CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA (CVILLE RIGHT NOW)- Eight years following their last NCAA tournament appearance and win, the Virginia Women’s Basketball team took to the court in Iowa City, IA in a 10-seed matchup in the First Four and defeated Arizona State 57-55. 

Leading for almost all of regulation, the Hoos fought a tight defensive struggle with the Devils, with both teams shooting under 40% from the floor. 

Only seven players on either bench scored double digit points.  Kymora Johnson had a double-double with 17 points, 10 rebounds and five assists, and Romi Levy scored 10.  Caitlin Weimar also finished with a double-double scoring eleven points and grabbing twelve rebounds.  Marley Washenitz, despite being in foul trouble, managed 19 points to lead ASU, and McKinna Brackens notched ten. 

“Really proud of our players. That was a gutsy performance. We had to ground that one out,” UVA Head Coach Amaka Agugua-Hamilton said post-game. “Arizona State, they’re a very physical defensive team. That’s what they’re known for. They make it hard for you to run anything. They really make it hard for 40 minutes.”

Virginia made its advantage on the offensive boards count, totaling fifteen offensive rebounds, and 42 total.  Arizona State turned the ball over nearly double Virginia’s total, but their three-point percentage kept them in the game, shooting 41.2% to Virginia’s 17.4%. 

Kymora Johnson, who struggled shooting all night against, met the moment late and drained a three-pointer with 30 seconds left to give Virginia a 54-51 lead.  They would not relinquish it, staying sharp on defense to win the game. 

In a TV interview after the game, the St. Anne’s-Belfield grad was asked what this meant to her as “a local Virginia kid” leading the Hoos back to the tournament and getting the win.

Johnson broke into tears and said, “I can’t really into words, it means a lot.”

Her voice cracking as she wiped tears from her eyes with a tissue, Johnson said, “‘I’m just so blessed to be in this position, this is what I came to Virginia to do, and everyone else as well.”

“I mean, my teammates, they bought in, they believed and we got it done today and we’re excited for Saturday.”

Virginia will face the No. 7 seeded Georgia Bulldogs on Saturday at 1:30 p.m.  You can hear the call on Newsradio WINA.