The Virginia women's basketball team kept its winning streak alive Sunday afternoon with a closely contested 72-71 victory over University of California-Santa Barbara (3-2). This was the fourth consecutive win for the Cavaliers (5-2), who lost to the Gauchos, 78-66, last season.
"Santa Barbara has lots of heart and really hustles; we matched their hustle today," Virginia coach Debbie Ryan said. She recognized the players that set the tone with physical play for the Cavaliers, including sophomore forward, Anna Prillaman.
"Anna is going to give everything she has every minute, and really put her body on the line for us," Ryan said.
Early in the game, sophomore Anna Prillaman and senior Telisha Quarles both put points on the board for the Cavaliers, and each time they were answered by the Gauchos' strong offense.
After the Gauchos reached a nine-point lead with seven minutes in the half, Quarles, who came into Sunday's game as the team's leading scorer with 13.2 points per game and ended the day with a career-high 26 points, started a Virginia run by hitting a three-pointer.
The Cavaliers trailed 35-31 at the half. Prior to Sunday, the Cavaliers had not come back from a half-time deficit, having trailed 39-34 at the half in their loss to Richmond.
With just over 14 minutes to play, Crosswhite went down in a loose ball scrum. "I had the ball and then I was hit in the head," Crosswhite said. Within 30 seconds, UCSB junior guard Jess Hansen also went down with an ankle injury.
With less than four minutes to play, Virginia's LaTonya Blue hit a three-pointer to tie the game at 64 points each. Quarles followed with two free throws and Santa Barbara responded with two free throws. Kristen Mann added a free throw to give the Gauchos a one-point lead.
Virginia countered as Quarles' jump shot hung on the rim before dropping, taking the Cavs to a 68-67 lead. The Gauchos came back with two free throws after a Prillaman foul, and Virginia's Logan-Friend and UCSB's Jess Hansen traded baskets.
With 27 seconds to play, Quarles came down the court and dished the ball to Blue, who made a driving layup to give the Cavaliers a one-point lead. "That play was set for Telisha to go in deep and go to either LaTonya or Anna ... I just trusted her to make the right decision," Ryan said of the game winning play.
"I really feel that the whole team is behind me," Blue said.
With four seconds remaining, the ball came out of Virginia's end to Prillaman, who ran out the clock to give the Cavaliers a one-point victory.
Riding the wave of their last four victories, Virginia begins ACC play on Dec. 6 when they will face 12th-ranked Duke at University Hall. The Cavaliers will have to avoid slow starts and shoot well to win.
Still, Ryan is optimistic about facing Virginia's first conference challenge, saying "I think that we're about as good as we're going to be going into conference play"
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