Cavaliers seek to extend hot start
Courtesy: VirginiaSports.com
Release: 03/06/2008

CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA—The 5-0 Cavaliers look to keep their early-season momentum going on noon Saturday against Princeton in a game that is likely to be a stark contrast to several other games this season, most prominently last week’s thrilling 14-13 overtime win over Syracuse.

Whereas Virginia and Syracuse like to push the ball up and down the field, Princeton favors a more deliberate approach that relies on sticky defense and good goaltending.

“They have a deliberate defense and very good goalie in Alex Hewit,” said attackman Ben Rubeor. “We have to shoot well and try to take away the tempo. If we can, it will be an interesting and fun match-up.”

Last year the Tigers led the nation in defense, allowing an average of 6.21 goals per game. The Cavalier offense has operated at a high level this season and is averging nearly 16 goals per game.

“The contrast in styles (between Syracuse and Princeton) is marked,” said head coach Dom Starsia. “For us, we need to be able to win two different ways if that is what is required.”

With three consecutive wins over the Tigers, it is apparent the team has been up to the task. Since Starsia took over the Virginia program in 1993, the Cavaliers have averaged 9.3 goals per game against Princeton, compared to 14.1 vs. Syracuse in the same period.

In an odd twist, however, it has been the Cavaliers that have favored the low-scoring contests.

“I talked to the team yesterday about the fact that we are 10-8 with Princeton since I’ve been here, and we’ve been more successful in the lower scoring games,” Starsia said. “(That) is probably a little bit of a surprise, but my point to the team was, don’t be afraid of a low-scoring game.”

Fans across the nation will be able to watch the game live in the first regular-season broadcast of a men’s lacrosse game.

“I think it is a further indication that people are noticing men’s lacrosse,” said Starsia in noting the importance to his team. “These media outlets, like ESPN, don’t do these things for charity. They do it because they think people are going to want to watch it. For us to be the first one on ESPN is certainly a meaningful moment for our program and for our sport in general and I think it is an indication that the game is spreading.”


 

Cavs face Tigers in historic tilt
By Whitelaw Reid / wreid@dailyprogress.com | 978-7250
March 8, 2008

Someday, there will probably be a shot clock in college men’s lacrosse.

But until then, Virginia will need to keep on adapting its style of play whenever it goes against Princeton.

That will once again be the case this afternoon when third-ranked UVa visits its rival from the north in a game that can be seen live on ESPN.

After scoring a combined 38 goals in wins over Syracuse and VMI, Virginia (5-0) probably won’t be as explosive against a deliberate - some say boring - Princeton system.

Last year the Tigers led the nation in defense, allowing an average of 6.21 goals per game. This season, the Cavalier offense is averaging nearly 16 goals.

”When two good teams are playing each other and one is determined to hold the ball, there’s not a lot you can do about it,” said Virginia coach Dom Starsia, when asked about the matchup with 11th-ranked Princeton (1-1). “This is likely to be played very differently than the [Syracuse] game, but we’ll have to do what it takes.”

Virginia has certainly done that in past meetings versus Princeton. UVa is 10-8 against the Tigers in the Starsia era and has won three straight.

Today, Virginia looks to do it in front of a national television audience. The game isn’t on ESPNU or ESPN2 - it will be on the mothership for the first time.

“I think it is a further indication that people are noticing men’s lacrosse,” Starsia said. “These media outlets, like ESPN, don’t do these things for charity. They do it because they think people are going to want to watch it.

“For us to be the first one on ESPN is certainly a meaningful moment for our program and for our sport in general, and I think it is an indication that the game is spreading.”

 

In need of Cavalier attitude
Opportunity to rebound against No. 3 Virginia
By Vikram Rao
Staff Writer
Published: Friday, March 7th, 2008

Junior midfielder Mark Kovler and the men’s lacrosse team face off with No. 3 Virginia tomorrow at 12 p.m. at Princeton Stadium. The Tigers enter the match off a 14-9 loss to No. 1-ranked Johns Hopkins. Last weekend’s Konica-Minolta Faceoff Classic couldn’t have gone much worse for the Princeton men’s lacrosse team. Pitted against reigning national champion No. 1 Johns Hopkins, the Tigers came out flat, losing 14-9 in what was supposed to be a closely contested rematch of the Tigers’ thrilling double-overtime loss last year. Tomorrow’s game against No. 3 Virginia will give Princeton a chance to redeem itself.
Correcting last week’s first-half defensive and emotional mistakes will be critical to preparing Princeton for the Cavaliers.

