The 10th-seeded Virginia Cavaliers pulled off a stunning upset Saturday, defeating the seventh-seeded Georgia Bulldogs 82-73 in the first round of the women’s NCAA tournament. Kymora Johnson led the charge for Virginia with a game-high 28 points, while Sa’Myah Smith contributed a career-best 23 points and 11 rebounds. This victory marks Virginia as the first lower seed to advance in the women’s tournament this year, sending a strong message early in March Madness. The Cavaliers will now move on to face either second seed Iowa or 15th seed Fairleigh Dickinson in the next round.

Virginia’s resilience was on full display, especially in overtime where they outscored Georgia 11-2. Smith, despite being held scoreless in the second half, proved crucial in the extra period, scoring five of Virginia’s points. The game teetered on a knife’s edge in regulation, with Georgia having multiple opportunities to secure the win in the closing seconds. Trinity Turner’s potential game-winner missed with four seconds on the clock, and after an offensive rebound, Savannah Henderson was tied up by Smith, leading to a possession arrow call favoring the Bulldogs.

Despite the favorable possession arrow, Georgia’s final attempt to win in regulation fell short. Mia Woolfolk’s 10-foot jumper bounced off the rim as time expired, forcing the game into overtime. Earlier in the contest, the arena itself presented a unique challenge with temperatures reportedly in the 80s due to a lack of air conditioning. This unusual condition added another layer to the high-stakes matchup between the two seeded teams.

Georgia showed flashes of their potential, with Mia Woolfolk leading the Bulldogs with 27 points and Rylie Theuerkauf adding 22, many of which came in a strong first-half surge. Theuerkauf was particularly effective from beyond the arc, sinking 17 points in the final nine minutes of the first half alone. Savannah Henderson also chipped in with 11 points, but ultimately their efforts weren’t enough to overcome Virginia’s determined performance.

The Cavaliers’ triumph makes them the second team in history to win a game after participating in the First Four, underscoring their ability to perform under pressure. Having already secured their place in the second round, Virginia now looks ahead to their matchup on Monday. Their performance signals that upsets are indeed possible as the intensity of the NCAA tournament ramps up.