Virginia Advances to Sweet 16, Makes NCAA Tournament History
Virginia, a No. 10 seed, defeated No. 2 seed Iowa 83-75 in double-overtime during the second round of the NCAA Tournament in Iowa City. This pivotal victory advances Virginia to the Sweet 16, marking a historic achievement.
For the first time ever, a First Four team has reached the Sweet 16 stage of the tournament.
The Cavaliers now hold a season record of 22-11, while Iowa concludes its season with a 27-7 record.
Game Summary
Virginia maintained a 28-23 lead at halftime. During the first half, Virginia shot 39.3% from the field, while Iowa recorded 10 of 32 field goals and 1 of 12 three-point attempts. Iowa managed to take a nine-point lead in the third quarter before Virginia rallied to force overtime.
In regulation, Iowa's Chazadi Wright missed a turnaround jumper with one second remaining, preventing a victory in regular play. The game then proceeded to the first overtime period. A flagrant foul was called on Virginia, resulting in Iowa being awarded two free throws and possession. Chazadi Wright converted one of the two free throws and one from an ensuing possession foul. Kymora Johnson subsequently tied the game for Virginia. Iowa had additional opportunities to secure a win in the first overtime, with Taylor Stremlow missing a last-second three-point attempt and Ava Heiden missing a subsequent putback attempt.
Virginia ultimately secured the eight-point victory in the second overtime period. The intense matchup was played in front of a home crowd of 14,332 in Iowa City.
Player Performances
Kymora Johnson led Virginia with 28 points, playing a full 50 minutes. She contributed an impressive 14 of her points during the two overtime periods. Other notable performances for Virginia included:
- Paris Clark: 20 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists
- Romi Levy: 13 points
- Caitlin Weimar: 12 points
For Iowa, Ava Heiden led with 26 points, despite accumulating two fouls within the first five minutes of play. Chazadi Wright scored 21 points. Hannah Stuelke recorded her 10th double-double of the season with 15 points and 19 rebounds.
Tournament Path and Historical Context
Virginia's advancement to the Sweet 16 marks its first appearance in the regional semifinals since 2000. Their tournament journey has included three consecutive close victories:
- First Four: A 57-55 win against Arizona State (two-point differential).
- First Round: An 82-73 overtime win against Georgia (nine-point differential).
- Second Round: The 83-75 double-overtime win against Iowa (eight-point differential).
Virginia is the first team to reach the Sweet 16 after starting in the First Four. They are also the only double-digit seed remaining in the tournament and the first team to win overtime games in both the first and second rounds of the same NCAA Tournament. The last time a No. 10 seed reached the Sweet 16 was Creighton in 2022, which also defeated Iowa in the second round.
Upcoming Matchup
Virginia is scheduled to face No. 3 seed TCU in the regional semifinals on Saturday in Sacramento. The winner of this game will advance to the Elite Eight, a stage Virginia has not reached since 1996.