The Virginia women's basketball team split a pair of road games in North Carolina this weekend, falling to No.
The Virginia women's basketball team heads to North Carolina this weekend to take on two ACC rivals before returning home to face another pair of conference opponents next week.
[caption id="attachment_49350" align="alignleft" width="221" caption="Sophomore guard Ataira Franklin made up for a poor shooting night with tenacious defensive effort.
[caption id="attachment_49288" align="alignleft" width="177" caption="Senior forward Chelsea Shine averages an impressive 6.2 rebounds per game, but Florida State's senior forward Cierra Bravard bests that mark with 6.9 boards per game.
[caption id="attachment_49228" align="alignleft" width="282" caption="Midway through the second half of last night's game against Georgia Tech, sophomore guard Ataira Franklin knocked down a jumper which brought Virginia within three points of its opponent.
[caption id="attachment_49153" align="alignleft" width="199" caption="Coming off the bench, junior forward Telia McCall played an average of 15.4 minutes per game this season but 26.5 minutes the last five games.
[caption id="attachment_49150" align="alignleft" width="225" caption="Former Virginia women's basketball coach Debbie Ryan, who led Virginia for 34 years before retiring last year, will be inducted to the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame April 28.
[caption id="attachment_49052" align="alignleft" width="199" caption="Junior guard Lexie Gerson received the night's loudest ovation after her fifth takeaway of the game -and her 70th of the season - sparked a decisive Virginia run against Boston College.
[caption id="attachment_48974" align="alignleft" width="133" caption="Senior guard Ariana Moorer paced Virginia with 18 points on 8-of-18 shooting from the field, but she missed a three-point attempt to tie the game with six seconds left.
[caption id="attachment_48920" align="alignleft" width="115" caption="Junior guard Lexie Gerson, recently inserted into the starting lineup, ranks second in the ACC in steals.
[caption id="attachment_48769" align="alignleft" width="273" caption="Sophomore guard Ataira Franklin helped the Cavaliers outscore Indiana 38-24 in the second half by pacing the team with 16 points.
[caption id="attachment_48678" align="alignleft" width="199" caption="Sophomore forward Jazmin Pitts will earn the starting nod from Virginia coach Joanne Boyle tonight against a big Indiana team.
[caption id="attachment_48636" align="alignleft" width="202" caption="Former Virginia coach Debbie Ryan and guard Monica Wright were a formidable force, but the current Cavalier team appears equally dangerous.
[caption id="attachment_48560" align="alignleft" width="199" caption="Senior guard Ariana Moorer has recorded double-digit scoring figures during Virginia's last five tilts.
Virginia women's basketball coach Joanne Boyle paid close attention this week as the all-time winningest coach in Division I history won a hard-fought game on national television - and she was not watching Duke's Mike Krzyzewski.
[caption id="attachment_48404" align="alignleft" width="170" caption="Sophomore forward Jazmin Pitts went a perfect 6-for-6 from the field Wednesday night against High Point en route to a 13-point performance.
[caption id="attachment_48325" align="alignleft" width="228" caption="Sophomore guard Ataira Franklin ranks third on the team with 18 points through the first two games this season.
The Virginia women's basketball team took an early lead and never looked back last night, defeating Providence, 55-38, to improve to 2-0 on the season. The Cavaliers jumped out to a quick 5-0 lead and for the second straight game went wire-to-wire without trailing. After the Lady Friars (0-2) drew within one at 5-4, a balanced Cavalier offense reeled off eight straight points as part of a 12-2 run during which five different players scored.
[caption id="attachment_48182" align="alignleft" width="174" caption="Senior forward Chelsea Shine ensured new coach Joanne Boyle's Virginia debut was a victorious one as she finished with 15 points and eight rebounds Friday.
The Virginia women's basketball team opens its season at home tonight against Appalachian State in a game which will offer both a snapshot of where it is and a glimpse of what it wants to become. Many pundits have labeled 2011-12 a "transition" or "rebuilding" year for the Cavaliers as coach Joanne Boyle replaces the legendary Debbie Ryan, who led the program for the past 34 years. Although it will take time for a new coaching staff to install its system, Boyle plans to "tweak" her game plan to cater to Virginia's experienced core. The team returns its top four scorers from last season in senior guard Ariana Moorer, sophomore forward Ataira Franklin, senior forward Chelsea Shine and junior guard China Crosby, who alongside leading rebounder junior center Simone Egwu, form a balanced and veteran Cavalier starting lineup. The team's potential is apparent, but so are its shortcomings as it seems to lack a true go-to scorer and depth off the bench.
