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head women's basketball coach, perhaps no other Cavalier will have as much re- sponsibility heaped on her in 2011-12 as fourth-year guard Ariana Moorer. W BY SHANE METTLEN ITH ONLY TWO seniors — and just 10 players total — available for Joanne Boyle in her first season as Virginia's with Debbie and with the previous staff, but she really bought in. Initially seniors could be the ones who are a little bit resistant." For Moorer, the key was a realization that to fully enjoy a successful fourth sea- son at Virginia she would have to buy into the new coaching staff 's philosophies from the start and work hard to learn a new system as fast as possible. handling the ball thrust upon her. She and China Crosby are preparing to bring the ball up the court in most situations. "It's tough at times, but then you see glimpses of good things that can happen out of it," Moorer said. "That takes some of the load off. I think we're handling it pretty well, taking on the roles of kind of being the only two ball handlers on the team. I think we're getting there." BUYING IN "There are a lot of teaching points that "Me and [fellow fourth-year] Chelsea [Shine] have tried to lead this team as best as we can, vocally and by example. We're the only two seniors on this team." Moorer, a Woodbridge, Va., product who played high school basketball at C.D. Hylton High, handled a huge role for the Cavaliers last year, the final sea- son for legendary Wahoos head coach Debbie Ryan. After being recruited by Ryan, Moorer made an immediate im- pact on the Virginia program, starting 16 games and averaging 7.3 points per game in her first year. As a second-year, Moorer started 20 games, averaged 7.0 points and led the team in assists with 2.1 per contest. By the time her third season in Charlottes- ville rolled around, Moorer was asked by Ryan to play a different role — come off the bench as a way to give the Cavs a spark. Moorer was still asked to play the min- utes and produce the offense of a starter. In earning the ACC's Sixth Player of the Year award, Moorer led Virginia in scor- ing, putting up 9.7 points per game, and scored in double figures a team-high 18 times. She also once again led the Cavs in assists, dishing out 3.1 a game. Boyle arrived at UVa knowing the tran- sition could be difficult for a player who not only was recruited by Ryan, but also played for her for three seasons. But the new coach said she's been thrilled with the way Moorer has adapted to the new staff and helped the rest of the team as well. "She's been doing great," Boyle said. "It's difficult for seniors. She's had a coach for three years, and she gets one year with us. Ari had a lot of history 22 ◆ CAVALIER CORNER Coach Boyle has brought in," Moorer said. "It's some stuff that I haven't learned since I've been here. She's got a whole new style. Defense has been the key. She stresses defense a lot. The envi- ronment is much better than it has been, and we're all just ready to get started. Since there are a lot of teaching points she's just starting to stress getting up and down the court. "We're forgetting everything from last year and learning a totally new system, playing defense 94 feet. I think that's prob- ably the hardest thing — forgetting every- thing and taking on a new perspective." Moorer has long been a gym rat that has worked hard for the success she's had on the court, and Boyle said that hasn't changed, but she's seen her take on an even bigger leadership role as the start of her fourth and final season at Virginia nears. Still Boyle wants to see the Cavs' leading scorer continue to grow as a leader. "Ari spends a lot of time in the gym, and she spends a lot of time with [as- sistant coach] Cory [O'Neill] working on different things," Boyle said. "She's very committed, she wants to get better and she wants to learn the game. She's done a really good job. I want Ari to understand the leadership piece, too." Just as she has in the leadership depart- ment, Moorer has also had a larger role in Fourth-Year Ariana Moorer Is On Board With New Women's Basketball Coach Joanne Boyle "It really is nothing new," Moorer said. Ball handling will be a key to the Cava- liers transition into Boyle's system. The coach would like to see Virginia become a team that rushes the ball up and down the court, but she said the Wahoos hadn't become a good enough ball handling team just yet to run as much as she'd like. How Moorer develops in that category could have lasting effects on the identity of Boyle's Cavaliers even after the fourth- year has graduated and moved on. Moorer knows she's going to be called upon to "Ari had a lot of history with Debbie [Ryan] and with the previous staff, but she's really bought in. Initially, seniors could be the ones who are a little bit resistant." HEAD COACH JOANNE BOYLE play big minutes and limit mistakes in those extended periods on the court. "We've got to be in good condition, first of all," Moorer said. "That was stressed heavily during the preseason, and I think we are going to be OK with that. We need to be able to finish our games without being tired." Not that Moorer minds playing as many minutes as possible. She realizes she only has a short time left in a Virginia uniform. "You try to make the best of it while you still have time," she said. "It makes you work harder than you ever have be- fore. My whole mentality is different. My work ethic is different, and it's all for the better." ◆ Moorer was named the ACC's Sixth Player of the Year last season after coming off the bench to lead Virginia in scoring (9.1 points per game) and assists (3.1 per contest). PHOTO BY MATT RILEY/COURTESY UVA