Ryan looks to slow it down

In an ideal scenario, Virginia coach Debbie Ryan would have installed a restrictor plate.

For the Hall of Fame coach, it was too much speed that landed the Cavaliers their second straight loss at N.C. State on Sunday.

Playing out of character offensively and registering a season-low point total, No. 23 Virginia (19-7, 5-5 ACC) averaged a turnover every two minutes in the 60-54 setback.

“I don’t know when the last time was that we had 20 turnovers,” Ryan said. “I just think we were playing too fast in many instances.

“There was a timeout that I made it clear to the players that I felt like they were playing too fast. They were shooting the ball over the rim. I don’t know if we were too hyped or what it was but we were just going too fast.”

After attempts to address the issue in practice this week, Virginia returns to action tonight at 7 p.m. against Miami (13-12, 2-8 ACC) at John Paul Jones Arena.

Credit was given, however, to N.C. State for playing inspired defense on an emotional day designed to honor its late coach, Kay Yow.

“They pressured us and I think they did a fantastic job out of it,” said Virginia forward Lyndra Littles, who had seven turnovers. “They stuck to their game plan. They didn’t step outside of what they normally do. They got in our bodies, they rebounded, they played hard and they came up with the 50-50 balls.

“They did a great job on defense. They took Monica [Wright] out of a rhythm.”

The changes had better come for Virginia. The current losing streak has dropped the team to No. 25 in RPI, which is used as one factor in determining NCAA Tournament seeding. One projection has Virginia slotted as a No. 5 seed in the West Regional.

“It is the first time we’ve lost two games in a row,” Ryan said. “This was not our team. We didn’t play like we normally do and that is to [N.C. State’s] credit, and at the same time I felt like we were just out of our element today for some strange reason.

“I have no idea.”