WBB host LOLUVA Jan 16 at 6 PM

The 12-4, 3-2 Hokies host the 10-7, 2-3 Virginia Cavaliers in Cassell at 6 PM tonight. The game will be streamed on the ACC Network extra channel. The Cavaliers have played three ranked teams this season and lost to Oklahoma and Notre Dame by large margins. In their most recent game they lost to Duke by only 5 points at home. We have several common opponents. They beat Radford 83-41; we beat Radford 73-34. They beat Wake Forest 69-46; we beat Wake 61-54. The ESPN matchup predictor gives the Hokies an 83.5% chance of victory.

The Cavaliers have some height on the team; but 6'7" center Taylor Lauterbach haS not played recently; also 5'8" Yonta Vaughn has not played in the last couple of games. They are likely to start 6'4' senior #35 Lattimore; 6'3" sophomore #8 Noyan; 6'2" sophomore #0 McGee; 5'7" sophomore #21 Johnson; and 5'8" senior #1 Clark. 6'2" freshman #32 Hurd is the only other player to have significant minutes in the last two games. Johnson has played 40 minutes in the last two games.

Johnson and Lattimore lead the scoring with 18.2 and 12.3 ppg; Lattimore also adds 8.8 rebounds per game. Mc Gee, Hurd, and Clark add 10, 9.2, and ppg. They average 17.4 TOs to 15.4 assists. UVA only shoots 41.4% overall and 30.9% from beyond the arc. Johnson is the primary three point threat shooting 40.6% and making about 2.
2 per game. Overall the Wahoos make about 6 three point shots per game. Lattimore is going to be a challenge for the Hokies; she shoots 50% overall and will have 2 or more inch height advantage on her defender. Our guards are going to have a similar height advantage against UVAs back court.

With UVAs short bench any kind of foul trouble is going to be a real problem for them unless Lauterbach and/or Vaughn are back for this game. This game could be a nail biter if we are not careful with the ball; and if we have trouble with our switches on defense. Both turnovers and defensive miscues could lead to too many easy shots around the rim. But if we take care of the ball and play at our normal pace, we could wear UVA down and have an easy game.

LET'S GO HOKIES!