UVa women gain key win

In Raleigh, the Virginia women's basketball team earned a key road victory at North Carolina State, 55-47, on Sunday afternoon. Ataira Franklin scored a game-high 20 points and Ariana Moorer posted a double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds.

With the victory, UVa improved to 17-8 overall and 5-6 in Atlantic Coast Conference play. N.C. State's record went to 14-10 (4-7 ACC).

UVa scored eight unanswered points to open the game and held N.C. State scoreless until the 11:28 mark of the first half. At that point, Emili
Tasler hit a jumper at the elbow to put the Wolfpack on the board and make the score 8-2.

For the rest of the half, the Wolfpack out-scored the Cavaliers, 19-14, and pulled within one point at the halftime break. UVa led, 22-21.

Virginia opened the second half on a 4-0 run to take a 26-21 lead on a jumper in the lane by Chelsea Shine at the 18:55 mark. N.C. State responded with a 6-0 run of its own over the next three minutes to take its first lead of the contest, 27-26, on a lay up by Bonae Holston with 15:36 left in the game.

That one-point N.C. State lead lasted 45 seconds, as Moorer converted a fast break lay up at the 14:51 mark that gave Virginia the lead back, 28-27. A lay up by Jazmin Pitts and back-to-back 3-pointers by Franklin put UVa up further, 36-28, and a jumper by Telia McCall extended Virginia's lead to double digits, 38-28, at the 12:13 mark.

Franklin finished 7-for-16 from the field and connected on three second-half 3-pointers. She also contributed five rebounds. Moorer's double-double was her second of the season and third of her career. The senior also tallied five steals. Lexie Gerson netted 10 points as the third Cavalier in double figures for scoring and added four steals.

The Cavaliers were out-rebounded, 41-37. UVa forced 25 Wolfpack turnovers and converted 22 points off of those turnovers.

Virginia will have a week before its next game. The Cavaliers host Clemson on Sunday, Feb. 12, at 2 p.m. The contest is part of the Play 4Kay initiative, formerly known as the WBCA Pink Zone, and fans are encouraged to wear pink in support of breast cancer awareness.