Cavs’ dominant second half sparks Virginia past B.C.

Virginia’s four-member senior class may want to trade in the bouquets of flowers and university-issued plaques that were obtained on Sunday for a more fitting keepsake: the game tape of their final home game.
As the university honored a quarter of players on Senior Night at John Paul Jones Arena on Sunday, the ceremonial activities were quickly overshadowed by one of the most dominant second-half performances of the season.
In fitting fashion, each of the players saying their respective goodbyes to an arena that included 4,171 fans contributed in timely fashion as the Cavaliers jumped into sole possession of fifth place in the ACC with a pivotal 90-70 victory over Boston College.
The seniors — Lyndra Littles, Kristen London, Britnee Millner and Aisha Mohammed — combined to score 34 of Virginia’s 55 second-half points as No. 23 UVa improved to
21-7 overall and 7-5 in the ACC. The Cavaliers also completed their home schedule at 15-2 on the season.
“It was a lot of fun,” said Littles, who scored 27 points and had three steals. “It is hard to explain. I realized it was Senior Night … but once the ball went up it was no longer Senior Night. We were just out here playing basketball.
“It didn’t hit me again that it was my last game [at JPJ] until I had the mic in my hand.”
Each of the players thanked family and friends in a tearful ceremony following the game as they promised to make the most of what lies ahead this season. Those prospects appear better after the Cavaliers snapped a two-game losing streak with a pair of league wins.
“We needed to come out with a big win,” said Millner, who scored six points, “and as our last game in JPJ we wanted to give the fans
exactly the type of win that we feel like they deserve, as well as ourselves.”
Credit Millner’s approach to the second half as she provided stifling backcourt defense. The Eagles, who led
37-35 at halftime, connected on just 11 of 30 shots from the field in after the break and missed all 10 attempts at 3-pointers.
“The second half was just awesome,” Virginia coach Debbie Ryan said. “Britnee Millner came out with fire in her eyes.”
However, it was a seldom-used guard, London, who gave the Cavaliers their first lead after halftime. London, averaging 2.1 points per game, drilled a 3-pointer in the corner with 15:58 left to put Virginia up 42-41.
London, who scored nine, did not hesitate.
“You know it,” she joked. “I just like to shoot, but I look over at Debbie first. I am just happy that it goes in.”
London’s first 3-pointer in the second half started a
19-7 run that gave Virginia a commanding 61-48 lead.
“We came out in the second half and stepped the pressure up tremendously and that helped tremendously,” Ryan said. “Keeping our turnovers down [to eight in the game] was a key because we weren’t really rebounding with them. But when you shoot 61 percent in a half you are not going to have as many available rebounds.”
Boston College, which has lost five of its past six games, was unable to get its deficit back to single digits over the final 10 minutes.
Littles, who drew the loudest postgame cheers, was consistent throughout the contest, scoring 14 of her 27 points in the first half. The forward went 9 for 16 from the field and was perfect on eight free throws.
Virginia junior Monica Wright chipped in with 27 points and a team-best eight rebounds.
Boston College center Carolyn Swords, who connected on 13 of 17 shots from the field, scored a game-high 31 points. She added 10 rebounds, helping the Eagles win the rebounding battle 39-31.
Virginia will close out the regular season with road games at Florida State on Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. and at Georgia Tech on Sunday at
1 p.m.