Virginia
Virginia Welcomes No. 20 North Carolina for 50th Anniversary Game
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – Virginia (9-10, 1-7 ACC) returns to John Paul Jones Arena on Sunday (Jan. 28) to host No. 20 North Carolina (15-5, 6-1 ACC). Tipoff is set for noon on The CW and 98.9-FM/1070-AM WINA.
FOR OPENERS
- The Cavaliers are in search of their second ACC win and first in John Paul Jones Arena this season.
- Kymora Johnson was named ACC Rookie of the Week and U.S. Basketball Writers Association (USBWA) Tamika Catchings national freshman of the week for her performances against Notre Dame (Jan. 18) and Florida State (Jan. 21).
- North Carolina won the first regular-season matchup with the Hoos, 81-68, in Chapel Hill two weeks ago (Jan. 14).
- With an ACC record of 7-1, the Tar Heels enter Sunday’s contest tied for first in the league standings and are riding a four-game win streak.
BROADCAST INFORMATION
- Kylen Mills (play-by-play) and Kelley Deyo (analyst) will have the call on The CW.
- The game will also be broadcast on 98.9-FM/1070-AM WINA, VirginiaSports.com and the Virginia Sports mobile app.
- Live statistics will be located on VirginiaSports.com and the Virginia Sports mobile app.
50th ANNIVERSAR CELEBRATION
- On Sunday, Virginia will honor and celebrate the 50th anniversary of UVA Women’s Basketball in conjunction with its Alumni Weekend.
- The program will honor dozens of former players and coaches at halftime of Sunday’s game.
- Notable alumnae and former coaches expected to be in attendance include: Sharlene Brightly ’75, Val Ackerman ‘81, Wendy Palmer, ‘96 Telisha Quarles ‘02, Ariana Moorer ‘12, Debbie Ryan (1978-2011) and Joanne Boyle (2011-18).
SERIES HISTORY
- North Carolina leads the all-time series, which began in 1976, 59-34.
- Virginia is 20-18 all-time against the Tar Heels in games held in Charlottesville, Va.
- The Tar Heels have won the last five meetings of the series, including the last three at John Paul Jones Arena.
- UNC has won nine of the last 10 meetings.
- The last time UVA defeated the Tar Heels was on Jan. 25, 2018, when the Cavaliers won 82-70 in JPJ.
LAST MEETING BETWEEN THE HOOS & PITT
- A strong start and even stronger finish propelled the Tar Heels to a 81-68 victory over Virginia in Carmichael Arena two weeks ago (Jan. 14).
- Four Cavaliers scored in double figures, including Camryn Taylor (16 pts, 7 reb), who collected Virginia’s first nine points and went on to lead the Hoos in points for the fifth straight game.
- UNC’s Deja Kelly finished with a game-high 27 points on 8-of-17 shooting.
- The Cavaliers trailed by as many as 14 points with 7:12 to go in the second quarter, but tied the game, 52-52, with 28 seconds remaining in the third.
- The Tar Heels outscored UVA 28-16 in the fourth quarter to pull away.
LAST TIME OUT
- Virginia could not produce what would have been its second straight win after falling 56-52 to Pittsburgh at John Paul Jones Arena this past Thursday (Jan. 25).
- Pitt led by as many as 11 [15-4] in the first quarter and outscored Virginia 24-6 in the third.
- Despite trailing by as many as 17 [49-32] in the fourth, the Cavaliers nearly mounted a comeback after trimming their deficit to as little as four points with under 90 seconds to play.
- For the second straight game, Kymora Johnson led the Hoos in scoring, finishing with 17 points. She was the only Cavalier to score in double figures.
- The win was the Panthers’ first in ACC play this season.
JOHNSON GARNERS WEEKLY HONORS
- First-year guard Kymora Johnson was named ACC Rookie of the Week and U.S. Basketball Writers Association’s Tamika Catchings national freshman of the week for her performance against Notre Dame (Jan. 18) and at then-No. 15 Florida State (Jan. 21).
