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20 ◆ CAVALIER CORNER "It means I've got to keep myself tight and be on point," she said. "I've got to be execut- ing, and I've got to be disciplined. But I also have to hold my teammates accountable." Scoring is not something Huland El is unaccustomed to doing. A record-setting guard from Randolph (N.J.) High, she set the Morris County all-time scoring record filling the rims with 2,286 points while av- eraging 21.2 per game. Boyle and her Cavaliers were also pre- dicted to finish 10th in the ACC in the of- ficial 2016-17 Blue Ribbon Panel preseason poll. Huland El said while the Wahoos want to be more highly regarded, loftier expecta- tions must be earned. "We've haven't done much to deserve much better," she said. "As competitive as we are, we don't like to settle for the seed we're given. That is motivation, that is that fire, that passion that's forcing us to win every play, to fight together and to compete in practice." Moses adds that there is a sense of ur- gency, and the team is pushing so they can handle opponents at game time. "Every year since I've been here we ap- proached the year that we were going to be a running team, but this year I think we've bought into that," Moses said. "This off- season, we worked on running the floor, and everyone runs the floor. Guards run the backside of the floor, posts run straight to the block — we're trying to run and get a look, and if we don't have anything then reset. "We're keeping it simple. There's free- dom on the offensive end, and we're just trying to get to the rim." But it's not just about running the floor. Huland El adds it also about executing. "Execution is among one of the most im- portant things we stress in practice and dur- ing the game," she said. "The rule is if you don't execute, you don't play. We've upped the ante and upped the level of aggression." And after the first two games, that ap- proach seem to be clicking. After the win over Middle Tennessee State — which was picked to finish second in Con- ference USA's preseason poll — the Cavaliers routed Coppin State 103-40 Nov. 13. Aiyeotan led the game with a career-high 23 points and a game-high 12 rebounds. Her six blocked shots were the most for a UVA player since Jocelyn Logan-Friend recorded five in 2005. Willoughby also had another big night, scor- ing 21 points. Through two games, she was UVA's leading scorer at 17.0 points per game. After the win over Coppin State, Boyle said, "It's a coach's dream when you get to sit down for most of the game and not have to stand up. I felt like I just got to relax and enjoy it a little bit." And Huland El thinks the two wins will give some confidence to a team that may have what it takes to make a trip back to the NCAA and compete at a higher level. ◆ QUICK FACTS Head Coach: Joanne Boyle, 90-72 at UVA (6th year); 294-165 career (16th year) 2015-16 In Review: 18-16 overall, 6-10 ACC (9th); advanced to the quarterfinals of the WNIT Starters Returning/Lost: 3/2 Lettermen Returning/Lost: 7/4 Key Additions: C Felicia Aiyeotan, F Lisa Jablonowski, F Shakyna Payne, G Dominique Toussaint and G Jocelyn Willoughby Key Loss: G Mikayla Venson (15.2 points and 2.7 assists per game) and G Faith Randolph (13.5 points and 5.0 rebounds per game) RETURNING LEADERS Points: Breyana Mason (10.0 per game) Rebounds: Lauren Moses (6.9 per game) Assists: Mason (2.3 per game) Steals: Mason and Moses (1.5 per game) Blocks: Moses (0.7 per game) FG Pct.: Moses (43.7) 3FG Pct.: Aliyah Huland El (32.7) FT Pct.: Huland El (81.0) Felicia Aiyeotan, a 6-9 first-year center from Nigeria, averaged 13.5 points, 7.0 rebounds and 5.0 blocks in just 15.5 minutes per game in her first two appearances for UVA. PHOTO BY MATT RILEY/COURTESY UVA