Virginia women's basketball team showcased their dominance by defeating Alabama State 85 - 50 on Wednesday night at John Paul Jones Arena. This victory adds to their winning streak and showcases the team's prowess on the court. Let's take a closer look at the key aspects of this game.

Virginia Women's Basketball Dominates with Teamwork and Skill

Winning Streak and Team Dynamics

The men's team is currently in the Bahamas, preparing for matchups against top 25 teams. Meanwhile, the women's team continued their winning momentum with another convincing victory. Alabama State, despite facing a tough schedule including #24 Alabama, #9 Oklahoma, and #17 Ole Miss, gave it their all. The team maintained their composure even after falling behind 25 - 7 in the first quarter. This shows the resilience and determination of the Virginia women's basketball team.

Latasha Lattimore had an outstanding performance, nearly achieving a first-half double-double with 13 points and 13 rebounds. She filled up the stat sheet with an assist, three blocks, and four steals. One of the most significant improvements was her decision-making on rebounds, as she no longer tried to take them coast-to-coast, which was her previous weakness. Her height and lateral movement allowed her to make a significant impact on both ends of the court.

Taylor Lauterbach also had her finest game as a Hoo, shooting 3/3 from the floor and 2/2 from the foul line. She showed more mobility compared to last year and learned how to use her size and length to defend shooters and prevent them from taking shots. Her presence on the court added another dimension to the team's defense.

Offensive Performance and Balance

Breona Hurd had a great game on the offensive glass, collecting six offensive boards out of nine total and scoring 13 points. She has been consistent throughout her collegiate career, getting into double digits in every game.

The team had a reasonable night from deep, with Johnson, McGhee, Hurd, and Dunbar all hitting multiple threes. This spread the floor and opened up the lanes for Johnson, Hurd, and Paris Clark to drive to the rim. It was the best balance the team has had in years, with multiple shooters capable of creating scoring opportunities.

Press and Turnovers

With 4:50 remaining in the first quarter, Coach Mox brought out the full-court press. The team forced 12 Alabama State possessions and five turnovers, keying a 12 - 0 run to end the first quarter and extend the lead. However, Virginia also forced the smaller Hornets into 22 turnovers, but they turned the ball over 20 times themselves. This shows that while the press was effective in creating turnovers, the team needs to be more careful with the ball to avoid giving it away.

Despite the turnovers, the team's performance on both ends of the court was impressive. They were able to dominate the boards and limit Alabama State's second-chance points. The tallest Hornet on the floor was 6'1", while Virginia had players like Hurd (6'4"), Lattimore (6'4"), and Lauterbach (6'7"). This size advantage allowed them to control the game and limit Alabama State's scoring opportunities.

Upcoming Games and Next Challenges

The women have one more tune-up game before heading to the Discover Puerto Rico Shootout for Thanksgiving. They will host Bethune Cookman on Sunday, November 24th, at 4 pm on the ACC Network. This game will be another opportunity for the team to showcase their skills and continue their winning streak.

Overall, Virginia women's basketball team's performance in this game was impressive. They showed great teamwork, skill, and resilience, and are looking forward to their next challenge. With their current form, they are a force to be reckoned with in the college basketball scene.