Women's Basketball Heads to Virginia on Saturday
12/1/2006 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
SOUTH ORANGE, N.J.- Seton Hall head coach Phyllis Mangina will try to earn her 300th career win as Seton Hall travels to Charlottesville, Va. to take on the 5-2 Virginia Cavaliers. The Pirates have won three straight and five of six following a 59-53 win over Hartford on Wednesday evening.
The Pirates are led in scoring by seniors Heta Korpivaara (12.4 ppg) and Monique Blake (12.4 ppg). Blake posted her fourth double-double of the year with 12 points and 11 rebounds in the win over Hartford. Korpivaara is shooting a career-high 52.8 percent from the floor and has hit for double-figures in five games this year.
Seton Hall’s defense has been a key in its strong start to the season, as opponents are shooting just .358 from the field. The Pirates are forcing 19.4 turnovers per game and average 10.4 steals. The Pirates are among the BIG EAST’s best, allowing just 56.1 points per game and in all five of SHU’s wins the defense has not given up more than 55 points.
Virginia improved to 5-2 with a 71-65 win overTemple on Wednesday. The Cavaliers held the Owls to 26 second half points to erase a six point deficit to spoil UVA alumn and current Temple head coach, Dawn Staley’s return to Charlottesville. Monica Wright led the Cavaliers with 26 points, while Lyndra Littles registered a double-double with 18 points and 13 rebounds.
Cavaliers head coach Debbie Ryan, in her 30th season, has averaged 21.8 eight wins per season and has brought Virginia to 21 NCAA Tournaments, including three straight Final Four appearances from 1989-1992. This season, Virginia was picked to finish sixth in the conference, with Monica Wright named ACC Rookie of the Year. Lyndra Littles leads the team in scoring and rebounding, averaging close to a double-double with 16.6 points and 9.9 rebounds per game.
