In a stunning NCAA Tournament upset Monday night, Virginia’s women’s basketball team defeated heavily-favored Iowa 83-75 in double overtime, marking the tournament’s most shocking result so far this year in Iowa City.
Kymora Johnson led the charge for the 10th-seeded Cavaliers with 28 points while also pushing the game into both overtime periods. Her performance helped Virginia (22-11) make history as the first women’s squad to reach the Sweet 16 after starting in the First Four.
Paris Clark contributed significantly with 20 points, seven rebounds, and four assists for the Cavaliers. The second-round Regional 4 matchup saw dramatic momentum swings, with Virginia holding a seven-point advantage before Iowa surged in the third quarter to build a nine-point lead.
Clark responded with a crucial individual 8-0 scoring streak featuring two three-pointers to cut into the deficit. Johnson then delivered the game-tying three-pointer with 2:11 remaining in regulation, which became the final score of the fourth quarter as Iowa missed their last five shot attempts.
The first overtime period featured lead changes for both teams, but the Hawkeyes managed a two-point edge in the closing moments before Johnson’s paint jumper knotted the score at 65-65 with 13 seconds left. Virginia dominated the second extra period, outscoring Iowa 11-2 early and securing the victory from the free-throw line.
Additional scoring for Virginia came from Romi Levy with 13 points and Caitlin Weimar with 12. The Cavaliers excelled at the charity stripe, converting 18 of 23 free throws compared to Iowa’s struggling 8-for-16 performance. For Iowa (27-7), Ava Heiden poured in 26 points, Chazadi Wright added 21, and Hannah Stuelke recorded 15 points, 19 rebounds, and six assists. The Hawkeyes had previously survived a close call against 15th-seeded FDU in the opening round, winning 58-48.
In other tournament action, third-seeded Louisville edged sixth-seeded Alabama 69-68 to advance to the Sweet 16 from Regional 3. Elif Istanbulluoglu and Tajianna Roberts each scored 18 points for the host Cardinals.
Alabama’s Karly Weathers scored with 9.4 seconds remaining to cut Louisville’s lead to four points. After Imari Berry made two free throws for Louisville, Weathers connected on another three-pointer with four seconds left to make it 69-68. However, after Reyna Scott missed two foul shots, Alabama couldn’t advance the ball in time for a potential game-winning attempt.
Istanbulluoglu also grabbed 11 rebounds for Louisville, which overcame poor three-point shooting at 7-of-26 by collecting 14 offensive rebounds and scoring 24 points in the paint. The Cardinals outrebounded Alabama 41-24.
Ace Austin paced Alabama with 17 points, including a fifth three-pointer that kept the Crimson Tide within striking distance at 52-49 with 1:22 left in the third quarter. Weathers scored 11 of her 13 points in the final quarter, while Diana Collins contributed 14 points and made 4 of 5 three-point attempts. Alabama shot an impressive 46.2% from beyond the arc (12 of 26) but managed only 45.6% overall (26 of 57).
