Early in the first half of the Virginia women’s basketball team’s home game against Conference USA foe Louisiana Tech, senior guard Kelsey Wolfe intercepted a Techster pass and took the ball to the rim for an easy two. On the Techsters’ very next possession, the Cavaliers pressured Louisiana Tech into another turnover and capitalized on the error when Wolfe found senior guard Ataira Franklin for an in-rhythm transition three. Moments later, redshirt senior guard Lexie Gerson drove baseline and knocked down a pull-up jumper.
Virginia’s three backcourt Early in the first half of the Virginia women’s basketball team’s home game against Conference USA foe Louisiana Tech, senior guard Kelsey Wolfe intercepted a Techster pass and took the ball to the rim for an easy two. On the Techsters’ very next possession, the Cavaliers pressured Louisiana Tech into another turnover and capitalized on the error when Wolfe found senior guard Ataira Franklin for an in-rhythm transition three. Moments later, senior guard Lexie Gerson drove baseline and knocked down a pull-up jumper.
Virginia’s three backcourt co-captains moved in lockstep for the first five minutes of the Cavaliers’ tilt with the Techsters, and by the end of the 95-82 win, the whole team had joined the dance. Five Cavaliers scored in double-figures as Virginia (2-1) poured in 62 second-half points in a free-wheeling affair at John Paul Jones Arena.
“It was a great game for us, quite high-scoring,” coach Joanne Boyle said. “I was really proud of the girls. I felt we had great energy out there … there was a really good flow out there tonight.”
Franklin was back in the starting lineup after coming off the bench in a Tuesday night win at High Point, and she fired with aplomb all game. She started out 1-of-5 from the field, but by the end of the game, the Preseason All-ACC selection had scored a season-best 16 points on 5-of-9 shooting. Franklin hit her fourth and final 3-pointer of the afternoon when she ran along the baseline, received a chest pass from sophomore guard Faith Randolph and rose up in the left corner with 10:48 to play to put Virginia ahead 62-50.
“You know, you just have to let it fly sometimes,” Franklin said. “You know, when you hit a shot on offense, then you’re a little more aggressive on defense, and then you kind of get going and you’re more in the flow of the game.”
Randolph contributed 14 points off the bench to continue a hot start to her sophomore season. The attacking guard did not hesitate when presented with an open lane, and her 6-of-10 shooting display was easily her most efficient of the year.
“I think getting that one year under her belt has really been tremendous for [Randolph],” Franklin said. “Faith — you can just tell — the way she plays she has a whole different level of confidence.”
Freshman guard Breyana Mason took a page out of Randolph’s book, taking the ball right at the Louisiana Tech defense until the Techsters stepped up to slow her down. After the Techsters cut the Cavalier lead to eight with 12:51 to play, Mason trucked into the paint, flipped the ball high off the glass and absorbed the contact on the successful basket to tack on a foul shot. The bulky left-hander scored a career-high 13 points, and also showed off her outside touch with two 3-pointers.
Techster junior forward Whitney Frazier was effective inside for Louisiana Tech (0-2), using her quickness to score against the stronger Virginia frontcourt. Frazier was 6-for-6 at the free throw line and finished with 17 points and 10 rebounds.
But Virginia had an answer for Frazier: Cavalier junior forward Sarah Imovbioh scored a team-high 19 points and corralled eight offensive rebounds. Imovbioh missed a few close-in looks, but remained active on the glass. On one sequence, she managed to rebound her own putback and give Virginia a bucket on her second effort. The springy forward grabbed 13 boards overall, and junior forward Sarah Beth Barnette teamed with Franklin and freshman forward Sydney Umeri for 16 more as Virginia edged Louisiana Tech 42-41 on the glass.
“Everyone was boxing out down low, even the guards, so it was much easier for me to get in and get those rebounds,” Imovbioh said. “So, I think they really, really helped.”
