Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, March 18, 1990 TAG: 9003182460
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B4 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: DOUG DOUGHTY SPORTSWRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
When the teams met Jan. 6 at Penn State, the Nittany Lions defeated Virginia 90-77 in what was UVa's most lopsided loss until N.C. State beat the Cavaliers by 13 points late in the year.
Virginia, which avenged the N.C. State loss by beating the Wolfpack in the ACC Tournament championship game, is hoping for similar success today when it plays host to Penn State at 2 p.m. at University Hall.
The Cavaliers (26-5) received a first-round bye. Penn State (25-6) advanced with an 83-73 victory at Florida State in East Regional action.
The Nittany Lions were obliged to play on the road because Penn State officials, in a decision that drew the ire of women's coach Rene Portland, made their arena available to the men's team for an NIT game.
"I was a little surprised that Penn State had to play at all," Ryan said. "I thought, after winning their conference tournament, they would receive a first-round bye."
Nevertheless, Ryan said she wouldn't have been surprised to meet the Nittany Lions at one point.
"We actually anticipated playing an Atlantic 10 team and had somebody at that tournament," Ryan said. "After the first couple of seeds, the selection committee doesn't move many teams out of their region."
Penn State has three scorers who average in double figures, not counting Dana Eikenberry, who scored 25 points against the Seminoles. The Nittany Lions are led by 6-foot sophomore Susan Robinson, who averages 19.8 points and 9.8 rebounds.
Robinson had 25 points in the first game with UVa, in which the Cavaliers were handicapped by injuries to starting guards Dawn Staley and Tammi Reiss.
Staley, who had a sprained knee, did not start against the Nittany Lions but persuaded Ryan that she could play. Staley finished with seven points - 10 under her average.
"I don't want to use the injuries as an excuse," said Ryan, whose team was 10-1 at the time, with eight victories in a row. "We were riding a little crest, but we still had a lot of growing up to do."
It was the most points allowed by the Cavaliers all season.
"I think it's a plus for our team that we're playing them again, especially after the way we were beaten the first time," Ryan said. "We have to hold down their point production, though. We can't allow them to score 90 points. We can't allow them to score 80 points. We have to use our size to our advantage."
UVa boasts a 6-4 center in freshman Heidi Burge, whose twin, Heather, comes off the bench. Four UVa players average more than six rebounds per game.
"I said earlier that I felt our team could win the national championship," Ryan said. "But the players are so self-motivated that we haven't set any goals.
"They seem to do their best when there aren't many expectations. I don't say a whole lot. I don't have to."
by CNB