Women’s notebook: Coach Mox era begins as UVA hosts George Washington

Courtesy UVA Media Relations

The Virginia women’s basketball team opens the 2022-23 season by hosting George Washington on Monday at 5 p.m. at John Paul Jones Arena.

NOTE THE 5 PM START TIME. Early versions of the season schedule listed an earlier tip time for the contest. Also note that due to the men’s basketball game later that evening, the stands must be cleared immediately following the conclusion of the game.

BROADCAST INFORMATION

• The game will stream online on ACCNX through the ESPN app. It is available through participating TV providers that carry ACCN
• Live stats be available
• Links are posted on VirginiaSports.com

CLEAR BAG POLICY

• A clear bag policy is in place for the arena. CLICK HERE for details

NOTING THE CAVALIERS

• The Cavaliers open their 2022-23 campaign with three home games during the opening week, hosting UMBC on Thursday at 7 p.m. before playing their ACC opener on Sunday, Nov. 13 at 2 p.m. against Wake Forest
• Amaka Agugua-Hamilton (“Coach Mox”) takes over as the head coach of the Cavaliers after leading Missouri State for the last three seasons. She was an assistant coach at Michigan State for six years prior to taking over at Missouri State. Coach Mox is a native of Virginia, growing up in Herndon, Va. She earned her master’s degree at VCU where she began her coaching career as an assistant coach. She also served as an assistant at Old Dominion in Norfolk, Va., from 2011-13
• During Agugua-Hamilton’s three years heading up the Lady Bears program, Missouri State went 74-15, including a 46-6 record in Missouri Valley Conference play. Her teams won two MVC regular-season titles (2020, 2021) and have played in the past two NCAA Tournaments (2021, 2022), including a Sweet 16 trip in 2020-21. The 2021-22 Missouri State team went 25-8 and was a No. 11 seed in the NCAA Championships. The Lady Bears defeated Florida State 61-50 in the tournament’s inaugural First Four before bowing out against No. 6 Ohio State in the first round of the tournament
• The Cavaliers return four of five members of their starting lineup and their first two off the bench from last year’s team. In all, seven members of the 2021-22 team are back for the 2022-23 campaign
• The team added two transfers: junior guard Alexia Smith from Minnesota (a 2022-23 Virginia opponent) and grad student Samantha Brunelle from Notre Dame. Brunelle earned her undergrad at Notre Dame in three years. With her COVID year, she has two years of eligibility remaining
• Brunelle was named to the Katrina McClain Award preseason watch list for the third straight year. The accolade recognizes the top power forward in the country
• There are also two freshmen on the team, including Yonta Vaughn from Bishop McNamara High in Maryland. Vaughn was ranked No. 72 overall in last year’s recruiting class and was the No. 15 point guard prospect
• Freshman Cady Pauley was ranked No. 10 in the nation in scoring her senior season, finishing her career with 3,074 career points, ranking eighth all-time in Missouri girls’ basketball history
• Senior forward Camryn Taylor was a breakout star for the Cavaliers last season, leading the team in scoring and rebounding. In her very first game with the Cavaliers, she scored a dazzling 27 points at James Madison. Taylor stepped away from the team for personal reasons in mid-January after playing only 12 games. She rejoined the team in the spring and looks to be a key element of this year’s team, giving UVA a strong post presence
• Another breakout star returning from last year’s team was fellow Marquette transfer, senior guard Taylor Valladay. Valladay averaged 6.7 points per game in the non-conference season and then finished the regular season averaging 15.8 points per game in the final five contests heading into the ACC Tournament
• Junior forward Mir McLean, a mid-season transfer last year from UConn, made an immediate impact on the team, averaging 11.4 points and 8.3 rebounds per game. The latter stat would have ranked her fifth in the conference had she had enough minutes to qualify for rankings
• The Cavaliers played a preseason exhibition game last Thursday against NCAA II Pitt-Johnstown, winning 92-45. Taylor and Valladay each had 20-point performances, contributing 22 and 21 points. Taylor also had 10 rebounds in 24 minutes on the court. Valladay was 7-of-10 shooting and 7-of-8 from the free-throw line\

SCOUTING GEORGE WASHINGTON

• The Colonials return nine players from last year’s A-10 quarterfinal team
• Mayowa Taiwo was named to the Atlantic 10 Preseason All-Conference Third Team and All-Conference Defensive Team. She ranked in the top-15 nationally last year in offensive rebounds per game
• Virginia is 10-2 all-time against George Washington
• Last season, the Colonials picked up a 62-53 victory on their home court. Taylor Valladay scored 13 points and Kaydan Lawson contributed 10 off the bench

ON THE HORIZON

• Virginia hosts UMBC on Thursday, Nov. 10, and Wake Forest on Sunday, Nov. 13, at 2 p.m.

TICKET INFORMATION

• For advance single-game purchases, reserved seats are $12, and general admission tickets are $8. On game day at the box office, reserved seats are $15, and general admission tickets are $10
• New for the 2022-23 season, fans may purchase discounted ticket packages via a four-game mini plan or group tickets. The four-game mini-plan includes the fans’ choice of any four home games.  Reserved seats are $40 per person, and general admission seats are $24 per person, a savings of up to 25 percent compared to purchasing single-game tickets
• Group tickets for sizes of 20 or more are on sale for all home games. Reserved seats are $10, and general admission seats are $6. A savings of $2 per ticket compared to single-game ticket prices
• Season ticket options are still available. Reserved seats are $75, and general admission seats are $50. Full-time faculty & staff are eligible for a 20 percent discount on up to four season tickets. Season tickets are the best option for fans looking for multiple games to secure the best seats at the lowest price per game