The Virginia women’s basketball team suffered a challenging 95-51 loss to the No. 10 ranked Oklahoma Sooners on Friday, Nov. 8, at the Lloyd Noble Center. The Cavaliers (1-1) battled throughout the game but were ultimately overpowered by Oklahoma’s dominant offense and strong rebounding, marking Virginia’s first defeat of the 2024-25 season.
Key Performances for Virginia Women’s Basketball
Despite the defeat, the Cavaliers had standout individual performances. Freshman Breona Hurd led Virginia with a team-high 15 points, along with five rebounds, three steals, and two assists. Paris Clark contributed 11 points, two rebounds, and three assists, while Kymora Johnson rounded out the double-digit scorers with 10 points, five rebounds, and four assists. These key players showed resilience and skill, offering a glimpse of the team’s potential moving forward.
How the Game Unfolded
First Half: Virginia Struggles to Keep Pace
The Cavaliers began the game with a brief lead as Breona Hurd hit a three-pointer to put Virginia up 3-2 early on. However, Oklahoma quickly responded with a nine-point scoring streak, taking control of the game at 11-3. Virginia battled back with a six-point run to narrow the gap, but Oklahoma finished the first quarter strong, leading 25-15. Latasha Lattimore led the Cavaliers in the opening period, scoring five points.
In the second quarter, Edessa Noyan contributed a three-pointer, but Oklahoma responded with a dominant 16-4 run, extending their lead to 43-22. Virginia tried to claw their way back with another three-pointer from Paris Clark and a transition layup by Hurd, but they trailed 44-27 at halftime.
The Virginia women’s basketball team (image via Getty)Second Half: Oklahoma Pulls Away
The third quarter proved to be the breaking point for Virginia, as Oklahoma outscored the Cavaliers 35-16 and controlled the game with a 17-8 rebounding advantage. This dominance on the boards allowed the Sooners to score nine second-chance points. Breona Hurd scored seven points in the third, while Kymora Johnson’s two three-pointers contributed six points. However, Oklahoma’s relentless offense and efficient rebounding made it nearly impossible for Virginia to make a comeback.
In the fourth quarter, Oklahoma continued to extend their lead, outscoring Virginia 16-8. The Sooners’ largest lead of the game reached 46 points at 94-48 before the game ended with a final score of 95-51. Despite the individual efforts of Hurd, Clark, and Johnson, the Cavaliers could not overcome Oklahoma’s high-scoring offense and superior rebounding.
Game Notes and Insights
- Series Record: Virginia now holds a 0-2 all-time record against Oklahoma.
- Top Scorers: Hurd (15 points), Clark (11 points), Johnson (10 points).
- Consistency from Hurd: Breona Hurd has now scored in double figures in both of Virginia’s games, recording at least five rebounds, one steal, and one assist in each contest.
- Career High: Hurd set a new career high with three steals.
- Turnovers and Rebounds: Virginia struggled with turnovers, allowing 23 points off turnovers and giving up 16 points on second-chance opportunities. They were also out-rebounded 66-39, a critical area for improvement.
As Etruesports continues to cover the Cavaliers, we emphasize the importance of improving in areas like rebounding and minimizing turnovers to avoid similar results in future matchups.
Up Next for Virginia
The Cavaliers will look to rebound from this defeat when they return to John Paul Jones Arena for a home game against Radford on Wednesday, Nov. 13. The game is scheduled to tip off at 7 p.m. and will be broadcast on ACC Network Extra (ACCNX).
Stay tuned to Etruesports for ongoing coverage of Virginia women’s basketball and other top sports news. Our team remains dedicated to providing high-quality, comprehensive sports reporting.
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