“The first thing you have to do when you have such a letdown in such a big event is handle the disappointment, but quickly move on because the next one could be just as tough,” head coach Bill Tierney said.

The Tigers came up short on defense, surrendering 10 goals in the first half alone. Last year, Princeton never gave up more than eight goals in regulation. Its worst defensive performance came in a 10-6 loss against a Cornell team that boasted the best offense in the nation at 14.0 goals per game.

“We need to defend better,” Tierney said. “We are supposed to be the best defensive team in the country. [Senior goalie] Alex [Hewit] needs to play better, and we need to protect him better. If each individual does his job, we will be a better team. It’s just a matter of working on things we know we can do.”

While defense was a clear problem against Hopkins, it may have only been a sign that the Tigers did not bring the necessary intensity to the game.

“We got out-emotioned,” Tierney said after the loss. “Granted, their shots were lights-out, but we have to do a better job of coming to play emotionally.”

The task will be tall this week, as Virginia will be just as menacing an opponent as Hopkins. A returning core of solid veterans has been supplemented by four of the top five recruits and eight of the top 25.

The Cavaliers’ attack is led by senior Ben Rubeor, a 2007 first-team All-America and Tewaaraton Trophy — lacrosse’s equivalent of the Heisman trophy — finalist. Rubeor scored 46 goals last season and played at his best in the biggest games.

Midfield was Virginia’s weak point last season, but the Cavaliers responded by adding freshmen Shamel and Rhamel Bratton, the No. 1 and 2 recruits in the country according to Inside Lacrosse magazine. The Bratton twins are quick and agile, and their offensive creativity should breathe life into the Cavaliers’ midfield.

Virginia also added Peter Lamade, a fifth-year senior transfer from Duke who gained an extra year of eligibility following the Duke men’s lacrosse team scandal.

At defense, Virginia returns six-foot, five-inch, 225-pound longstick midfielder Mike Timms. Timms, who was named a preseason second-team All-American by Face-Off Yearbook, will get help in the midfield from freshman Bray Malphrus, Inside Lacrosse’s No. 5 recruit.

The Cavaliers’ goalie situation was heavily contested coming into the season, but in the end it was freshman Adam Ghitelman, Inside Lacrosse’s No. 4 recruit, who won the starting job.

In the first game of last weekend’s Konica-Minolta Faceoff Classic, Virginia played a talented Syracuse team down to the wire and won with an overtime goal. The Cavaliers held a one-goal lead with under 30 seconds remaining, but the determined Orange kept their composure on their final possession and scored the game-tying goal.

But Virginia was not fazed, and Ghitelman maintained his poise following his slip-up. In the overtime period, the Cavaliers weathered a few Syracuse possessions and scored the game-winning goal on a fast break.

Virginia’s level of talent is common knowledge, but the Cavaliers have now proven their ability to play relentlessly and wear down an opponent emotionally. Tierney and the Tigers are fully aware of the challenge that lies ahead.

“Virginia has so much talent, depth, size and speed,” Tierney said. “They have no soft spots, and I haven’t seen any weaknesses or places to exploit. They went nose to nose with a tough Syracuse team and won it at the end.”

Princeton shouldn’t be counted out of this one, though. A few key adjustments should put the Tigers back on track.

Strategic changes can only go so far, however. It will be of paramount importance for Princeton to play with passion against the Cavaliers.

“When you have momentum going like they do and like we don’t, you have to stop that emotional game quickly on your behalf so they don’t feed into your negative emotion,” Tierney said.

Last weekend, the Tigers spotted Hopkins a 10-1 halftime lead. Though the deficit was insurmountable, Princeton played with gusto in the second half, outscoring the Blue Jays 8-4 without making any defensive adjustments. The Tigers’ will to win will again be tested this weekend, and it’ll be up to them to come out ready to play from the opening faceoff.
 

