Less than a week after capturing one of its biggest victories of the season, the Virginia women's basketball team is flying high at the top of the ACC. The No. 24 Cavaliers, riding a streak of 12 wins in their last 13 games, hope to continue their momentum at Georgia Tech tonight at 7 p.m.
The Cavs (16-5, 8-1 ACC), who wrestled sole possession of first place in the Conference away from Duke Sunday, look to continue the dominating defense and improved rebounding that have been the heart and soul of their recent winning run.
The Yellow Jackets (11-8, 4-5) are reeling after a resounding 73-42 loss at Clemson. Virginia, which has won eight straight ACC games, defeated Georgia Tech 83-70 in the teams' first meeting Jan. 3 in Charlottesville.
The Jackets should not feel too bad about losing to the Cavs though. All eight of Virginia's ACC opponents have felt the sting of defeat after going up against the Cavaliers this season.
Virginia's run has garnered plenty of respect throughout the Conference, which named third-year Svetlana Volnaya Player of the Week and fellow forward Schuye LaRue Freshman of the Week yesterday.
The Cavs have yet to make a big splash in the national polls, however, moving up only one spot in the AP poll this week. But the Cavaliers will not let this apparent lack of national respect bother them and refuse to let their spot atop the ACC lull them into complacency.
"Everybody deserves respect," Cav fourth-year point guard Renee Robinson said. "But I really don't care what people think about us. We're still gonna go out there and play each game."
In this spirit, the Cavaliers are careful to keep their focus on the task immediately at hand tonight in Atlanta.
"In general this is a game we need to be up for," fourth-year forward Lisa Hosac said. "After a big win like this [over Duke] we can't rest. It's always a battle down there [in Atlanta]. They always play very well at home."
Virginia will have to continue to clamp down on opposing shooters against the Yellow Jackets. Senior guard Danielle Donehew has been one of Tech's most dangerous scorers (10.5 points-per-game) as a 38-percent marksman from three-point land. Freshman guard Amy Lingenfelder had a breakout game against Clemson with 19 points, including 3-of-5 three-pointers.
Virginia held Duke, the best three-point shooting team in the ACC, to 2-of-12 from behind the arc Sunday. Volnaya's defense on Duke star shooter Georgia Schweitzer was key. Cavalier Coach Debbie Ryan heaped accolades on Volnaya for her defensive prowess.
"She did a great job on Schweitzer," Ryan said. "That she can play [such excellent] defense on one of the toughest players in the ACC is for me incredible."
She said this kind of defensive intensity is vital for the Cavaliers as a team.
"We're not going to bowl you over with dominance," she added. "We're going to be a team that has to play together"
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