WBB: Virginia falls in close finish with Washington State, 75-74

Courtesy UVA Media Relations

Despite a valiant comeback effort, Virginia fell just short in a 75-74 loss to Washington State on Friday at Coliseo Guillermo in San Juan.

The Cavaliers (6-2) used a 10-2 scoring run in the final four minutes of the game to cut a nine-point deficit down to just one with 2:18 to play. However, Virginia was unable to get over the line despite holding the Cougars without a point in the game’s final three minutes.

Kymora Johnson (20 pts, 8 for 20 FG, 5 ast, 5 reb) nabbed her fourth 20-point performance of the season while Latasha Lattimore (19 pts, 7 for 13 FG, 10 reb) recorded her third double-double. Paris Clark (13 pts, 6 for 9 FG, 6 reb) was another bright spot for the Cavaliers logging a season-high point total on an efficient night from the floor.  

HOW IT HAPPENED

Lattimore helped the Cavaliers to an early lead [7-4] scoring each of Virginia’s first seven points while shooting a perfect 3-for-3 from the floor in the first quarter. The Cavaliers outscored Wazzu 14-7 in the final five minutes of the frame, capped by a Johnson transition layup at the horn to take a 25-18 advantage.

An 8-0 Virginia scoring run bridged the first and second quarters, but the Cavaliers were ultimately outscored 18-17 in the second. Wazzu pulled within as few as three points [39-36], but Johnson finished through contact and converted on an and-one opportunity to extend the Cavalier lead to 42-36 going into the break. Johnson led all scorers in the half with 13 points on 5-for-11 shooting.

In the third, Washington State continued to chip away at the Virginia lead outscoring the Cavaliers 23-18 in the period. The Cougars (4-3) would eventually take a one-point lead [59-58] with 50 seconds remaining in the period, but Lattimore converted a pair from the stripe to restore a Cavalier advantage [60-59] going into the final period.

A 14-4 Wazzu run to start the fourth saw Virginia trail by its largest deficit of the game [64-73]. Down nine with 4:16 to play, Hurd connected from beyond the arc to bring Virginia within two possessions [67-73]. That kickstarted a 10-2 Cavalier run to pull back within just one point [75-74], but the Cavaliers were unable find one more basket to get them over the line.

ADDITIONAL NOTES

• Virginia falls to 1-1 at the Discover Puerto Rico Shootout
• Double-figure scorers: Johnson (20), Lattimore (19), Clark (13)
• Kymora Johnson recorded her fourth 20-point game of the season and the 12th of her career.
• Latasha Lattimore’s 19 points mark her highest total as a Cavalier
• Lattimore recorded her third double-double of the season and the fifth of her career
• Lattimore’s 10 rebounds led UVA followed by Clark and Grays with six each.
• Grays’ six rebounds marks a career-high
• Clark’s 13 points marked a season-high
• Virginia committed a season-low 13 turnovers
• UVA out-rebounded WSU 44-38
• The Cavaliers suffer their first loss when out-rebounding its opponent this season
• UVA won the battle in the paint outscoring Wazzu 44-28 in the key
• Virginia led by as many as 11 points (Q2, 8:38) and trailed by as many as 9 (Q4, 6:11)
• The game featured nine lead changes and five ties

UP NEXT

The Cavaliers are back in action Saturday when they close out the Discover Puerto Rico Shootout against Wyoming. Tipoff from Coliseo Guillermo Angulo is set for 12:30 p.m. ET on FloHoops.