When the Virginia women's basketball team takes the floor Friday night against Cleveland State, coach Debbie Ryan's criticism of the team will still be fresh in their minds.
After watching her squad shoot a dismal 33.3 percent from the floor in Tuesday's exhibition against UMMC Ekateringburg, the Cavalier coach had some disapproving words about the squad's offensive performance.
"We were taking shots a little too quickly," Ryan said. "A couple of players were off, and that's going to happen sometimes, but that doesn't mean we should shoot so poorly."
The collective shooting slump against the Russians came as a surprise to the Cavaliers, who shot 43.5 percent in their last regular-season game against Maine and sunk nine three-pointers.
Senior Brandi Teamer, Virginia's leading scorer from last season, made only five of 19 shots from the field against the Russian team, a trend she vows to change against Cleveland State.
"I didn't get some of the calls I thought I should have gotten, so I'll adjust to that," Teamer said. "Also, if I don't have the shot [against Cleveland State], I'll kick it out to someone who may have a better opportunity."
In addition to their shooting woes, Virginia had trouble driving the lane and earning trips to the free throw line. The Cavaliers made 11 trips to the line against the Russians, sinking only 50 percent of their shots on the night.
"We didn't get penetration from our guards," Ryan said. "That's how you get to the free throw line."
Luckily for the Cavaliers, Tuesday's exhibition loss to the Russians did not affect the team's 1-1 overall record. Instead, Virginia will attempt to bounce back against the Vikings, a team that finished the 2004 season 12-16.
The Cavaliers will likely have to keep an eye on Cleveland State junior Erin Martin, who is averaging 8.4 points per game, as well as senior Maria Rickards, who has pulled down an average of 3.1 rebounds per game.
Despite the challenge, Ryan seemed optimistic about getting her team on the road and breaking out of the shooting slump.
Cleveland "will be a good trip for us," Ryan said. "I think we just have to ... straighten a few things out before we take the court again."
With their season still in the early stages, Virginia's wake-up call against the Russians could prove to be a blessing in disguise. The shooting lapse on Tuesday has added fire to the team's efforts as they prepare for Friday's contest.
"I think anyone on our team can bring it any given night," senior guard/forward Latonya Blue said.
Blue, Teamer and the rest of the starting lineup will look to use the recent embarrassment as motivation to come out stronger against the Vikings.
As Virginia prepares for tip-off on Friday, Ryan's exasperation with her team could be the stimulus the Cavaliers need to get rolling as they approach the heart of their schedule.
Read More
Virginia reloads with a new leader, an emphasis on fundamentals and … bowling?
By Xander Tilock | 2 days agoThe new leader of Virginia men's basketball, and some players, offered an inside look at offseason plans.
The 2025 MLB Draft: An end and a beginning for Virginia baseball
By Xander Tilock | 2 days agoVirginia upperclassmen and incoming recruits could wind up with MLB organizations.
Live tracker: the men’s basketball offseason
By Michael Liebermann , Emory Huffman and Xander Tilock | 4 days agoA frenetic offseason likely awaits.
