Women’s notebook: Virginia faces toughest challenge yet tonight at Duke

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Posted on Wednesday, Dec. 21, 2022, 1:51 pm

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Courtesy UVA Media Relations

Photo: UVA Athletics

The No. 25 Virginia women’s basketball team travels to play at Duke on Wednesday at 7 p.m. at Cameron Indoor Stadium in Durham, N.C.

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
  • All of the 2022-23 Virginia women’s basketball games are available locally on the radio on NewsRadio 1070 AM and 98.9 FM WINA
  • Live stats be available
  • Links are posted on VirginiaSports.com

VIRGINIA NOTES

  • The Cavaliers (12-0, 1-0 ACC) are ranked No. 25 in this week’s USA Today Coaches Poll. It is the first time that UVA has been ranked in that poll since March 8, 2010, when they were No. 22
  • The Cavaliers are receiving votes in the AP Poll for the fourth-straight week. They are the second-highest “receiving votes” team in the poll. The last time the Cavaliers were ranked in the AP Poll was Nov. 21, 2011, when they were 22nd
  • Virginia is No. 22 in the latest NET rankings
  • Virginia is one of 10 undefeated teams remaining in NCAA I women’s basketball and the only undefeated ACC team
  • The Cavaliers are 12-0 for the first time since the 1991-92 season when the team started 13-0
  • Virginia’s last 12-game win streak came in 1994-95 when the team won 13 in a row (Jan. 17-Mar. 3)
  • The Cavaliers went 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
  • The Cavaliers are coming off an 84-28 victory against Morgan State on Sunday, the first time that UVA held an opponent to under 30 points since limiting Norfolk State to 23 on Dec. 28, 2012. It was the Cavaliers’ largest margin of victory of the year (plus-56) and their second time winning by more than 50 points this season
  • Virginia had 24 assists against Morgan State (on 29 made baskets), their fifth time this season dishing 20 or more assists in a game, and third time in the last four contests
  • Virginia ranks second in the ACC and 18th in the nation with 17.9 assists per game
  • Taylor Valladay had six assists, her third time this season with six assists and her fifth time with five or more in a game
  • Valladay is fifth in the ACC with 4.2 assists per game
  • The Cavaliers grabbed 51 rebounds against Morgan State, their third-straight game with 50 or more rebounds and sixth overall 50-rebound game this season
  • The Cavaliers lead the ACC and are fifth in the nation in rebounding at 48.0 per game
  • UVA also leads the ACC and is ranked fourth nationally in rebounding margin at plus-15.2
  • Morgan State went 0 for 19 from 3-point range. The Cavalier defense held UMBC to one 3-pointer (1 for 16) as well as UNCW (1 for 13)
  • The Cavaliers are fifth in the nation in three-point shooting defense, with opponents making just 22.5 percent of their attempts
  • UVA also ranks in the top-10 in overall field goal shooting defense with opponents shooting 32.9 percent (2nd in the ACC, 9th in the nation). Duke ranks fourth in the nation and leads the ACC with opponents shooting 31.9 percent
  • Mir McLean is leading the team in scoring and rebounding, averaging a double-double with 13.3 points per game and 10.1 rebounds per game
  • McLean is third in the ACC and 21st in the nation in rebounds per game and leads the ACC and is 10th in the nation in offensive rebounds per game (4.3)
  • McLean has led the team in scoring in three of the last four games and has been UVA’s top rebounder in each of the last six contests. She is averaging 12.8 rebounds per game in those last six games
  • 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
  • Sam Brunelle has scored 13 points in back-to-back outings
  • Brunelle is a perfect 14 of 14 from the free-throw line this season
  • 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 DUKE

  • Duke (10-1, 0-0) is receiving votes in the AP and USA Today Coaches Polls. They are No. 10 in the NET rankings
  • The Blue Devils’ lone loss this season was a 78-50 game against UConn
  • This is the Duke’s ACC opener
  • Jordyn Oliver is third in the nation with a 5.00 assist-to-turnover ratio
  • Celeste Taylor leads the team in scoring, averaging 11.2 points per game
  • Elizabeth Balogun is averaging 10.6 points and 5.2 rebounds per game
  • Duke leads the all-time series 40-35
  • The Blue Devils have won the last 15 meetings at Cameron Indoor. Virginia’s last win in Durham came on Feb. 19, 1997
  • Duke had won 26 straight meetings prior to a 53-47 victory by the Cavaliers on Feb. 10, 2019. UVA has since won three of the last five meetings, including a 67-54 victory last season at John Paul Jones Arena

ON THE HORIZON

Virginia is back home next Thursday, Dec. 29, hosting Georgia Tech at 7 p.m.