Lacrosse attracts record crowds
Regular-season game for U.Va. has ESPN's attention
Saturday, Mar 08, 2008 - 12:07 AM

VIRGINIA AT PRINCETON
Men's lacrosse
TV:ESPN, noon

In Philadelphia, a record crowd of 47,602 saw Virginia battle Massachusetts for the NCAA men's lacrosse championship in May 2006.

A year later in Baltimore, that mark fell. More than 48,400 fans showed up to see Johns Hopkins and Duke play for the title.

The sport will reach another milestone today. For the first time, ESPN will televise a regular-season college lacrosse game. In the spotlight will be third-ranked Virginia (5-0) and No. 11 Princeton (1-1). They'll meet at noon in Princeton.

"We keep talking about the growth of the game, and I think this is another subtle indication that is actually happening," U.Va. coach Dom Starsia said. "I think everybody in our sport understands that this is a pretty significant step for us."

The Cavaliers will make history again March 29 when they face ACC rival Maryland in College Park. That will be the first regular-season game ESPN2 has carried. Most regular-season lacrosse games on TV have been shown by ESPNU.

"I think all these things matter, and they're just another indication that people are noticing the sport," Starsia said.

In another sign of the sport's growth, the NCAA final four will be held this year in Foxboro, Mass., which has been not considered a traditional hotbed for lacrosse. - Jeff White

 

Second half propels Cavaliers over No. 19 Nittany Lions
Courtesy: VirginiaSports.com
Release: 03/07/2008
Courtesy: Jim Daves/UVa Media Relations

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. – The No. 2 Virginia women’s lacrosse team used a dominating second half to overcome an early three-goal deficit to No. 19 Penn State in Holuba Hall Friday evening. The Cavaliers scored seven of the final eight goals of the game and used a 13-2 advantage in ground balls in the final 30 minutes to push past the Nittany Lions, 13-7.

Virginia rallied early in the second half to tally four straight goals and break open an even 6-6 halftime score, taking its largest lead of the game at 10-6. The Nittany Lions halted the run with a score from Theresa Bucci at the 6:53 mark. Junior Ashley McCulloch then found sophomore Brittany Kalkstein with 4:41 remaining in the contest to push Virginia up four at 11-7. Junior Jenny Hauser then tallied her second score on the day before senior Megan O’Malley notched the final goal of the day with only 13 ticks remaining on the clock.

Junior Blair Weymouth led the Cavaliers with a season-high six points on the day, tallying four goals with two helpers. Kalkstein tied a career-high with five points, notching three goals with two assists. McCulloch extended her scoring streak to 28 straight contests with a point, contributing two goals and two assist.

Hauser also tallied two scores, while senior Kaitlin Swagart and O’Malley also had a goal. Red-shirt sophomore Whitaker Hagerman added an assist.

Defensively, the Cavaliers held the advantage in ground balls, 18-9 and caused eight turnovers, compared to Penn State’s four. Senior Alice Hughey and Weymouth led the defense with three ground balls each, while Hughey also had 4 caused turnovers.

In goal, senior Kendall McBrearty stopped 10 shots for Virginia.

The Nittany Lions jumped out to a quick 3-0 lead by the 25:34 mark before the Cavaliers had a chance to get the ball into their offensive end. Mary LeNoir put Penn State on the board 2:31, before Kerry Shea notched two in a row within a minute of each other to give the Lions a 3-0 lead.

Swagart and Hagerman teamed for Virginia’s first goal at the 22:40 mark, sparking a 4-0 run for the Cavaliers. Weymouth carried the ball up the field and ran around the back of the cage before sticking the ball into the low corner of the cage for a second straight score for Virginia at the 18:30 mark.

Kalkstein then tallied two straight to give Virginia its first lead of the day. Her first score was unassisted at 14:19, before McCulloch won the ensuing draw control and passed it off to an open Kalkstein.

Penn State responded with a fourth score, before the squads added two more each, leading to an even 6-6 halftime.

Virginia outscored Penn State 7-1 in the second half.

The Cavaliers (4-1, 1-1 ACC) will return to action Wednesday, March 12 in Williamsburg, Va., taking on William & Mary in a 7 p.m. contest.

