Super Shorthanded Cavaliers Put Up Valiant Effort in 85-74 Loss at Miami

The Virginia women's basketball team had just six active players on the roster in Sunday's loss at Miami in the regular season finale

Virginia Athletics

ACC play has not been kind to the Virginia women's basketball team. 

Not only have the Cavaliers had to face a challenging slate of opponents in a highly-competitive Atlantic Coast Conference, but they have also had to deal with a significant amount of roster depletion. UVA began the conference schedule with 11 active players on the roster. When the regular season came to an end on Sunday, the Cavaliers were down to just six available players for their regular season finale. This short-handed team went 4-14 in ACC play, but that doesn’t tell the full story of how hard Coach Mox’s team fought against conference foes. 

With the odds stacked against them, UVA's six-player team of Taylor Valladay, Camryn Taylor, Kaydan Lawson, McKenna Dale, Alexia Smith, and Cady Pauley came together and delivered a admirable performance, staying in it until the end, before ultimately falling at Miami 85-74 on Sunday afternoon in Coral Gables. 

The Hoos jumped out to a hot start as Camryn Taylor made a basket and McKenna Dale drained a three pointer to give UVA a quick 5-0 lead. The Cavaliers led 7-2 before Miami put together a 12-0 run, taking advantage of a three-minute Virginia scoring drought to build a 16-7 lead. After the first quarter, Miami led 22-14.

Early in the second quarter, Miami had eight assists on nine field goals, passing well around the Cavalier zone. Despite having seven turnovers, the Hurricanes were efficient from the field as Virginia struggled to find the bottom of the net on the other end of the floor.

Alexia Smith and McKenna Dale were major offensive contributors for the Cavaliers in the first half, with Dale having nine points, four rebounds, and three assists and Alexia Smith adding eight points, five rebounds, and three assists. Miami looked to take a commanding lead into the halftime break, but Cady Pauley made threes on back-to-back possessions help keep UVA in it. At the end of the first half, Miami led 40-30.

After Miami took a 46-32 lead in the third quarter, Virginia put together a 12-4 run. Camryn Taylor had five points in the run as the Cavaliers pulled within six points, but Hanna Cavinder drained a three-pointer for Miami to make it a nine point gap again. 

In the final few minutes of the third quarter, Camryn Taylor and Taylor Valladay both fought for three-point plays. Virginia was within striking distance after three quarters, trailing 67-60.

Camryn Taylor had 13 third quarter points on 4/4 from the field and 5/6 from the line to pace Virginia, and Taylor Valladay had nine points on 3/3 from the field and 3/3 from the line. Cady Pauley continued her hot shooting, going 2/2 from three for six third quarter points. The Cavaliers were 10/12 (83%) from the field to keep themselves in the game, scoring a season-high 30 points in the third quarter.

Three different Miami players drained three-pointers in the fourth quarter to help the Hurricanes maintain their lead. Camryn Taylor and Taylor Valladay worked to keep Virginia in the game, but the Cavaliers didn’t get closer than the seven-point deficit at the start of the period. In the end, Miami won 85-74.

It was impressive to watch a team of six players play so close to a team that is likely NCAA tournament bound. Coach Mox’s team showed heart, hustle, and composure in a season where not much went their way.

Camryn Taylor had 21 points and seven rebounds to lead UVA. Taylor Valladay recorded 16 points and six assists, McKenna Dale had 14 points, and Cady Pauley had 12 points. For Miami, Destiny Harden had 20 points and 11 rebounds and the Hurricanes had three other players in double figures.

Virginia concludes the regular season 15-14 overall and 4-14 in ACC play. The Cavaliers will head to Greensboro for the ACC Women's Basketball Tournament on Wednesday, with UVA's first round opponent still to be determined. 

Update: Virginia has earned the No. 13 seed in the ACC Women's Basketball Tournament and will face No. 12 seed Wake Forest in the first round on Wednesday at 1pm at Greensboro Coliseum. Click here to see the full bracket and schedule for the 2023 ACC Women's Basketball Tournament.

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