The disastrously slow start limited the impact of Virginia’s second-half offensive momentum, which could have otherwise propelled the team in front.
Considering the program received a transformational multi-million dollar donation last year, expectations should no longer be about improving on the margin. In the 2025-26 season, Virginia must be an NCAA Tournament team.
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.
Virginia 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.
The Orange that came to JPJ, however, showcased stingy defense all afternoon and forced Virginia into multiple shot clock violations, errant passes and a whopping 21 turnovers.
After an electric double overtime win against Florida State, Virginia women’s basketball headed to its second-straight ACC road matchup in Atlanta to face Georgia Tech.
Virginia only outscored the Seminoles in two of the six periods of play, and Florida State shot 41 percent from deep after halftime.
As Virginia settles into ACC play, Coach Amaka Agugua-Hamilton and her squad continue to rely on their height and depth, kicking off the new year with another conference victory.
Virginia dribbled out the final seconds of the game to win 76-52, adding another double-digit win to the resume.
Virginia controlled the game from start to finish, but a monster 41-point showing by junior guard Kymora Johnson ultimately turned a commanding win into a demolition derby.
With ACC play looming, three beat writers assess Virginia’s performance and prospects for the rest of the season.
“Really proud of our players,” Agugua-Hamilton said. “I thought that was a great team win.”
”We wanted to make sure we started ACC right,” Agugua-Hamilton said. “I think this is a pretty dominant win to start.”
Throughout the game, Virginia never surrendered, but a free throw discrepancy and off-nights from Levy and Amanze sunk the chance to steal a ranked win.
“Gabby has been impressive,” Coach Amaka Agugua-Hamilton said.
“I think our team is at our best when we’re confident, and I think that we just regained our confidence,” Coach Amaka Agugua-Hamilton said.
With the opportunity to seize their first win over a Power Four opponent, the Cavaliers could not find the clutch points with the clock winding down.
The Cavaliers picked up a pair of wins Thursday and Monday.
“We want to be able to dominate the boards on both ends,” Agugua-Hamilton said.