The Cavaliers threw a 1-2-2 press at the Techsters on made baskets and settled into man-to-man defense on misses. Louisiana Tech responded by looking to run before Virginia could set up its pressuring defense. The Techsters drove the lane throughout the game — earning 30 free throw attempts — but also launched 22 long-range attempts while making only six. Virginia held Louisiana Tech to 40.9 percent shooting, though the Techsters did score 57 points in the second half.
“We had breakdowns in our defense,” Boyle said. “They had their fair share of second-chance points. I mean, there were things that we definitely need to tighten up and clean up.”
Virginia will return to action Tuesday against Liberty in Lynchburg, Va.co-captains moved in lockstep for the first five minutes of the Cavaliers’ tilt with the Techsters, and by the end of the 95-82 win, the whole team had joined the dance. Five Cavaliers scored in double-figures as Virginia (2-1) poured in 62 second-half points in a free-wheeling affair at John Paul Jones Arena.
“It was a great game for us, quite high-scoring,” Virginia coach Joanne Boyle said. “I was really proud of the girls. I felt we had great energy out there…there was a really good flow out there tonight.”
Franklin was back in the starting lineup after coming off the bench in a Tuesday night win at High Point, and she fired with aplomb all game long. She started out 1-of-5 from the field, but by the end of the game, the Preseason All-ACC sharpshooter had scored a season-best 16 points on 5-of-9 shooting. Franklin hit her fourth and final 3-pointer of the afternoon when she ran along the baseline, received a chest pass from sophomore guard Faith Randolph and rose up in the left corner with 10:48 to play to put Virginia ahead 62-50.
“You know, you just got to let it fly sometimes,” Franklin said. “You know, when you hit a shot on offense, then you’re a little more aggressive on defense, and then you kind of get going and you’re more in the flow of the game.”
Randolph contributed 14 points off the bench to continue a hot start to her sophomore season. The attacking guard did not hesitate when presented with an open lane, and her 6-of-10 shooting display was easily her most efficient of the year.
“I think getting that one year under her belt has really been tremendous for [Randolph],” Franklin said. “Faith—you can just tell—the way she plays she has a whole different level of confidence.”
Freshman guard Breyana Mason took a page out of Randolph’s book, taking the ball right at the Louisiana Tech defense until the Techsters stepped up to slow her down. After the Techsters cut the Cavalier lead to eight with 12:51 to play, Mason trucked into the paint, flipped the ball high off the glass and absorbed the contact for an and-one. The bulky left-hander scored a career-high 13 points, and also showed off her outside touch with two 3-pointers.
Techster junior forward Whitney Frazier was effective inside for Louisiana Tech (0-2), using her quickness to score against the stronger Virginia frontcourt. Frazier was 6-for-6 at the free throw line and finished with 17 points and 10 rebounds.
But Virginia had an answer for Frazier. Cavalier junior forward Sarah Imovbioh scored a team-high 19 points and corralled eight offensive rebounds. Imovbioh missed a few close-in looks, but remained active on the glass. On one sequence, she managed to rebound her own putback and give Virginia a bucket on her second effort. The springy forward grabbed 13 boards overall, and junior forward Sarah Beth Barnette teamed with Franklin and freshman forward Sydney Umeri for 16 more as Virginia edged Louisiana Tech 42-41 on the glass.
“Everyone was boxing out down low, even the guards, so it was much easier for me to get in and get those rebounds,” Imovbioh said. “So, I think they really, really helped.”
The Cavaliers threw a 1-2-2 press at the Techsters on made baskets and settled into man-to-man defense on misses. Louisiana Tech responded by looking to run before Virginia could set up its pressuring defense. The Techsters drove the lane throughout — earning 30 free throw attempts — but also launched 22 long-range attempts while making only six. Virginia held Louisiana Tech to 40.9 percent shooting, though the Techsters did score 57 points in the second half.
“We had breakdowns in our defense,” Boyle said. “They had their fair share of second-chance points. I mean, there were things that we definitely need to tighten up and clean up.”
Virginia will return to action Tuesday against Liberty in Lynchburg, Va.
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