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It took less than seven minutes for Virginia to build a double digit lead against the hapless Boston College Eagles, but they didn't fully take control of the game until shortly before halftime. Virginia shot just 35.5% in the first half but held a commanding 16 point lead thanks to an 18-3 edge in points off turnovers. The Hoos quickly put the game away in the second half with a 15-2 run built on 3 steals and a trio of treys. Virginia cruised from there, with the lead never dipping below 23 points and ballooning to as much as 34. Virginia got plenty of minutes from its bench and a decent amount of rest for its starters as Ariana Moorer played just 23 minutes and Ataira Franklin 27. Virginia was methodical, efficient and took their opponent seriously. They were rewarded with an easy win and some momentum going into their next game.
What's Next For Boston College: Picked to finish ninth in the ACC, there's no way to paint this season as anything other than a disaster. The Eagles finished 7-23 and were lucky to get that many wins. While the team is quite young (just one senior), there doesn't seem to be any real breakout talent on the team. Barring team-wide improvements for every single player, next season could be every bit as painful as this one in Chestnut Hill.
What's Next For Virginia: The Hoos will test their sticky defense once again against Maryland, the highest-scoring team in the ACC. The real question for Virginia is if they have enough offense to keep up with the Terps. While the Hoos will need big scoring games from the dynamic duo of Moorer and Franklin, they'll need points from Lexie Gerson and Chelsea Shine as well. Tonight's win seals Virginia's claim to an NCAA bid, barring some truly strange upsets elsewhere.
Top Performers:
- Ariana Moorer: 20 points, 7 rebounds, 4 rebounds, 4 assists. The leader of the Hoos imposed her will at both ends, nailing short jumpers, applying ball pressure and outmuscling bigger players for rebounds.
- Ataira Franklin, UVa: 20 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists, 4 steals. She was 4-6 from three and used her length to deflect cross-court passes and turn them into turnovers.
- Telia McCall, UVa: 13 points, 5 rebounds. The back-up forward led a productive Virginia bench with shots inside and out.
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