Virginia edges Arizona State in NCAA tournament First Four Kymora Johnson scored 17 points, including a go-ahead 3-pointer with 30.6 seconds remaining, as Virginia defeated Arizona State 57-55 in the NCAA tournament First Four on Thursday night. The Cavaliers, seeded 10th, advanced to face seventh-seeded Georgia in the next round, marking their first NCAA tournament appearance since 2018 under head coach Amaka Agugua-Hamilton. Johnson’s clutch 3-pointer, Virginia’s first of the second half in 10 attempts, gave the Cavaliers a 54-51 lead. With 5.3 seconds left, Johnson added a free throw to seal the victory. Arizona State’s Jyah LoVett lost control of the ball in the paint as the clock expired, ending the game. Johnson also recorded 10 rebounds for her ninth career double-double. Caitlin Weimar contributed 11 points off the bench, and Romi Levy added 10. Arizona State, seeded 10th, saw Marley Washenitz score 19 points on five 3-pointers, while McKinna Brackens and Heloisa Carrera each tallied 10 points. Gabby Elliott, Arizona State’s leading scorer, made just three of 13 field goals, finishing with 11 points and nine rebounds. The Sun Devils, making their first NCAA tournament appearance since 2019, were coached by first-year head coach Molly Miller. The game saw Arizona State trail by as many as 10 points in the second half before rallying. Elliott’s jumper cut the deficit to 48-46 with 3:18 remaining, but Virginia’s defense held firm. The loss ended Arizona State’s season, while Virginia advanced to the next round, continuing its resurgence under Agugua-Hamilton.#virginia #arizona_state #kymora_johnson #amaka_agugua_hamilton #molly_miller
Pair of Double-Doubles Power Virginia to First Four Victory The 10th-seeded Virginia women’s basketball team (20-11) secured its first NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament victory since 2018 with a 57-55 win over 10th-seeded Arizona State (24-11) on Thursday night (March 19) at Carver-Hawkeye Arena. The Cavaliers advanced to face seventh-seeded Georgia (22-9) in the next round on Saturday (March 21) at the same venue, with the game set for 1:30 p.m. ET on ESPN2. Kymora Johnson led Virginia with 17 points, 10 rebounds, and five assists, while Caitlin Weimar added 11 points and 12 rebounds off the bench. The game’s momentum shifted in the first quarter as Virginia surged ahead with a 7-0 run late in the period, taking a seven-point lead. The Cavaliers entered the second quarter with a 19-14 advantage after shooting 7-for-13 from the field in the opening 10 minutes. Both teams struggled offensively in the second quarter, with Virginia hitting just 26% of their shots and Arizona State managing only 14%. Virginia extended its lead to nine points by halftime, outscoring the Sun Devils 10-2 in the frame. The Cavaliers held Arizona State without a basket on their final seven attempts of the half, maintaining a 30-22 lead at the break. Arizona State responded with a 50% shooting performance in the third quarter but was limited to just eight field-goal attempts as Virginia forced six turnovers. The Sun Devils cut the deficit to four points by the start of the fourth quarter, trailing 40-36. After trailing by eight points with 4:28 remaining, Arizona State launched a late rally, capped by a 3-pointer with 41 seconds left to tie the game at 51-51. Kymora Johnson answered with a clutch 3-pointer moments later, giving Virginia a 57-55 lead.#arizona_state #carver_hawkeye_arena #kymora_johnson #caitlin_weimar #amaka_agugua_hamilton