 

Soroye hopes for one more season
By Whitelaw Reid / wreid@dailyprogress.com | 978-7250
March 8, 2008

On Sunday night, Virginia senior Tunji Soroye will walk onto the court prior to UVa’s home game against Maryland and take part in Senior Night festivities.

While the game against the Terrapins will be a swan song for UVa seniors Sean Singletary, Adrian Joseph and Ryan Pettinella, it might not be for Soroye.

On Friday, Soroye told The Daily Progress that he is planning on applying for a hardship waiver that would allow him to return for a fifth year.

Soroye also said he is exploring the option of paying his own way. That would be a necessary step for his return since Virginia will likely be at the 13-scholarship limit next season.

“Right now, I don’t want to bother [UVa coach Dave Leitao] about it,” said Soroye when asked about his specific plans. “I want to wait until the end of the season and then see what we’re going to do about it. But I’m hoping something will work out.”

According to an NCAA spokesperson, there is no legislated waiver that would allow Virginia to exceed the 13-scholarship limit. However, UVa could appeal to the NCAA Student-Athlete Reinstatement Committee.

Soroye says that if he has to go the non-scholarship route, he could utilize student grants that may be available to him.

“It would be a good thing to come back and play again, but we’ll see what happens,” he said. “We have to find some way to [pay]. If we get that all straight, I think I’ll be back.”

Soroye, an anthropology major who presumably would begin work on his master’s degree, certainly hasn’t had the kind of senior year that he or UVa fans envisioned. The 6-foot-11, 252-pounder has appeared in just two games due to knee and back problems.

Some may question why a guy with a career scoring average of 1.6 points per game would want to return - on his own dime - for a fifth season.

But Soroye, who is very popular with his teammates, feels partly responsible for the season that Virginia (14-14, 4-11 ACC) has had.

Soroye could provide a good veteran presence next year. If nothing else, the Nigerian, who has averaged almost a block per game in his career, could give Virginia a much-needed defensive presence. UVa is currently dead last in the ACC in blocked shots.

Soroye, who expects his injury woes to be behind him, could also serve as a mentor to incoming freshman big men John Brandenburg and Assane Sene.

The fun-loving Soroye said he hasn’t thought about what he’ll be feeling when he walks onto the JPJ court on Sunday for what may or may not be the final time.

“I’m just going to take everything by the moment,” he said. “I’ve been down thinking about everything that’s been happening to me. But the one thing I realized is that I can’t really control any of it, so I’ve just stopped thinking about everything and take everything step by step.”

 

The pieces fell into place for Osby, resulting in . . .
'Boom'
Saturday, Mar 08, 2008 - 12:07 AM
By JEFF WHITE
TIMES-DISPATCH STAFF WRITER

The scene was an AAU basketball tournament in Las Vegas. One team, the Atlanta Celtics, included big men Dwight Howard, Randolph Morris and Josh Smith, all now in the NBA.

Its opponent, from the Richmond-based Squire's program, had Benedictine High's Bambale Osby at center.

"Bambale got dunked on about nine times," the program's founder, Tony Squire, recalled yesterday with a laugh. "But guess what? He blocked three of the dunks. And the thing was, everybody was like, 'Who was that undersized gladiator who never stopped jumping?' Even though he got posterized, he never stopped contesting."

Osby, now a senior at the University of Maryland, hasn't forgotten that day in Vegas.

"I don't think anybody had blocked one of Dwight Howard's dunks," he said. "I don't think anybody would go up and challenge him.

"I got him a couple times, he got me a few more times. But I tell you what, I bet he walked away from that game saying, 'That was a tough guy.'"

That toughness is one reason Osby, who transferred to Maryland after the 2005-06 season, is so popular in College Park, especially among his fellow students. The Afro wigs seen in the student section at Comcast Center? Tributes to the chiseled 6-8 250-pounder whose nickname is "Boom."

He's a fan favorite, Osby believes, "just because of how hard I work. I'm not a flashy player. I keep it simple and work hard, and I think they respect that."

Maryland (8-7, 18-12) closes the regular season against ACC rival Virginia (4-11, 14-14) tomorrow night, and Osby expects to see several friendly faces in the crowd at John Paul Jones Arena, including his mother, Komba Basosila, and his best friend, L.C. Baker.

