12-Game Win Streak Ends for Virginia Women’s Basketball in 70-56 Loss at Duke

Virginia’s undefeated run to start out the Coach Mox period has come to an finish only one recreation in need of matching the UVA girls’s basketball program’s greatest begin to a season since 1991. The Cavaliers went into Cameron Indoor, a spot the place that they had not gained since 1997, and couldn’t finish that 15-game dropping streak in Durham as poor capturing and foul hassle plagued Virginia (12-1, 1-1 ACC) in a 70-56 loss at Duke on Wednesday night time. 

A nook three from Sam Brunelle helped Virginia take an early 5-0 lead, however Duke responded shortly with a 7-0 run. The Blue Devils did properly to disclaim Brunelle any open seems to be for the remainder of the sport, however she hit seven free throws to get into double figures with ten factors. The Cavaliers had their greatest capturing quarter of the sport within the first ten minutes, hitting 2/3 three-point makes an attempt and capturing 42.9% from the ground, however turnovers have been an issue for the Hoos from the beginning, permitting Duke to take a 21-17 lead behind eight first-quarter factors from Vanessa de Jesus. 

Foul hassle was an excellent larger difficulty for Virginia all through the whole recreation, as Mir McLean, who has been UVA’s greatest participant this season, picked up two fouls within the first quarter and performed simply eight minutes within the first half. 5 totally different Cavaliers have been whistled for 2 fouls within the first half and Virginia picked up 12 fouls as a staff within the first twenty minutes. 

UVA made simply three subject targets within the second quarter as ball safety and poor shot choice mixed with a strong Duke protection resulted in a nine-point quarter for the Cavaliers. The Blue Devils scored 14 factors off of 12 UVA turnovers within the first half. Virginia, who often feasts in transition, was held to only four-fast break factors as in comparison with 12 fast-break factors for the Blue Devils. Shayeann Day-Wilson hit a deep three-pointer simply earlier than the buzzer to provide Duke a 38-26 halftime lead. 

McLean returned to the ground within the third quarter and instantly made an affect, as Virginia’s double-double machine recorded six factors and 4 rebounds within the third quarter alone. Sadly for the Cavaliers, McLean was additionally whistled for 2 extra tick-tack fouls and exited the sport with 4 personals. Virginia continued to return up empty on the offensive finish, making simply 4 pictures within the third, and had hassle neutralizing Duke’s measurement benefit on the inside. UVA’s tallest gamers are simply 6’2″, whereas the Blue Devils have a couple of forwards that stand 6’3″ or taller, together with 6’6″ heart Kennedy Brown, who broke down the Virginia protection to the tune of a 12-point, four-assist efficiency. Duke led by as many as 17 factors within the third and constructed a 53-39 benefit heading into the fourth quarter. 

Taylor Valladay and Alexia Smith powered a 7-0 run for Virginia early within the fourth quarter to get the Cavaliers again inside 9 factors, however Duke managed to close the door with some well timed pictures to quell UVA’s momentum. McLean fouled out of the sport early within the fourth quarter and ended up enjoying simply 16 minutes, however nonetheless managed to document 10 factors, eight rebounds, and two steals. It is not troublesome to think about this recreation turning out totally different for the Cavaliers had McLean been on the ground for her typical allotment of minutes. Camryn Taylor additionally fouled out in the course of the fourth quarter as Virginia was whistled for 26 fouls as a staff. 

Vanessa de Jesus led Duke with 15 factors and was an ideal 7/7 from the charity stripe, whereas Celeste Taylor (13 factors), Kennedy Brown (12 factors), and Shayeann Day-Wilson (11 factors) joined her in double figures. Duke shot 7/17 from past the arc and made 21/29 free throw makes an attempt and handed Virginia its first lack of the season 70-56. 

Alexia Smith paced the Cavaliers with 11 factors, however Virginia shot an abysmal 32.1% from the ground and 20.0% from three as a staff and dedicated 19 turnovers, resulting in 24 factors off takeaways for Duke. 

Virginia’s successful streak involves an finish at 12 video games, the longest win streak for this system since 1995. UVA has an eight-day vacation break earlier than internet hosting Georgia Tech on Thursday, December twenty ninth at 7pm at John Paul Jones Area. 

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