Dec. 29, 2008

Box Score

CHARLOTTESVILLE -- Lyndra Littles scored a career-high 33 points to lead 14th ranked Virginia to a 68-52 win over Louisiana Tech in the championship game of the 2008 Cavalier Marriott Classic.

Littles, who just became eligible prior to the Christmas break, hit 12-of-30 field goals and 8-of-13 free throws to carry the Cavaliers to the championship title as Virginia improves to 11-2 on the season.

Virginia built a 15-point halftime advantage and held off a late Tech rally which saw the Lady Techsters cut a 20-point deficit down to 11 with over three minutes to play.

"I thought we defended well," said Tech head coach Chris Long who saw his team hold Virginia to under 70 points for only the fourth time this season. "Little is a great player, and (Monica) Wright is a first team All-American.

"That was a great basketball team we just played. I told our coaches before the game that they are talented enough to make it to the Final Four. To come in here on the road and to fight like we did, that is what I'm most pleased about tonight."

Tech (7-6) outshot the Cavaliers from the field as the Lady Techsters hit 39 percent (23-59) of their field goals and held Virginia to only 33 percent (25-75), the second lowest shooting percentage the UVA has been held to all year.

However, the Lady Techsters were 0-for-14 from the three-point line and only 6-of-16 from the free throw line.

Tech also played the majority of the first half without its leading scorer Shanavia Dowdell, who played only six minutes after picking up three personal fouls. Dowdell returned in the second half and ended the game with 11 points and only four rebounds in 20 minutes.

Tech led 12-10 when Dowdell picked up her second personal foul with 14:37 to play in the opening half and had to go to the bench. Virginia responded by using a 16-4 run over the next six minutes forcing Long to bring Dowdell back into the game.

The junior forward promptly picked up her third foul and was forced to sit the remainder of the half.

"Having to play without Shanavia in the first half really hurt us," Long said. "She is our go-to player and her sitting on the bench for 14 minutes was hard to overcome. We came out and fought hard and gave ourselves a chance. We got to the free throw line but I'm disappointed in how we shot our free throws. We have to improve in that area. We were right there if we make our free throws and if Dowdell stays in the game."

Without Dowdell the Tech offense struggled as the Lady Techsters recorded 18 turnovers in the opening half and trailed 35-20 at the break.

After opening the game in a man-to-man defense, Long switched to a 2-3 zone midway through the first half causing the Cavaliers difficulties for the rest of the game.

Trailing by as many as 20 at 57-37 with 8:37 to play in the game, the Lady Techsters held Virginia without a point for over five minutes but were only able to cut eight points off the lead before Littles hit a layup at the 3:10 mark to up the advantage to 59-45.

"I told our players that I hope they learned something from this game," Long said. "I hope they realize we are not that far off. I can't emphasize that enough. We played with this Virginia team; a great team. We did some good things in a tough situation."

Sophomore Adrienne Johnson led Tech with 12 points, while Dowdell added 11 points. Whitney Jones and Pringle each scored nine points.

Sophomore guard Tarkeisha Wysinger also saw her first action of the year, playing 10 minutes and recording three points, one rebound and one steal.

"I'm happy to have her back," Long said of Wysinger, who missed the first 11 games after undergoing knee surgery. "I told her `Welcome back,' after the game. She got up and down the floor and made some players. She brings so many things to our team."

Tech returns to action Jan. 3 when the Lady Techsters travel to Lake Charles to face McNeese State.