Courtesy: David Petkofsky/UVa Media Relations Aisha Mohammed

MILWAUKEE – No. 15 Virginia opened play at the WBCA Classic with a win over Utah, 65-57, at the Al McGuire Center on the campus of Marquette Friday night. The Cavaliers were led by Aisha Mohammed, who tallied her third double-double of the season with 11 points and 10 rebounds, and Whitny Edwards, who was the team’s high scorer with 15 points.

“I thought it was a battle from start to finish,” said Virginia head coach Debbie Ryan. “We came out with a lot of energy at the start of the second half and were able to get some separation, which I think was the difference in the game.”

The teams traded baskets early in the first half before Virginia (4-1) opened up a six-point lead, 20-14, on a free throw by Chelsea Shine with 4:14 left. Utah (1-3) used a 8-2 run to tie the score on two free throws by Morgan Warburton at 22-22 with less than a minute in the half.

Coming out of a timeout, the Cavaliers got a 3-pointer from Edwards and forced a turnover by the Utes. With seven seconds on the clock, Ariana Moorer buried another 3-pointer for the Cavaliers and Virginia took a 28-22 halftime lead.

Virginia opened the second half on a 10-0 run and took a 38-22 lead on a Britnee Millner lay-up. The Cavaliers held a comfortable lead for most of the half, but the Utes managed to cut their deficit to four points, 59-55, during the last minute of play when Warburton converted a three-point play with 26.7 seconds left in the game.

Good free throw shooting down the stretch sealed the 65-57 victory for the Cavaliers.

Millner was the third Cavalier that scored in double figures, as she scored 13 points. Shine finished with nine points and four rebounds in a strong all-around effort. Monica Wright netted eight points and pulled down seven rebounds.

It’s three games in three days for Virginia, who next faces host Marquette Saturday at the WBCA Classic. Tip-off is 7 p.m. (CT) and live audio and statistics will be available at VirginiaSports.com. On Sunday, the Cavaliers face Gonzaga at 1 p.m. (CT), to close out the tournament.