- Johnson averaged 25.5 points, 7.5 rebounds, 6.5 assists and shot 59 percent from the field.
- She scored 35 points in the win over FSU, which tied for sixth all-time in program history.
- Johnson is the first Virginia player to be named ACC Rookie of the Week since Kylie Kornegay-Lucas was recognized on Nov. 25, 2019.
- Johnson is one of just two freshmen in school history to achieve that milestone with the other being Dawn Staley, who had 37 points at Wake Forest on Feb. 2, 1989.
- At the time, she was also one of just five freshmen nationally – and the only ACC freshman – to score 35 points in a game this season.
- Prior to Virginia’s matchup in Tallahassee, the last time a Cavalier scored 35 points was on Jan. 21, 2010, when Monica Wright scored 39 points at Boston College.
OLD SCHOOL BASKETBALL
- For games played through Jan. 26, Virginia is eighth in the nation in rebounds per game (45.63), 14th in offensive rebounds per game (15.7), 18th in defensive rebounds per game (29.9) and 17th free throw percentage (78.0).
- The Hoos also lead the ACC in rebounding and free throw percentage.
- The Cavaliers are 9-5 this season when either leading or tying their opponents in rebounding.
- Virginia has been outrebounded in just four contests this season (vs. #7 LSU, #3 NC State, Duke, and #20 North Carolina).
- UVA has shot at least 80 percent from the charity stripe in eight games this season, including its most recent home game against Notre Dame (94.4).
ON THE HORIZON
- Virginia travels to Virginia Tech (15-4, 6-2, ACC), which is currently ranked 19th in this week’s AP top-25 poll, for a Smithfield Commonwealth Clash.
- Tipoff from Cassell Coliseum is set for 6 p.m. on ACC Network.
Virginia
Bus driver in fatal Virginia crash had previous speeding charges
A bus driver with a history of speeding accusations was indicted on additional charges Monday in a chain-reaction crash in Virginia that killed five people and injured dozens more.
Jing Sheng Dong, 48, of Staten Island, New York, initially was charged with two counts of involuntary manslaughter after the crash early Friday morning on Interstate 95. On Monday, a grand jury indicted him on three additional charges of involuntary manslaughter and one count of reckless driving, according to a statement from the Stafford County Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office.
Authorities said Dong was driving a motorcoach from New York to North Carolina when he struck a line of vehicles that had slowed down in a work zone. A family of four from Greenfield, Massachusetts, on their way to a wedding were killed, as was a 25-year-old woman from Worcester, Massachusetts.
Dong, who remained hospitalized Monday, previously was accused of speeding in Colonial Heights, Virginia, in November 2024 and in Annapolis, Maryland, in March, according to online court records. In the latter case, he is accused of driving a motorcoach 72 mph (116 kph) in a 50 mph (80 kph) zone.
In the Virginia case, Dong was convicted of driving 73 mph (117 kph) in a 55 mph (89 kph) zone and paid $219 in fines and court costs. He also has a pending case in Mecklenburg County, Virginia, where he was accused of trespassing in July.
The bus involved in Friday’s crash was operated by E&P Travel Inc., based in Kings Mountain, North Carolina. The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the crash, a board member said.
Court documents related to the bus crash do not list an attorney for Dong. Neither the attorney representing him in the trespassing case nor the lawyer representing him in Maryland responded to emails seeking comment Monday.
Prosecutor Eric Olsen said Dong will be transported to jail upon his release from the hospital.
____
Ramer reported from Concord, New Hampshire.
Virginia
Average gasoline prices in Virginia have fallen in the last week: GasBuddy
(WSET) — Average gasoline prices in Virginia have fallen 23.7 cents per gallon in the last week, averaging $4.15/g on Monday, according to GasBuddy’s survey of 4,081 stations in Virginia.
