WBB: UVA storms back late, hangs on for 70-67 victory at Syracuse

Courtesy UVA Media Relations

Virginia trailed by as many as 14 points in the third quarter, but another career-effort from Latasha Lattimore powered the Cavaliers to their largest comeback win of the season. UVA earned a 70-67 road victory over Syracuse on Sunday afternoon at the JMA Wireless Dome.

Lattimore (26 pts, 12-24 FG, 6 reb, 3 blk) scored a career high with her second-consecutive 20-point game to lead the second-half resurgence. Kymora Johnson (17 pts, 6 reb, 8 ast, 4 stl) made an impact in every aspect, while Edessa Noyan (10 pts) rounded out a trio of Cavaliers in double figures.

The Virginia defense turned in an impressive effort down the stretch, limiting the Orange to just a pair of makes in their final 12 attempts. The Cavaliers (12-11, 4-7 ACC) shot an efficient 57 percent (8 for 14) from the floor in the final period while holding Syracuse to just 26 percent (4 of 14) and forcing five turnovers.

HOW IT HAPPENED

Virginia started a perfect 5 for 5 from the floor, racing out to a 14-8 lead in the first. The Cavaliers withstood a 10-0 Orange run to eventually take a 23-20 lead into the second quarter following a three-pointer from Olivia McGhee.

Virginia led by as many as five points [34-29] in the second period, but was ultimately outscored, 17-13, as an 8-2 Syracuse run left the Cavaliers trailing by a point at the half [36-37]. Lattimore led the team through the first two periods with 10 points on 5-for-9 shooting while adding five rebounds.

Syracuse (8-13, 2-8) scored the first eight points of the third quarter to take a 45-36 lead. Virginia trailed by as many as 14 points [40-54] in the quarter, but finished strong entering the final quarter trailing by six [52-58].

The Cavalier defense locked in throughout the fourth, limiting Syracuse to just nine points in the game’s final period. Lattimore was a force down the stretch, pouring in 10 of her 26 total points in the frame, including crucial back-to-back 3-pointers to cut the Syracuse lead to just two in route to a 70-67 win.

ADDITIONAL NOTES

• Double figure scorers: Lattimore (26), Johnson (17), Noyan (10)
• Lattimore recorded her fifth 20-point game of the season and her second in as many games
• Lattimore has recorded a career-high point total in back-to-back games
• Johnson’s eight assists is her second-highest total of the season
• With four steals on the night, Johnson recorded the 100th of her career
• Edessa Noyan matched a career-high 2 3-pointers made
• Virginia was outrebounded 38-33 and marks its first win of the season when losing the battle on the glass
• Each team committed 16 turnovers; Virginia improves to 7-3 when it wins or ties the turnover battle
• Virginia improves to 9-2 when scoring at least 70 points

WITH THE WIN…

• Virginia improves to 6-11 in the all-time series with Syracuse
• The Cavaliers snap a four-game losing streak in the series with the Orange
• Virginia records its first road win over Syracuse since the first-ever meeting between the teams (12/29/85)
• The Cavaliers record their largest comeback win of the season and overcome a 13-plus point deficit for the first time since a win over North Carolina (13 pts, 1/28/24)

UP NEXT

The Cavaliers return to action on Thursday when they host No. 25 Florida State. Tipoff at John Paul Jones Arena is set for 7 p.m. on ACC Network Extra (ACCNX).