Cavaliers Pull Off Historic Upset

The Virginia Cavaliers delivered a monumental upset in the second round of the Women’s NCAA Tournament, defeating the No. 2 seeded Iowa Hawkeyes 83-75 in double overtime on Monday in Iowa City. Virginia becomes the first team to ever advance from the First Four to the Sweet Sixteen.

Johnson Leads the Way

Senior guard Kymora Johnson spearheaded the Cavaliers’ victory with a game-high 28 points, forcing both overtime periods. She played all 50 minutes of the contest. Paris Clark added 20 points and 7 rebounds for Virginia.

A Game of Runs and Resilience

The game was a back-and-forth affair, with neither team establishing a significant lead early on. Virginia built a seven-point advantage in the second quarter, leading 28-23 at halftime. However, Iowa responded with a dominant third quarter, outscoring the Cavaliers 25-11 to seize a 48-39 lead.

Trailing by nine late in the fourth quarter, Paris Clark ignited a comeback with eight consecutive points, including two crucial three-pointers. Johnson then tied the game with a three-pointer with 2:11 remaining, sending the game to overtime.

Double Overtime Decided by Cavaliers’ Dominance

The first overtime period saw both teams trade leads, ultimately ending in a 65-65 tie after Johnson’s jumper with 13 seconds left. In the second overtime, Virginia seized control, scoring 11 of the first 13 points and securing the victory from the free throw line.

Virginia’s success at the free throw line was a key factor, making 18 of 23 attempts compared to Iowa’s 8 of 16.

Key Contributors for Both Teams

Romi Levy contributed 13 points and Caitlin Weimar added 12 for Virginia. For Iowa, Ava Heiden led the scoring with 26 points, while Chazadi Wright had 21 and Hannah Stuelke recorded a double-double with 15 points and 19 rebounds.

Louisville Advances to Sweet Sixteen

In another tournament game, No. 3 Louisville defeated No. 6 Alabama 69-68. Elif Istanbulluoglu and Tajianna Roberts each scored 18 points for the Cardinals.

Close Finish for Cardinals

Alabama’s Karly Weathers scored with 9.4 seconds left, and Louisville’s Imari Berry made two free throws before Weathers hit another 3-pointer with four seconds remaining. Reyna Scott missed two free throws, but Alabama didn’t have enough time to attempt a game-winning shot.