CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (Interstat) — A key early Atlantic Coast Conference women’s basketball matchup awaits Thursday when the Clemson Lady Tigers visit the Virginia Cavaliers at John Paul Jones Arena. Both teams enter the New Year’s Day contest with identical 10-win records and momentum from dominant non-conference finales. Clemson (10-4) routed Chicago State 97-44 on Sunday, while Virginia (10-3) handled SMU 76-52 on Monday. The matchup features two of the conference’s most dynamic guards in Clemson’s Taylor Johnson-Matthews and Virginia’s Kymora Johnson. Johnson-Matthews is coming off a season-high 23 points in just 21 minutes against Chicago State, showcasing the scoring burst that has made her a focal point for the Lady Tigers. Over her last six games, she has averaged 12.2 points. However, she will face a formidable challenge in Virginia’s Kymora Johnson, who is playing at an All-ACC level. The Cavaliers’ guard is averaging 20.2 points and 7.2 assists over her last five contests. She recorded a triple-double with 17 points and 10 assists against SMU and exploded for a career-high 41 points in a win over Winthrop on Dec. 20. Clemson has won five straight, though its most recent loss was a 72-48 defeat at Alabama on Dec. 4. Virginia’s three losses have come against Vanderbilt, Nebraska and UMBC, but the Cavaliers have since won four consecutive games by an average of 27.5 points. The game marks the conference opener for both teams. Clemson’s recent surge has been fueled by efficient offense, scoring at least 73 points in each game during its win streak. Virginia’s defense has been stifling during its run, holding opponents to an average of 52.8 points. History will be on the line for the Cavaliers, who seek their first 11-3 start since the 2019-20 season. The Lady Tigers aim to prove their strong non-conference finish can translate into a road victory against a conference contender. Tip-off is scheduled for Thursday at John Paul Jones Arena.