Cavaliers Dominate SMU, Secure Second Straight ACC Victory
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virginia women’s basketball continued its strong start to conference play, defeating SMU 76-52 in its ACC home opener on Monday, December 29th, at John Paul Jones Arena. The decisive victory, fueled by a dominant performance in the paint and stellar playmaking, improves the Cavaliers’ record to 10-3 overall and 2-0 in ACC competition.
Third-Quarter Surge Seals the Deal
The Cavaliers exploded in the third quarter, unleashing a 20-0 scoring run to pull away from a competitive SMU team. This pivotal stretch,during which Virginia forced 11 consecutive missed field goal attempts by the Mustangs,showcased her all-around impact on the game.Caitlin Weimar also recorded a double-double, contributing 13 points and 12 rebounds, while Tabitha Amanze added 11 points to round out Virginia’s trio of double-figure scorers.
Dominance in the Paint
Virginia’s size and strength proved to be a notable advantage, as the Cavaliers outscored SMU 54-22 in the paint. Sa’Myah Smith was notably impactful in the frontcourt, pulling down a career-high 15 rebounds. The team’s commitment to sharing the ball was also evident, as they recorded 24 assists on 32 made baskets, with nine different UVA players finding the scoring column.
First-Half foundation
The Cavaliers established an early lead in the first quarter,utilizing a 9-2 run to build a 23-14 advantage. Johnson led the way with nine points and three assists in the opening frame.SMU responded with an 11-2 run in the second quarter, narrowing the gap to six points, but Virginia maintained control, taking a 35-27 lead into halftime. Johnson continued her strong performance, leading all players with 11 points on efficient 4-for-5 shooting in the first half.
Coach Agugua-Hamilton Praises Team Effort
“I thought it was a good team win,” stated a senior member of the coaching staff. “Really proud of how we came off Christmas break, sometimes it’s hard to get your rhythm after being off for that many days. But we have a hungry group, we’re really focused. Taking everything one game at a time,but I like how we came out. We’ve just got to put teams away in the second half and keep growing in that regard. But I thought it was a great team win.”
Key Takeaways & program Momentum
With this win, Virginia improves to 3-0 all-time against SMU and secures back-to-back ACC victories for the first time since the 2017-18 season, when they started conference play 5-0. The Cavaliers are now 8-1 at John Paul Jones Arena this season.
Game Notes:
- Double-figure scorers: Johnson (17), Weimar (13), Amanze (11)
- Johnson’s sixth career double-double (17 pts, 10 ast) marks continued growth in her playmaking ability.
- Smith’s 15 rebounds represent a season-high for any Cavalier player.
- Gabby White set a career-high with six assists, demonstrating increased court vision.
- breona Hurd made her first appearance as November 16th,adding depth to the roster.
- Virginia recorded 20+ assists for the fifth time this season, highlighting their ball movement.
- The Cavaliers’ 54 points in the paint matched a season-high.
- Two Cavaliers recorded a double-double in the same game for the first time since November 20th.
Looking Ahead
Virginia will return to action on Thursday, January 1st, hosting Clemson at John Paul Jones Arena. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. and will be broadcast on ACC Network Extra (ACCNX).
