Virginia women’s basketball’s opportunity to rebound against one of the ACC’s best slipped away Thursday night at Cameron Indoor Stadium in Durham, N.C.
The 65-58 loss marked Coach Amaka Agugua-Hamilton's sixth straight loss against Duke in her time at Virginia, which serves as a brutal reminder of Agugua-Hamilton’s continued struggles against ACC elites.
On paper, the matchup with the Blue Devils (12-6, 7-0 ACC) seemed like the perfect moment for the Cavaliers (13-5, 5-2 ACC) to bounce back after a fourth-quarter disaster at home against Syracuse and measure themselves against one of the ACC’s two lone undefeated teams in conference play.
By the end of the third, Virginia was still hanging around. The Cavaliers successfully chipped away at their 11-point halftime deficit, surging back when junior guard Kymora Johnson made three straight field goals to give them their first lead of the night with 35 seconds left in the third, 45-44. The 13-3 run was fueled by a heightened aggressiveness on both ends of the floor — particularly from freshman guard Gabby White, who injected life into the offense.
To start the fourth, Virginia carried its momentum with a quick 4-0 run to create a five-point lead. The advantage was short-lived for Virginia, though, as Duke countered it with an 11-0 run of its own to reclaim a five-point lead with just four minutes remaining.
After several lackluster possessions, including a costly shot clock violation, Johnson drained a clutch three-point shot with two minutes left to trim the deficit to two. However, Duke answered immediately, as senior guard Ashlon Jackson knocked down a 25-foot three-point shot on the other end to put Virginia’s momentum to rest. The Blue Devils ended the game on a 20-7 run.
Though her offensive effort was less pronounced in the second half, Virginia consistently lacked an answer for sophomore forward Toby Fournier. She outscored the Cavaliers in the first quarter by herself 15-14, ending the quarter with an electric buzzer beater from behind the arc. Fournier finished with 25 points and nine rebounds. The Blue Devils are 19-1 on the season when she scores 18 or more points — a statistic that underscored where the control of the game ultimately rested.
The Cavaliers’ season low of nine assists reflected an offense that struggled to operate without Johnson. While White’s offensive aggressiveness and defensive anticipation deservedly earned her extra minutes in the lineup, it limited Johnson’s chances to control the game and facilitate for her teammates. Though she ended with 13 points and two rebounds, the disjointed nature of the offense put Virginia’s backs against the wall, which Duke capitalized on down the stretch.
Senior forward Tabitha Amanze continued to establish a steady presence, recording four blocks and anchoring the post offense. Virginia gave her looks on nearly every possession, feeding the hot hand in the paint on a night when just one three-point shot was made. Amanze finished with 20 points and five rebounds, while going a perfect 8-8 from the free-throw line, providing a bright light on both ends for the Cavaliers.
Fans can tune into ACCNX Jan. 22 at 7 p.m. as Virginia returns to John Paul Jones Arena for a matchup against Pittsburgh, aiming to refocus after two tight losses. As March inches closer, the Cavaliers are still searching for a statement win against a top-tier opponent to prove they are worthy of an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament.
Read More
No. 14 women’s tennis opens dual season with trio of decisive wins
By Thomas Baxter and Anderson Kim | 3 hours agoVirginia lost only one set in their three season-opening matches.
Simmonds, off to MLS after torrid season, keeps moving fast
By Michael Liebermann | 5 hours ago“He's got a lot of things going for him,” Gelnovatch said this season.
At crucial ACC crossroads, Virginia and Duke can make a statement
By Xander Tilock and Martin Heintzelman | 13 hours agoVirginia and Duke headline the top of a ‘middle of the pack’ section. The Blue Devils are in second place while the Cavaliers are in third, but both teams have had wildly different results to date.