Who'd have predicted such a finale for Osby? This is a player, after all, who spent his freshman year at the University of New Mexico and his sophomore year at Paris Junior College in Texas. Now, he's starting for a team that, with another win or two, could be bound for the NCAA tournament.

"I think it's a miracle," said Osby, who averages 11.3 points, 6.5 rebounds and 2.1 blocked shots. "I go to junior college, and I average six points. Then, I get recruited to the ACC, and not only do I get to the ACC, but I'm starting. It's what you want in basketball."

Osby, who grew up on Richmond's North Side, attended Thomas Jefferson High for two years before transferring to Benedictine, whose basketball tradition and academic reputation appealed to him.

At New Mexico, Osby recalled, he "started butting heads" with then-coach Ritchie McKay - now the head man at Liberty University - and so he moved on to Paris JC.

His stats there - six points and five rebounds per game - raised questions about whether he'd survive in the ACC. Osby had some doubts, too.

"I'm not going to lie, dude, I was scared," he said. "This is the ACC, this is Gary Williams, this is Maryland, which won a national championship [in 2002]."

And so in the summer of 2006, he'd be on the field at Byrd Stadium running sprints at 7 in the morning.

"The only way I was going to be remotely prepared," Osby said, "was to bust my butt."

As a junior, Osby justified Williams' faith in him, averaging 5.8 points and 3.9 rebounds as a frontcourt reserve. He's elevated his game this season. Against No. 1 North Carolina on Jan. 19, Osby scored the winning basket in the Terrapins' 82-80 upset in Chapel Hill.

"He's gotten better because he's worked at it," Williams said. "Players, if they have the right mindset, they really improve in college."

Osby, who said he hopes to keep playing hoops until "my body breaks down," has that mindset.

"He wants this thing," Squire said. "The one thing you can't teach in this thing is heart, and that's what he has. He has the heart of a lion."
 

Will JMU Land Ex-Cav? Posted 2008-03-07
Friends Say Fitzgerald Is Considering Joining Dukes
By Mike Barber

HARRISONBURG — Former University of Virginia defensive end Jeffrey Fitzgerald is considering transferring to James Madison, according to a pair of former high school teammates.

JMU tailback Griff Yancey and fullback Trae Kenney, who played with Fitzgerald at Hermitage High School in Richmond, said Thursday that Fitzgerald, who is no longer enrolled at Virginia, is thinking about joining the Dukes.

“He is considering JMU as an option,” Yancey, a rising sophomore tailback, said by phone from his Richmond home. “He might sit out a year. He’s really not sure what he’s trying to do. I guess he’s just resting.”

Kenney, who graduated with Fitzgerald in 2005, said he spoke with Fitzgerald on Wednesday, and Yancey, who graduated the following year, spoke with him Thursday.

Kenney said some people have advised Fitzgerald he would hurt his chances of playing in the NFL if he plays at the Division I-AA level instead of transferring to another I-A school.

“He really wants to go to JMU to play ball with his friends, me and Griff,” Kenney said Thursday by phone from Panama City, Fla., where he is spending spring break. “But at the same time, he wants to stay on the I-A level to better his chances for the future.”

Hermitage coach Patrick Kane declined to discuss Fitzgerald’s situation.

“I can’t comment on that,” Kane said Thursday.

A source confirmed JMU is interested in the 6-foot-3, 279-pound two-year starter.

Fitzgerald could not be reached for comment Thursday.

“He’s pretty burnt out from talking to reporters,” Yancey said.

If he transferred to another I-A program -- such as Kansas State, where former Virginia assistant Ron Prince is the head coach -- Fitzgerald would have to sit out a season under NCAA rules.

If he moves down to a I-AA school, such as JMU or Richmond, where former Virginia defensive coordinator Mike London was just hired as head coach, he could play right away if he left U.Va. in good academic standing.

That is unclear at this point. Published reports, citing unspecified sources, have said his departure was related to academics.

Yancey said Fitzgerald could have “a really big impact” if he played at JMU. Yancey traveled to Florida in January to see Fitzgerald play against Texas Tech in the Gator Bowl. Fitzgerald had eight tackles and a sack and broke up a pass in the Cavaliers’ loss.

“Jeffrey’s the man,” Yancey said.

