Sophomore floor general Mikayla Venson slashed into the paint and finished a scoop layup to begin the home opener for Virginia women’s basketball. The Cavaliers (2-0, 0-0 ACC) played with this reckless abandon on both ends of the court for most of the night, blowing out Norfolk State (0-2) 86-50.
“We’re doing a better job,” coach Joanne Boyle said. “I think they’re starting to get a feel for what we’re looking for out of it. We’re trying to play a little bit more aggressive.”
Virginia extended its man-to-man defense out to the arc and jumped passing lanes. In the first quarter, sophomore forward Lauren Moses forced the first of 23 Spartan turnovers and converted it into two Cavalier points.
“Just being in help, you know, we practice that all day,” Moses said. “I just got the steal and started the fast break surprisingly. I passed it up to [junior guard] Bri [Mason] and she gave it back.”
Heralded freshman forward Moné Jones intercepted another errant pass around the three-minute mark of the first quarter and showed her ability to run the fast break. Spotted up beyond the arc, sophomore guard J’Kyra Brown corralled Jones’ pitch ahead and extended the Cavalier lead to double-digits with a sweet stroke.
Virginia went on a 13-0 run following Brown’s trifecta, employing a 1-2-2 three-quarter-court press at the end of the first quarter and knocking down shots well into the second. The Cavaliers were confident and in total control.
“With this team, we are just trying to sharpen things up, focusing on defensive stops and getting out in transition,” senior guard Faith Randolph said. “So [having that lead] definitely cleaned things up.”
Virginia slipped a bit when members of its starting five began to take seats on the bench and the lead grew even more comfortable. Weak-side rebounding became an issue, as Cavaliers were too often caught still and standing up on the perimeter, while the Spartans crashed the boards.
Holding a plus-15 rebound margin over Middle Tennessee in its season opener Friday, Virginia corralled 43 to Norfolk State’s 46 tonight. The Spartans do not have nearly the length or athleticism as the Cavaliers. Boyle said it was all about “laziness.”
“When you know that you’re up and just scoring buckets, it’s the discipline and the little things,” Boyle said. “That’s the one thing I said. We didn’t do a very good job. We just kind of watched … We might’ve been looking at the scoreboard a lot more.”
But one Virginia player continues to snatch up rebounds in her limited time. Boyle expects Moses to set the example for her teammates in practice and in games, because she has seen her sophomore forward put forth the extra effort thus far.
“She’s been so rock solid,” Boyle said. “I think she had 10 or so in the last game. She had seven tonight but only played 18 minutes. She’s really been stepping up her game when it comes to that.”
Moses finished with 12 points, in addition to the seven rebounds. She had a game-high 13 points for the Cavaliers in their 70-66 road win over Middle Tennessee. Now, Moses not only does the little things — setting screens, sealing defenders, collecting rebounds, blocking shots — but also scores the basketball.
“This year I’m trying to stay aggressive on both ends of the floor, defensively with hard three-quartering and offensively, just facing up and attacking the basket,” Moses said. “I mean I’m never satisfied though. Obviously, I have things to work on like getting more boards and just the 15-footer.”
Following up its game against the Blue Raiders in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, Virginia again benefited from a balanced scoring attack. Seven players scored in double figures, including Moses, Randolph (17), Brown (11) and sophomore guard Aliyah Huland El, Mason, Jones and Venson, who each had 10.
“Just with our week, I really wanted to spread out the minutes and get some people some rest,” Boyle said. “Just to see even different rotations and what people could give us if we were in a pinch at times.”
The Cavaliers return to action Thursday night in an away game against Auburn.
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