Virginia Women's Basketball in First Four

0:00On March 19, Virginia's Women's Basketball team faces Arizona State tonight in the first four of the NCAA tournament. The winner advances to play 7th-seated Georgia on Saturday. It's the Cavaliers' first tournament appearance since 2018 and their debut in this play-in format. Tip-off is at 9 p.m. Eastern time from Carver Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City, Iowa, airing on ESPN 2. The Cavaliers are led by head coach Amaka Agugwa Hamilton in her first season in Virginia. She guided Missouri State to the sweet 16 in 2021 and took part in the very first women's first four that year. Virginia boasts seven players with 19 games of tournament experience and 11 wins combined. The program has a story passed, reaching three straight final fours from 1990 to 92. This season marks Virginia's best in years, chasing 20 wins for the first time since 2016-17 and 11 Atlanta Coast Conference. Victory since 1999, 2000.

1:02They averaged 75.3 points per game while holding opponents to 64.3. The team leads the nation with 6.7 blocks per game and has shattered their own program record for blocks two years running. Meanwhile, this matchup revives a rare series history with Arizona State winning their only prior meeting 60-50 back in 2004. During entry, Virginia's Samayas Smith and Arizona State's last hearpoah were teammates on LSU's national championship squad in 20. 23. Tune in tonight to see if Virginia can notch their first tournament win since 2018 and punch their ticket forward. The energy in Iowa City promises a thrilling start to March Madness.