Women’s Basketball: Virginia drops home contest to UCF

Courtesy UVA Media Relations

The Virginia women’s basketball team (0-3) suffered a 59-38 loss against UCF (2-1) on Wednesday (Nov. 17) at John Paul Jones Arena in Charlottesville.

Junior forward Camryn Taylor led the Cavaliers with 10 points. She also had four rebounds and two steals. Tay Sanders led the Knights with 15 points.

Grad student guard Amandine Toi drained a three-pointer in the opening minute, but UCF scored a quick six points in a 31-second span to take an 8-5 lead with 6:46 remaining in the first. Both teams suffered three-minute-plus scoring droughts in the opening period, but the Knights got out of theirs by going on a 6-0 run. A banked-in three-pointer from sophomore guard Kaydan Lawson ended the Cavaliers slide and pulled the team to within three, 14-11, but the Knights ended the quarter with a 17-11 advantage. UCF pulled away late in the second quarter, going on a 16-3 run, including scoring 11 straight points, to go up 34-18. A steal and a fast-break layup from junior forward Meg Jefferson closed out the half with a 34-20 score.

UCF scored on its first possession of the third quarter, making a layup 11 seconds into the period. It was the only field goal made by either team until a jumper from Camryn Taylor with 3:36 left in the quarter. UCF still managed to build on its lead during the field goal drought, making six free throws. The Knights led 47-25 heading into the fourth. Junior guard Carole Miller started the final frame by hitting a three-pointer, UVA’s fourth of the game, launching an 8-0 run. The scoring spree was capped by a four-point play from junior forward London Clarkson. Clarkson was fouled while making a driving layup. She missed her free throw but got her own rebound for a quick put-back to make it 47-33. UCF built its lead back up to 18 on a three-pointer with three minutes left in the game. The Knights hit a three-pointer in the final four seconds of the game to bump their advantage to 21.