IOWA CITY, Iowa – In a game that wasn’t decided until the final seconds, the Virginia Cavaliers secured their first NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament victory since 2018 on Thursday night, defeating Arizona State 57-55 in a First Four matchup at Carver-Hawkeye Arena. The win sends the 10th-seeded Cavaliers (20-11) into the first round of the tournament, where they will face seventh-seeded Georgia (22-9) on Saturday.
The victory was fueled by a dominant double-double performance from Kymora Johnson, who led all scorers with 17 points and 10 rebounds, adding five assists for good measure. Caitlin Weimar provided a crucial spark off the bench, contributing 11 points and a game-high 12 rebounds. The pair’s combined effort on the glass – 22 total rebounds – proved pivotal in a tightly contested game where every possession mattered. This is the first time since January 29, 2026, that two UVA players have recorded a double-double in the same game, according to team records.
The game was a back-and-forth affair, with neither team able to establish a significant lead for much of the contest. Virginia built an early advantage with a 7-0 run late in the first quarter, taking a 19-14 lead into the second. However, both teams struggled offensively in the second period, with Virginia shooting just 26% from the field. The Cavaliers managed to extend their lead to nine points at one point, entering halftime ahead 30-22.
A Tight Second Half and Clutch Plays
Arizona State came out strong in the third quarter, shooting 50% from the field, but Virginia’s defense forced six turnovers, limiting the Sun Devils’ opportunities. Despite ASU’s improved offense, the Cavaliers maintained a four-point lead, 40-36, heading into the final frame. The fourth quarter proved to be a nail-biter. Trailing by eight with 4:28 remaining, Arizona State mounted a furious rally, culminating in a three-pointer with 41 seconds left that tied the game at 51-51 – the first tie since midway through the opening quarter.
Responding immediately, Johnson answered with a clutch three-pointer of her own to regain the lead for Virginia. With the score at 57-55 and just four seconds on the clock, Paris Clark sealed the victory with a game-saving steal, denying Arizona State a final scoring opportunity. Clark finished the night with nine points, four rebounds, and four steals.
Johnson’s Historic Performance
Kymora Johnson’s performance wasn’t just impactful. it was historic. Her 17 points moved her into sole possession of 10th place on Virginia’s all-time scoring list with 1,651 career points, according to the UVA Athletics website. The double-double was her eighth career double-double and second of the season. Remarkably, Johnson became only the third player in program history to record at least 10 points, 10 rebounds, and five assists in an NCAA Tournament game, joining the esteemed company of Dawn Staley (twice) and DeMya Walker.
Agugua-Hamilton Praises Team’s Resilience
Head Coach Amaka Agugua-Hamilton praised her team’s grit and determination following the hard-fought victory. “I’m really proud of our players. That was a gutsy performance,” Agugua-Hamilton said. “We had to ground that one out. Arizona State, they’re a very physical defensive team. That’s what they’re known for. They make it hard for you to run anything. They really make it hard for 40 minutes. I was just proud of our players, just kind of weathered the storm through some of the adversity we hit in the game but we were so urgent at the end and we just stayed together and really was on one accord.” Agugua-Hamilton also improved to 4-2 as a head coach in the NCAA Tournament with this win.
Looking Ahead to Georgia
With the win, Virginia advances to face seventh-seeded Georgia in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Saturday at Carver-Hawkeye Arena. Tipoff is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. ET and will be broadcast on ESPN2. Georgia finished the regular season with a 22-9 record and is currently ranked No. 24 in the AP Poll. The full NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament bracket is available on the NCAA website. The Cavaliers will need to continue their strong rebounding performance – they outrebounded Arizona State 42-39 and are now 19-6 on the season when winning the rebounding battle – to have success against the Bulldogs.
This marks Virginia’s first 20-win season since 2016-17, a testament to the progress made under Agugua-Hamilton’s leadership. The team’s resilience and balanced scoring, exemplified by the double-doubles from Johnson and Weimar, will be key as they navigate the challenges of the tournament.
The Cavaliers and Bulldogs have not met during the 2023-24 season. Further information regarding the game, including ticket availability and fan travel details, can be found on the official Virginia Athletics website.
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