UVA gets it done in OT in inaugural ACC/SEC Challenge against Mizzou, 87-81

Courtesy UVA Media Relations

Virginia utilized an 8-2 run in overtime to defeat Missouri, 87-81, at John Paul Jones Arena Thursday night in the ACC/SEC Challenge. The Cavaliers, who trailed 28-13 with 9:30 in the second quarter, overcame a 15-point deficit for the second time this season having also done so against Tulane last weekend.

Camryn Taylor finished with a game-high 26 points, one shy of her career high, on 10-of-19 shooting and finished 6-for-7 at the charity stripe. Taylor nearly grasped a double-double with nine rebounds, including four offensive boards. London Clarkson (17 pts, 5-6 FG, 7-8 FT, 7 reb), Paris Clark (14 pts, 4 reb), and Alexia Smith (10 pts, 5-10 FG, 13 reb) also scored in double figures. Smith’s double-double was the first of her career.

In the third period, UVA outscored the Tigers 27-13 and out-rebounded them, 12-4. Taylor scored nine of her 26 total points the quarter No. 3.

HOW IT HAPPENED 

Virginia (5-2) led 11-10 midway through the first when the Tigers exploded for 10 straight points to grasp a 20-11 lead. A layup by Taylor broke up the run, but Mizzou closed out the period with a pair of unanswered 3-pointers to lead it, 26-13. The Tigers shot 57 percent from the field in the opening stanza, while Hoos shot 23 percent. From distance, UVA only made one of its 10 attempts.

Mizzou (5-3) grabbed its largest lead of the contest on the first made basket of the second quarter. Later on UVA trailed 36-22, but closed the half with six straight points to trail by eight, 36-28, at the break.

After a Mizzou made layup to kick off the second half, the Cavaliers scored 11 straight points secure their first lead of the game, 39-38, at the 7:21 mark in the third quarter. UVA’s scoring spree was capped by back-to-back layups from Smith in transition. Made layups by Taylor and Kymora Johnson (9 pts, 7 ast) later in the period gave the Hoos their largest lead of the game, 53-45, with 2:12 to go. UVA finished the third 10-for-22 from the field, while Mizzou only managed five makes on 10 attempts.

Virginia led 55-49 entering the fourth. Mizzou’s Grace Slaughter drained two 3-pointers and layup down the stretch to cut the UVA lead to one, 72-73, with 36 seconds remaining. With the shot clock winding down, Johnson got by her defender and finished a layup with seven seconds left in regulation to give the Hoos a 75-72 lead. On the ensuing Tiger possession, Haley Frank drew a foul on a 3-point shot, which sent her to the line with 4.9 seconds left on the clock, where she sunk all three free throws. UVA did not get off a shot on its final possession of regulation. Clark had seven of her total 14 points in the fourth quarter.

Both teams traded the first two baskets of overtime, but then the Cavaliers scored six straight points to gain an 83-77 lead. After Virginia led by six, the Tigers could not cut their deficit to a one-score game. The Hoos made six of their last eight free throw attempts to help seal the win. All five of Jillian Brown’s points came at the line in overtime with under 1:00 to play.

FROM HEAD COACH AMAKA AGUGUA-HAMILTON

“In the second half we really focused on the things that we could control: defense, rebounding, energy, effort, 50-50 balls and things like that. That is what sparked us, our defense got the energy going in the whole building.” 

WITH THE WIN…

• The Cavaliers won the first-ever matchup of the series against Missouri.
• UVA improved to 16-2 against non-conference opponents under head coach Amaka Agugua-Hamilton.
• Agugua-Hamilton improved 4-0 all-time against the Tigers with three wins as head coach at Missouri State (2019-22).
• The ACC extended its lead in the inaugural ACC/SEC Women’s Challenge presented by Dixie Ultra, 7-3.
• The Cavaliers notched their second 15-point comeback victory of the season. Virginia trailed 28-13 with 9:30 to play in the second quarter. UVA also overcame a 15-point deficit in its 81-59 win over Tulane (Nov. 24) at the Cayman Islands Classic.
• The last time UVA played in overtime was in its 56-53 win over Old Dominion on Nov. 24, 2019.

ADDITIONAL NOTES 

• With 26 points, Camryn Taylor recorded her 13th career 20-point game. It was also the first by a Cavalier since Taylor Valladay scored 30 points against Pittsburgh on Feb. 20, 2022.
• Taylor’s 26 points are one shy of tying her career high.
• Alexia Smith’s 10 points and 13 rebounds marked her first career double-double.
• Smith’s double-double is the second by a Cavalier this year. Jillian Brown notched one in the Cavaliers’ season opener over Maryland Eastern Shore with 14 points and 13 rebounds.

UP NEXT

The Cavaliers travel to La Salle on Sunday for UVA’s first true road contest of the season. Tipoff is set for 1 p.m. on ESPN+.