The Shadow
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. — Led by an electric opening burst from junior forward Sa’Myah Smith, Virginia seized control from the opening tip and never surrendered momentum on its way to a 76–50 win over Howard on Wednesday night at John Paul Jones Arena. Smith made her JPJ debut one to remember, pouring in 18 points on 8-for-12 shooting while collecting seven rebounds, anchoring a Cavalier frontcourt that overpowered the Bison 54–20 in the paint.
Smith wasted no time asserting herself, scoring the first bucket of the night just three seconds after the tip and finishing the quarter with 12 points on a perfect 5-of-5 clip. Her early dominance fueled a blistering 31-point opening frame as Virginia built an 18-point cushion and set the tone for a night defined by efficiency and interior presence. Adeang Ring added a burst off the bench with six points in just three minutes during the second quarter, helping ignite a 14-0 run that stretched the Cavalier lead to 40–13. Tabitha Amanze complemented the effort inside with 13 points, five rebounds and two blocks, rounding out a trio that consistently dictated matchups and spots on the floor.
Though Howard put together an 11-4 push to close the half and trim the deficit to 22, Virginia never allowed the margin to dip below 18 the rest of the way. The Bison struck first out of the break with two quick baskets, but the Cavaliers continued to roll as nine different players scored after halftime. Romi Levy delivered one of the most complete performances of the night with nine points, seven assists, six rebounds and a pair of steals to go with two blocks, while Kymora Johnson matched her with seven assists of her own, adding eight points and six boards in another steady, all-around outing. Paris Clark brought energy on both ends with nine points, four rebounds, three assists and three steals, giving Virginia an added spark in transition.
Head coach Amaka Agugua-Hamilton praised her team’s tone-setting start, noting how aggressively they executed in transition and in the halfcourt during the opening quarter. She acknowledged a slight dip in intensity in the second half but emphasized how impressed she was with the overall performance and the way the team found its rhythm again down the stretch.
The victory keeps Virginia perfect in its all-time series with Howard at 4-0 and improves the Cavaliers to 35-11 against non-conference opponents under Agugua-Hamilton. It also moves UVA to 6-1 at JPJ this season, buoyed by a stat sheet that reflected both effort and balance: double-figure scoring from Smith and Amanze, 20-plus team assists, a 46-28 rebounding edge, and 10 blocked shots for the third time this year. Smith’s 18 points marked a season high and came just three points shy of her career best, while Levy and Johnson continued their streaks of high-assist performances to guide an offense that finished the night sharp and unselfish.
Virginia will look to carry its momentum into the weekend when it hosts Winthrop on Saturday (Dec. 20), with tipoff from John Paul Jones Arena set for noon on ACC Network Extra (ACCNX).
