Virginia women’s basketball is making a statement early in the season, and Wednesday night’s performance showed just how dangerous the Cavaliers can be on both ends of the floor.
After an early challenge from Drexel, Virginia responded with a dominant second-quarter performance, using a 22-0 scoring run to take control and cruise to an 81-39 victory on Nov. 11 at John Paul Jones Arena in Charlottesville.
The win moved Virginia to 4-0 under head coach Aaron Roussell, while Drexel dropped to 1-2.
Hurd, Asare and Johnson Lead Virginia’s Balanced Attack
Breona Hurd led the Cavaliers with a season-high 18 points, shooting 6-for-10 from the field and knocking down four 3-pointers. Mary-Anna Asare added 15 points, four rebounds and three assists, connecting on four of her six attempts from beyond the arc.
Kymora Johnson rounded out Virginia’s double-digit scorers with 10 points, four rebounds, five assists and five steals. Her defensive activity helped set the tone for a team that consistently made life difficult for Drexel.
The Cavaliers were efficient offensively, shooting 52% from the field and 15-for-31 from 3-point range. Virginia matched its program record for 3-pointers in a single game for the second consecutive outing, following another 15-three performance against William & Mary.
But the shooting numbers only tell part of the story.
Virginia controlled the glass, outrebounding Drexel 47-23. Eris Lester led the Cavaliers with a career-high nine rebounds, helping Virginia maintain possession and limit the Dragons’ opportunities.
A 22-0 Run Changes the Game
Drexel initially gave Virginia a challenge, taking an early lead before the Cavaliers found their rhythm. Virginia closed the first quarter with a 14-3 run, including two 3-pointers from Olivia McGhee, to take a 23-15 advantage into the second.
Then came the turning point.
Virginia opened up the second quarter with a 26-7 scoring advantage, extending its late first-quarter momentum into a 22-0 run. During that stretch, the Cavaliers connected on six shots from beyond the arc and built a lead that reached 30 points.
By halftime, Virginia was comfortably ahead 49-22 after shooting 64.3% from the field in the opening half.
The Cavaliers continued to control the game after the break, outscoring Drexel 32-17 in the second half. Nine different Virginia players scored over the final two quarters, and the team closed the night with a 7-0 run.
Ten Cavaliers scored overall, a sign of the depth and offensive contributions throughout the lineup.
Defense Is Becoming Virginia’s Calling Card
Virginia’s offensive production has been impressive, particularly its back-to-back games with 15 made 3-pointers. However, Roussell pointed to the defensive performance as one of the most encouraging developments.
The Cavaliers held Drexel to just 27% shooting from the field and limited the Dragons to 39 total points, a season low for Virginia opponents and the first time a Roussell-led Cavaliers team has held an opponent to that mark.
Roussell said he was proud of the team's defensive progress, noting that Virginia's length created problems for Drexel and that the Cavaliers did an effective job rebounding.
The defensive effort also showed up in the individual numbers. Johnson finished with five steals, just one shy of her career high, while Lester's nine rebounds helped Virginia establish control in the paint.
For a team that has started the season 4-0, the combination of perimeter shooting, defensive pressure and rebounding is an encouraging foundation.
What It Really Means
Virginia is showing that it can win in more than one way.
The Cavaliers have demonstrated the ability to score from the perimeter, get production from multiple players and use their defensive presence to disrupt opposing offenses. The 22-0 run against Drexel was the clearest example of how quickly this team can turn a competitive game into a one-sided matchup.
The most encouraging takeaway may be that Virginia's success isn't resting on one player. Hurd, Asare and Johnson supplied the scoring punch, but contributions from across the roster helped sustain the lead and finish the game.
If the Cavaliers can continue pairing their 3-point production with the defensive intensity Roussell praised, they could become an increasingly difficult opponent as the season progresses.
For now, Virginia remains unbeaten at 4-0, with its defense making just as much noise as its offense.
Source: Virginia Athletics