UVA is loaded with talent but has only been able to produce a .500 record under HC Amaka "Mox" Agugua-Hamilton. This is her 3rd season running the program and she has sparkled with her recruiting. Her team is young and has not quite put it all together, yet. I watched the entire Virginia at Pitt game and half of the Virginia at Syracuse game, both of which the Cavaliers won. I was impressed with the talent that they possess but not totally sold on their team defense. UVA is 13-13 overall & 5-9 in the ACC. My prediction for tomorrow night's game is: Cal 68, UVA 65.
Combined_WBB_2024-25.pdf
Their leader is their soph point guard, 5-7 Kymora Johnson. She was a McDonald's AA, and a two-time Virginia Gatorade POY. ESPN HoopGurlz rated her a 5-star recruit and the #24 rated prep in the nation. Kymora leads the team in scoring w/ 17.5 points and 5.6 rebounds per game. She is the top three-point threat with 53 treys made. Johnson is a classic PG with 141 assists while also tops in steals with 47. In the game vs Pittsburgh, the young star erupted for a triple double. She scored 20 points, had 11 assists & 11 rebounds. KJ's matchup against Cal's 5-7 PG Kayla Williams should be fun to watch.
Their #3 offensive threat is 5-8 junior combo guard Paris Clark. She transferred from Arizona after her freshman season. She also was a 2022 McDonald's AA and the New York 2022 Gatorade POY. HoopGurlz rated her 5 stars & rated her the #21 recruit in the country. Paris averages 9.2 points and grabs 4.7 boards per contest. Clark is second in assists w/ 59 and steals with 38. This spark plug has missed six games this season.
Their #2 scorer and leading rebounder is 6-4 senior transfer from Miami, Latasha Lattimore. Lattimore was rated #38 by HoopGurlz in 2021. She contributes 14.6 points and 8.6 boards on average. She is athletic and tall and slender. The Cavalier post has 50 blocks so far. I watched her go off against the 6-4 Pitt center for 30 points and 11 rebounds. She had difficulty scoring inside so she shot from the outside. When the defense began to come out on her, Lattimore drove to the basket (usually to get fouled). She made 14-18 free throws.
I'm concerned that Michelle Onyiah might get in foul trouble early against this opponent.
Their 6-2 frosh SF, Breona Hurd, has been a pleasant surprise. She contributes 9.5 points and 5.2 rebounds per game. Hurd is third in steals w/ 25. Late in the Pitt game, she sprained her ankle.
The final starter is 6-2 soph SG, Olivia McGhee. She was rated #45 in 2023 by ESPN HG. She adds 8.3 points to the offense. McGhee has range and is second in three-point baskets with 43. Olivia is fourth in steals (24).
These five starters have played 25.5 to 36.0 minutes every night.
Their sixth "man" is a 6-3 soph PF, Edessa Noyan, from Sweden. She impressed me with how hard that she plays. She tallies 5.2 points plus 4.5 boards. She is second in blocked shots with 22. The backup guard that is in coach Mox's seven player rotation is a grad transfer, Casey Valenti-Paea, from Australia. The 5-9 SG came from Buffalo. In the Pitt game, she replaced Paris Clark (ill) and scored in double figures.
Women's Basketball Virginia Cavaliers Official Athletic Site
On the season, the Cavaliers have outscored their opponents by approximately two points (70 to 68). They have been in tons of tight games but have not learned how to close games out in the final stanza. Virginia is 8-7 on their home court and has drawn an average attendance of 4250. The reason that I believe that the Bears can overcome this team is that they don't force many TOs (14.8/g). UVA also turns over the ball too much (16.9
per game). The Cavaliers played zone vs Pittsburgh. The only time that I saw them pressure was on a few occasions when the opponent's PG came across mid-court. They forced a few TOs employing a half-court trap.
GO BEARS!
Combined_WBB_2024-25.pdf
Their leader is their soph point guard, 5-7 Kymora Johnson. She was a McDonald's AA, and a two-time Virginia Gatorade POY. ESPN HoopGurlz rated her a 5-star recruit and the #24 rated prep in the nation. Kymora leads the team in scoring w/ 17.5 points and 5.6 rebounds per game. She is the top three-point threat with 53 treys made. Johnson is a classic PG with 141 assists while also tops in steals with 47. In the game vs Pittsburgh, the young star erupted for a triple double. She scored 20 points, had 11 assists & 11 rebounds. KJ's matchup against Cal's 5-7 PG Kayla Williams should be fun to watch.
Their #3 offensive threat is 5-8 junior combo guard Paris Clark. She transferred from Arizona after her freshman season. She also was a 2022 McDonald's AA and the New York 2022 Gatorade POY. HoopGurlz rated her 5 stars & rated her the #21 recruit in the country. Paris averages 9.2 points and grabs 4.7 boards per contest. Clark is second in assists w/ 59 and steals with 38. This spark plug has missed six games this season.
Their #2 scorer and leading rebounder is 6-4 senior transfer from Miami, Latasha Lattimore. Lattimore was rated #38 by HoopGurlz in 2021. She contributes 14.6 points and 8.6 boards on average. She is athletic and tall and slender. The Cavalier post has 50 blocks so far. I watched her go off against the 6-4 Pitt center for 30 points and 11 rebounds. She had difficulty scoring inside so she shot from the outside. When the defense began to come out on her, Lattimore drove to the basket (usually to get fouled). She made 14-18 free throws.
I'm concerned that Michelle Onyiah might get in foul trouble early against this opponent.
Their 6-2 frosh SF, Breona Hurd, has been a pleasant surprise. She contributes 9.5 points and 5.2 rebounds per game. Hurd is third in steals w/ 25. Late in the Pitt game, she sprained her ankle.
The final starter is 6-2 soph SG, Olivia McGhee. She was rated #45 in 2023 by ESPN HG. She adds 8.3 points to the offense. McGhee has range and is second in three-point baskets with 43. Olivia is fourth in steals (24).
These five starters have played 25.5 to 36.0 minutes every night.
Their sixth "man" is a 6-3 soph PF, Edessa Noyan, from Sweden. She impressed me with how hard that she plays. She tallies 5.2 points plus 4.5 boards. She is second in blocked shots with 22. The backup guard that is in coach Mox's seven player rotation is a grad transfer, Casey Valenti-Paea, from Australia. The 5-9 SG came from Buffalo. In the Pitt game, she replaced Paris Clark (ill) and scored in double figures.
Women's Basketball Virginia Cavaliers Official Athletic Site
On the season, the Cavaliers have outscored their opponents by approximately two points (70 to 68). They have been in tons of tight games but have not learned how to close games out in the final stanza. Virginia is 8-7 on their home court and has drawn an average attendance of 4250. The reason that I believe that the Bears can overcome this team is that they don't force many TOs (14.8/g). UVA also turns over the ball too much (16.9
per game). The Cavaliers played zone vs Pittsburgh. The only time that I saw them pressure was on a few occasions when the opponent's PG came across mid-court. They forced a few TOs employing a half-court trap.
GO BEARS!
