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
