North Carolina used its athleticism and up-tempo offensive style to dominate Virginia 103-74 and keep its stranglehold on the rivalry, winning for the 13th straight time.

In the eyes of many, Virginia’s second season starts tonight at North Carolina.

Ariana Moorer had showcased the ability to score. Virginia’s rookie had also shown a Sean Singletary-like knack for rebounding, a rarity for an undersized point guard.

Virginia, despite a 13-2 start, the best since 1992, and a No. 15 ranking faces a tough slate ahead and appears in dire need of better chemistry.

This time, the 15th-ranked Cavaliers discovered that defensive stopper Enonge Stovall, a junior, would not be allowed to enroll in school for the upcoming second semester due to academic woes.

Despite 16 turnovers and a woeful shooting performance from the field against yet another zone-based defense, the 15th-ranked Cavaliers outlasted the Red Flash 82-66 in front of 2,478 fans at the JPJ.

Shot after shot, miraculously they landed at the bottom of the net.

For now, the Cavaliers appear fixed on dishing out lumps to perennial powers from the Southeastern Conference.

For now, the Cavaliers appear fixed on dishing out lumps to perennial powers from the Southeastern Conference.

Lyndra Littles received a belated Christmas present Sunday.

Christmas vacation was slated to begin minutes after the final horn on Sunday for the players on the Virginia women’s basketball team.

Lyndra Littles let her actions speak louder than her words.

The stage directions would have read “Enter stage left” and then, immediately thereafter, “Exit stage right.”

“I have no idea,” Debbie Ryan said after Virginia dispatched East Carolina 80-67 in its last contest on Dec. 6. “I haven’t even thought about it because you can’t.“

In the eyes of the casual fan, making the climb to college basketball has appeared easy for Ariana Moorer.