Fitzgerald started for two seasons for the Cavaliers. As a freshman, he had 64 tackles and five sacks. This past year, he had 73 stops and seven sacks.

Kenney said Fitzgerald had his breakout year as a junior at Hermitage.

“Very dominant, like a man amongst children out there,” Kenney said.

Madison has had mixed results with I-A transfers in the past four seasons. Quarterback Justin Rascati (Louisville), defensive tackle John Baranowsky (Connecticut) and offensive linemen Mike Parham (Virginia Tech) all became all-conference performers.

But the list of busts is longer and includes linebacker Mike Brown (Virginia Tech), wide receivers Chris Hawkins (North Carolina State) and Khary Sharpe (Duke), and defensive backs Robbie Catterton and Stephan Orange, both from U.Va.

 

Millner dyes hair, locks down Yellow Jackets in win
By Jay Jenkins / jjenkins@dailyprogress.com | 978-7250
March 8, 2008

GREENSBORO, N.C. - Monica Wright did a double take.

As usual, Britnee Millner had just done the unthinkable.

The junior guard, already sporting a short, low-maintenance hairdo, had just dyed her hair orange.

“Wow Britnee, you look like Macaulay Culkin,” Wright chuckled.

Millner’s decision to match her hair with one of the team’s colors has symbolism. During her first two seasons at UVa, Millner played sparingly in meaningful games and was unsure of her abilities to compete consistently in one of the nation’s premier conferences.

Millner admits she has turned the corner.

“My confidence is a lot better,” Millner said after Virginia downed Georgia Tech, 52-43, in the quarterfinals of the ACC Tournament on Friday. “I felt like I needed a couple of changes in life and that’s why I changed my hair color. I feel like I can do anything if I can walk around like this.”

Of late, Millner has been thrust in the forefront for reasons not related to her hair. In back-to-back games, she has frustrated nearly every Yellow Jacket she came into contact with, forcing turnovers and temper tantrums.

“It’s kind of fun to see how I can laugh at it,” she said, “and the other players just get more and more upset.”

Millner’s play of late, including rare but timely scoring, made it a no-brainer for Virginia coach Debbie Ryan to leave the guard in Friday’s game during the most pivotal minutes.

It is not the first time, Ryan pointed out, that UVa has had a guard with a similar defensive mentality.

“Jenny Boucek, in her early years, was out there for her defense,” the coach said. “That changed in time and she got 1,000 points in career, but she took defense so seriously it was unbelievable.

“Jenny didn’t really care whether she scored. She just wanted to play defense. She would rip your head off to play defense. If she scored, that’s great, but played with a mentality of, ‘I don’t need that.’”

For the game, Millner missed three field goals, grabbed only one rebound and registered just one assist in 24 minutes, but she connected on two free throws with 37 seconds left and proved that she belonged.

“She wasn’t afraid to shoot the ball, she went after the ball and she played ‘her’ defense,” Ryan said. “I think she did a great job today and I was really proud of her.”

Wright agreed.

“Those two free throws at the end were really big and she was acting like it was nothing to be out there,” she said. “That was definitely big on her part, and I see so much growth with her.

“I am excited about what it is going to be like next year with Britnee.”

Moving on up

Knocking off Georgia Tech for the second time in a week gave UVa its sixth win of the season over an opponent boasting a Top-50 RPI.

That coupled with a strong strength of schedule, Ryan said, should help the Cavaliers (23-8) in the eyes of the NCAA Tournament.

Entering the contest with the Yellow Jackets, Virginia were projected to have the nation’s 15th-best RPI, leaving open the possibility for one of the No. 4 seeds.

“This win was absolutely important in that regard because now the committee has to look at us as a true 16 or 17 or better,” Ryan said. “They can see we are for real.”

Earning another date with North Carolina (28-2) should also help, Ryan said.

“Our strength of schedule is going to step up regardless of what happens in the game,” Ryan said. “I really think we have proven our point thus far this season and I think the committee knows that. The committee understands these things.

“They look at us, they watch us and they see every TV game. They know what you are doing.”

