee must have been a fluke."
Indeed, after the loss to the Lady Volunteers, national team members said they refocused their strategy.
"I think the loss really put things in perspective," U.S. guard Dawn Staley said. "A team that's really disciplined and sticks to its game plan can give us trouble. Tennessee stuck to their game plan. They snuck up and got a win. It's opened our eyes and it's forcing us to focus on the big picture."
The national team, which is barnstorming the country playing top college programs in a tune-up for the Olympics, led 50-21 at halftime and dominated every facet of the game. It outshot Virginia 56.7 percent to 30.6 percent, got 41 rebounds to the Cavaliers' 24 and forced 26 turnovers while committing just 14. The national team also was able to capitalize off Virginia turnovers, scoring 35 of their 96 points off Cav turnovers.
"We were very disorganized offensively at the start of this game," Virginia Coach Debbie Ryan said. "We had a player out of position. But until we get settled down offensively, we're just not there yet."
Ryan said the loss, while not discouraging to the coaching staff, probably would be a tough loss for her team.
"They have honestly thought they could win this game since it was scheduled," she said. "They have no way of looking at how these two teams match up. A sense of reality is really not there. They really had no idea what they were getting into. But that's good. Youthful exuberance is definitely better than thinking you're going to get killed."
The game also marked the return of Staley to U-Hall. Staley, who played for the Cavaliers from 1989-1992, led Virginia to three Final Fours. She was national Player of the Year in 1991 and 1992. Staley's name also hangs from the rafters at U-Hall.
Staley, who plays for the Charlotte Sting, was honored prior to the game and presented with a gift from Ryan and the women's basketball team.
"It's always special to come back," Staley said. "These are the fans, the 50 or so that started here when I was a first year and definitely the 9,000 or so we had when I was done. It's always special to come back here and play"
Read More
Virginia Athletics wins second straight Commonwealth Clash over Virginia Tech
By Eleanor Lynch | 7 hours agoThe Cavaliers’ fifth Commonwealth Clash victory over the last eight contests proves the athletic department’s overall success in recent years.
No. 6 men’s lacrosse falters late, fumbling chance at huge victory over No. 1 Notre Dame
By Michael Liebermann | 10 hours agoThe ache of last season's defeat will persist.
No. 6 women’s lacrosse eliminated by No. 4 Syracuse in ACC Semifinal
By Peter Kratz | 10 hours agoA forgettable first-half performance sunk the ship for the Cavaliers.
