CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (Interstat) — The Virginia women’s basketball team delivered a dominant first-quarter performance and never looked back, cruising to a 76-50 victory over Howard on Wednesday night at John Paul Jones Arena.

The Cavaliers, improving to 8-3, erupted for 31 points in the opening period, establishing a commanding 18-point lead that the Lady Bison could never seriously threaten. Virginia’s offensive efficiency and defensive pressure set the tone from the opening tip, holding Howard to just 13 points in the first quarter and 26 in the entire first half.

The most important part of the game was Virginia’s immediate and overwhelming start. The Cavaliers won the opening tip and scored on their first possession, a driving layup by Sa’Myah Smith just three seconds in. That ignited a 19-4 run over the first six minutes, fueled by a stifling defense that forced four early Howard turnovers and blocked two shots. By the time the first quarter ended with a three-pointer from Kymora Johnson, Virginia led 31-13, having shot over 60% from the field. That early blitz effectively decided the contest, as Howard never got closer than 16 points the rest of the way.

Virginia’s offense was balanced and multifaceted. Smith, a sophomore from Texarkana, Texas, led all scorers with 18 points, showcasing her interior presence. She was complemented by center Tabitha Amanze of Ogun, Nigeria, who added 13 points and two blocks, anchoring the defense. The Cavaliers’ ball movement was sharp, led by Romi Levy of Herzelia, Israel, who dished out seven assists to go with nine points and two blocks.

Howard, which fell to 7-5, struggled to find consistent offense against Virginia’s size and length. The Lady Bison were led by Zoe Stewart of Terre Haute, Indiana, who scored 18 points. Nile Miller of Woodbury, New Jersey, added 12 points. However, Howard shot just 32% from the field for the game and was outrebounded 45-31 by the taller Cavaliers.

Virginia maintained its large lead throughout the second and third quarters, with the margin hovering around 20 points. The Cavaliers’ depth was on display as reserves like Adeang Ring of Sydney, Australia, who contributed eight points and two blocks, and Gabby White of Chapel Hill, North Carolina, who had five points, three assists and three blocks, provided energy and production.

The fourth quarter saw both teams empty their benches, with Virginia’s final points coming on a layup by Danelle Arigbabu in the closing minute. The Cavaliers finished the game shooting 48% from the field and held a 36-18 advantage in points in the paint.

The announced attendance was 3,611. Virginia entered the game as a heavy favorite, with statistical models giving the Cavaliers a 91.6% probability to win, a forecast borne out by the lopsided result.

Howard will look to rebound on the road at Hampton on Saturday. Virginia, now winners of two straight, breaks for final exams before hosting Winthrop on Dec. 20. The Cavaliers will then embark on Atlantic Coast Conference play, beginning with a home game against Clemson on Jan. 1.