Layups …

UNC has won 11 of the 13 meetings with Virginia in the ACC Tournament. The Cavaliers have not beat the Tar Heels in the event since 1992. … UVa forward Lyndra Littles grabbed three more rebounds than Georgia Tech’s entire starting lineup. The junior finished with 16 boards, which tied her career-best mark set 13 months ago against Maryland. … Millner’s two free throws accounted for the lone points scored by Virginia’s bench. The Cavaliers’ reserves accounted for 23 bench points last week against the Yellow Jackets.
 

Better late than never
By Jay Jenkins / jjenkins@dailyprogress.com | 978-7250
March 8, 2008

GREENSBORO, N.C. - With little to cheer about, at least offensively speaking, thousands of local children on respective field trips to the Greensboro Coliseum decided to start the wave midway through the second half.

After picking up considerable steam, the audience participation at the ACC Women’s Basketball Tournament threatened to overshadow - and outlast - the on-court actions.

Eventually, the wave stopped and Virginia started.

Over the game’s final four minutes, the Cavaliers added enough offense to complement their defensive prowess and rolled past fifth-seeded Georgia Tech, 52-43, to avoid an early elimination from the four-day event.

“We wouldn’t have been part of the tournament if we had lost. It would have been too soon,” said Virginia forward Lyndra Littles. “It is the ACC Tournament and we still wanted to be here. We want to be here until Sunday, so it would have been heartbreaking to lose today.

“For all intents and purposes, I wanted to win to stay here, continue to be here and have a chance to play in the championship.”

To do that, Virginia will need to become the first ACC team this season to upend top-seeded North Carolina, which advanced to the semifinal round with a 97-77 victory over Clemson.

Getting the rematch with the Tar Heels remained in doubt after Georgia Tech forward Janie Mitchell hit a fading jumper with 2:56 left to trim Virginia’s lead to 44-43.

Twenty seconds later - and after missing her first five shots from the field - Virginia point guard Sharnee Zoll sliced to the basket and nailed a left-handed scoop shot.

Zoll struck again with 58 seconds left, sending a successful bullet pass to Littles on a fastbreak for her sixth and final assist, one that put the Cavaliers up 48-43 and sent Georgia Tech into panic mode.

“I can’t say enough about Sharnee Zoll and everything that she brings to the table in terms of her ability to lead this team,” said Virginia coach Debbie Ryan. “She is the consummate leader all the time whether she is having a great shooting game or not.

“She has really changed that part of her game over her four years at Virginia.”

While Georgia Tech (22-9) continued to fire blanks offensively, the 25th-ranked Cavaliers added to their final margin as reserve guard Britnee Millner and Littles each added a pair of free throws in the final 37 seconds.

The contest itself was quite a remarkable turn of events for two teams that combined to score 204 points during Virginia’s two-point double-overtime victory in John Paul Jones Arena last Sunday.

“We felt like in Charlottesville we didn’t have our best defensive effort,” Ryan said. “We never got into a rhythm defensively in Charlottesville so it turned into this scoring festival. I just didn’t want that to happen today.”

Ryan was granted her wish as Georgia Tech shot 32 percent from the field and got only 19 points from its starting five.

UVa matched the Yellow Jackets’ futility in the first half, missing 20 of 30 field-goal attempts, including numerous close-range opportunities.

Littles was the biggest culprit, missing seven of nine shots from the field - and a free throw - as she tried to shoot her way out of her slump.

“I was saying, ‘Please let one roll in so I can get in some kind of rhythm,’” Littles recounted. “I can’t stop shooting. One of my jobs on this team is to score. If I stop shooting, I am taking myself out of the play altogether.

“That only hurts the team, and my theory is that they have to go in sooner or later.”

Luckily, Virginia guard Monica Wright made enough shots sooner. The sophomore scored 11 of her team-best 17 points in the first half, helping give the Cavaliers a 24-21 cushion at halftime.

Virginia dominated the battle on the boards, out-rebounding Georgia Tech, 44-35, behind strong performances from Littles (16 rebounds) and Aisha Mohammed (11).

Georgia Tech was paced offensively by reserve forward Iasia Hemingway, who made 9 of 16 shots from the field en route to a game-high 19 points.

Despite seeing their ACC Tournament run come to a crashing halt just 24 hours after thumping Miami in the opening round, the Yellow Jackets appear to be a lock for the NCAA Tournament.