Women’s notebook: UVA closes out nonconference schedule against Morgan State

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Posted on Sunday, Dec. 18, 2022, 12:19 pm

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Courtesy UVA Media Relations

Photo by Michael Bruder

The Virginia women’s basketball team returns from a 10-day break to host Morgan State on Sunday at 2 p.m. at John Paul Jones Arena.

BROADCAST INFORMATION

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

VIRGINIA NOTES

  • This is the Cavaliers’ final non-conference game of the year
  • The Cavaliers (11-0) are receiving votes in the AP Poll for the third-straight week. The Cavaliers are the second-highest ‘receiving votes’ team in the USA Today Coaches Poll
  • Virginia is one of 11 undefeated teams remaining in NCAA I women’s basketball
  • The Cavaliers are 11-0 for the first time since the 1991-92 season when the team started 13-0
  • Virginia’s last 11-game win streak came in 1994-95 when the team won 13 in a row (Jan. 17-Mar. 3)
  • The Cavaliers look to go undefeated in the non-conference portion of the schedule for just the third time in program history. The other two times were the 1985-86 season and 1991-92
  • Virginia leads the ACC and is fifth in the nation in rebounding, averaging 47.7 per game. The Cavaliers are also fifth in the nation in rebounding margin at plus-14.6. Last season, the Cavaliers averaged 35.0 rebounds per game, second to last in the league and had a minus-1.6 rebounding margin
  • UVA has also vastly improved the team assist-to-turnover ratio. Last season, the team was 0.61, ranking last in the ACC and 310 out of 348 NCAA I teams
  • Mir McLean leads the team in both scoring and rebounding, averaging a double-double of 13.0 points per game and 10.2 rebounds per game. Her 10.2 rebounds per game ranks third in the ACC and 23rd in the nation. Her 4.4 offensive rebounds per game is ninth in the nation
  • McLean had a double-double by halftime of the William & Mary game, finishing the contest with 22 points and a career-high 17 rebounds
  • McLean has posted a double-double in five of the last seven games. She has led the team in rebounding in each of the last five games and six of the last seven
  • In the last three games, McLean is averaging 19.0 points and 13.0 rebounds per game
  • Taylor Valladay is averaging 4.0 assists per game with a 1.61 assist-to-turnover ratio
  • In the last three games, Valladay has 13 assists to five turnovers (2.6 assist-to-turnover ratio)

SCOUTING MORGAN STATE

  • Morgan State (7-3) was picked to finish fourth in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference preseason poll after finishing as the runners-up in last year’s conference tournament
  • After canceling two games the first week of December due to COVID-19 health and safety protocols, Morgan State returned to action on Dec. 11, falling 58-50 at Texas State
  • Charlene Shepherd was named the MEAC Defensive Player of the Week after grabbing 11 rebounds against Texas State. She also scored 17 points for her third double-double of the season
  • Ja’Niah Henson leads the team in scoring at 15.6 points per game
  • This will be the second time this season the Lady Bears have faced an ACC team, falling 75-34 against Boston College in the Puerto Rico Clasico tournament
  • Virginia is 4-0 all-time against Morgan State. The two teams last faced one another in a WNIT game on March 17, 2011, with UVA winning 69-56

ON THE HORIZON

The Cavaliers return to ACC play next week, traveling to play at Duke on Wednesday at 7 p.m. Virginia is back home on Thursday, Dec. 29, hosting Georgia Tech at 7 p.m.