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Instant Takeaways From UVA Women’s Basketball’s Blowout Win Over UMES

The Cavaliers got off to a 1-0 start in dominant fashion
Xander Tilock|
Oct 6, 2026; Charlotte, NC, USA; Virginia Cavaliers head coach Aaron Roussell, Breona Hurd and Kymora Johnson answer questions from the media during the ACC Basketball Tip-Off in Charlotte, NC. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images
Oct 6, 2026; Charlotte, NC, USA; Virginia Cavaliers head coach Aaron Roussell, Breona Hurd and Kymora Johnson answer questions from the media during the ACC Basketball Tip-Off in Charlotte, NC. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

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Virginia Cavaliers

Monday evening, Virginia women's basketball began the 2026-27 campaign with a resounding 87-45 win over Maryland-Eastern Shore.

The Cavaliers led 43-19 at halftime and never looked back. Although Virginia gave up 17 turnovers, the result of this opening contest was never in doubt.

Here are instant takeaways from the first win of the Coach Aaron Roussell era:

The Kymora Johnson Show is back

Someday, perhaps No. 21 will hang from the rafters inside John Paul Jones Arena. Its wearer, fourth-year guard Kymora Johnson, is making a strong case for that honor.

Johnson toasted UMES to the tune of 21 points (7-11 shooting), along with four assists, four rebounds and two steals. Johnson looked the part of one of the best guards in college basketball to begin the season.

If there's anything to nitpack at, it's that she shot 1-4 from three-point land also committed three fouls. Overall, Johnson had a productive outing in 27 minutes of play.

Mary-Anna Asare could be more involved, but still a productive running mate for Johnson

Entering the season, there were question marks about Asare's fit next to Johnson. In particular, both guards are under 5-foot-9 and like to operate with the ball in their hands. Those concerns, however, were quelled as Johnson did her usual work and Asare still contributed 10 points (3-7 shooting).

Asare somewhat held her own defensively. If she can continue to do so, then this backcourt will be more than fine.

Frontcourt a mixed bag, but with great potential

Caterina Piatti and Janae Walker combined for just 10 points and four rebounds. That's not an issue, as their role is firmly labled as supporting cast members. The more interesting conversation revolves around Breona Hurd.

Hurd has one of the highest ceilings on the team, as evidenced by a double-double plus five steals. However, it came on 4-12 shooting (1-5 3PT, 2-4 FT) along with five turnovers and a trio of fouls.

If Hurd can clean things up, she could be a fantastic weapon as a versatile scorer and plus defender.

There are still some questions about Virginia

Beating up on lowly UMES is expected, not a season-changing win. All the Cavaliers had to do was take care of business (which they clearly did). However, there are still questions about the usage of Olivia McGhee and Adeang Ring, plus Tabitha Amanze, when she comes back.

It will probably take a few weeks to truly see the hierarchy of this rotation. For now, it's all hands on cleanup duty during big blowout wins.

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Xander Tilock
XANDER TILOCK

Xander Tilock serves as the lead editor for Virginia on SI. He previously spent four years as a Senior Writer/Sports Editor for The Cavalier Daily, where he authored the publication’s most articles since 2017 and was named Literary Writer of the Year in 2023. Xander has been referenced on ACC Network, Yahoo Sports, Sirius XM ACC Radio, UVA Today, The Virginian-Pilot, and dozens of other publications nationwide. Outside of journalistic endeavors, Xander graduated with distinction from the University of Virginia in 2026. He is also a proud owner of the Green Bay Packers — and for a final twist, you can find him acting, writing, directing, and producing films and plays. Follow Xander on X @xandertilock

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