Women’s Basketball Comes Up Short at UNC
Posted on Monday, Feb. 18, 2019, 9:33 am
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Courtesy UVA Sports Media Relations
The Virginia women’s basketball team suffered a 70-53 loss at North Carolina on Sunday at Carmichael Arena in Chapel Hill.
Junior guard Jocelyn Willoughby led the Cavaliers with 16 points and 10 rebounds, one of three Cavaliers (10-15, 4-8 ACC) to finish the game in double figures in scoring. Freshman guard Erica Martinsen had 13 points, while junior guard Dominique Toussaint added 10 points.
The Tar Heels (16-11, 7-6) had four players finish with double-digit points, led by a 16-point performance from Paris Kea. UNC’s Taylor Koenen had a double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds. Virginia shot 29.7 percent (19 of 64) while North Carolina shot 42.4 percent (25 of 59). UNC held a 46-34 edge in rebounding.
North Carolina started the game making seven of its first 10 field goal attempts, building up an early 16-9 lead, but a pair of three-pointers from Erica Martinsen capped an 8-0 UVA run to put the Cavaliers ahead 20-19.
In the second quarter, North Carolina scored seven-straight points in a one-minute span and stretched the scoring run out to 11 over four minutes to take a 36-24 lead with 3:39 remaining in the period.
Virginia scored the final eight points of the quarter, including a layup from Willoughby on an inbounds play, to head into halftime trailing by just four, 36-32. The Tar Heels began the second half on an 8-0 run, including six points from Janelle Bailey. Martinsen snapped an 0-of-6 shooting slump for UVA and halted the Tar Heels streak by hitting a three with 5:25 remaining in the third quarter, but the Cavaliers trailed 55-43 heading into the final period. North Carolina ended the game on an 11-2 run to close out the 70-53 victory.
Willoughby is now 10 points shy of reaching 1,000 in her career. Her double-double was her third consecutive, fourth in the last five games and seventh overall of the season.
Martinsen’s 13 points was her highest total since scoring 15 against Saint Louis on Nov. 25. It was her third double-digit scoring game of the year. She was 4 of 8 from 3-point range. Sophomore guard Brianna Tinsley scored nine points, including making a pair of 3-pointers. UVA went 7 of 25 (28.0 percent) from 3-point range.
UNC finished the game with a 17-4 advantage in fast-break points. The Tar Heels outscored the Cavaliers 30-14 in the paint. Virginia finished the game on a 3-of-14 shooting cold snap, including missing nine-straight attempts. UVA has lost in its last 12 games at North Carolina. The last time Virginia won in Chapel Hill was Jan. 11, 2001.
The Cavaliers have two remaining home games, hosting No. 2 Louisville on Thursday and Georgia Tech on Sunday. Sunday’s game against Georgia Tech is the Play4Kay game. All fans are encouraged to wear pink. It will also be Alumni Weekend and our Senior Day game.