Prices in Virginia are 1 cent per gallon lower than a month ago and stand $1.21/g higher than a year ago. The national average price of diesel has decreased 15.5 cents compared to a week ago and stands at $5.437 per gallon, GasBuddy said.
SEE ALSO: Suspect in fatal shooting of Carroll County deputy captured in North Carolina
According to GasBuddy price reports, the cheapest station in Virginia was priced at $3.29/g on Sunday, while the most expensive was $5.59/g, a difference of $2.30/g. The lowest price in the state on Sunday was $3.29/g while the highest was $5.59/g, a difference of $2.30/g.
The national average price of gasoline has fallen 19.5 cents per gallon in the last week, averaging $4.26/g on Monday. The national average is down 17.8 cents per gallon from a month ago and stands $1.18/g higher than a year ago, according to GasBuddy data compiled from more than 11 million weekly price reports covering over 150,000 gas stations across the country.
Virginia
Deadly crashes on Interstate 95 over 2 days prompt safety concerns along Virginia’s busy corridor
CAROLINE COUNTY, Va. — Two deadly crashes on I-95 in two days are drawing attention to safety concerns along one of Virginia’s busiest corridors.
Stafford Commonwealth’s Attorney Eric Olsen authorized felony warrants charging Jing Sheng Dong, 48, of Staten Island, New York, with two counts of involuntary manslaughter in connection with Friday’s deadly bus crash in Stafford County. Additional charges are pending.
Investigators say the bus was traveling at a high rate of speed when it slammed into traffic slowing for a work zone on I-95 south, triggering a chain reaction involving at least eight vehicles.
“According to local first responders, five occupants of passenger vehicles in the traffic queue were tragically killed. Numerous other occupants, including the bus driver, were injured and some seriously,” National Transportation Safety Board member Tom Chapman said.
Family killed in I-95 bus crash was headed to wedding in South Carolina, relatives say
Family killed in I-95 bus crash was headed to wedding in South Carolina, relatives say
Among those killed was a Massachusetts family of four who were traveling to a wedding in South Carolina. A fifth victim, also from Massachusetts, was killed.
A total of 44 people were taken to hospitals, including three with critical injuries.
A woman who was on the bus described the scene in the aftermath of the crash.
“You have blood, people bleeding, people screaming, the bus smoking. A stranger came bust the window open and let us all out; I’m thankful for that,” passenger Judy said.
Dong remains hospitalized but is in custody after being served with the felony warrants. Prosecutors say more charges are possible. He will be held without bond, and his first court appearance will be scheduled once he is released from the hospital.
Then on Saturday, another deadly crash closed portions of I-95 in Caroline County.
WTVR
Christina Baker and her husband Joshua say they witnessed the crash unfold. They told us an SUV was speeding down the left shoulder of I-95 South before striking debris and losing control.
“It went down, and then it went up, and then just flew across the entire median across onto oncoming traffic going the opposite direction,” Christina Baker said. “I started screaming, saying, ‘Oh my gosh, oh my gosh.’”
Officials say one person died and two others were hospitalized. At this time, they have not released any more information about those involved.
The crash left the Bakers wanting to remind drivers to stay alert and think of others when behind the wheel.
“People should just stay in the lanes, drive the speed limit right, and be responsible. Because I felt for a moment, I was obviously concerned for our safety as well,” Joshua Baker said.
While the cause of both crashes remains under investigation, Chapman says the NTSB is noticing many common factors when it comes to crashes on I-95, including traffic backups.
“We also want to look very closely here to issues potentially involving fatigue, driver performance, those sorts of things. And vehicle performance issues. That might include factors such as automatic braking, whether the vehicle was or was not equipped with what’s called AEB. Those are the sorts of things we want to look at here and we might be able to learn some lessons,” Chapman said.
This is a developing story. Email the CBS 6 Newsroom if you have additional information to share.
IN-DEPTH COVERAGE: Fatal I-95 Charter Bus Crash
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