Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, March 23, 1990 TAG: 9003232851
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C2 EDITION: EVENING
SOURCE: DOUG DOUGHTY SPORTSWRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: Medium
On the way to what has become an annual basketball showdown with Tennessee, the Cavaliers had their problems Thursday night before beating Providence 77-71 in an East Region semifinal at Old Dominion Field House.
Big East champion Providence, which had won 15 games in a row, erased a 10-point halftime deficit but never could take the lead.
Virginia, which set a school record for wins at 28-5, will play the Lady Volunteers (27-5) at noon Saturday in a game shown by ESPN.
Tennessee overcame an early seven-point deficit in defeating Clemson 80-62 in Thursday night's first game. The Lady Vols had five scorers in double figures, led by Carla McGhee, Tonya Edwards and Kelli Casteel with 14 points apiece.
Tennessee, which won the NCAA Championship in 1987 and '89, will be bidding for its fifth straight appearance in the Final Four, to be held at Thompson-Boling Arena in Knoxville, Tenn.
"I view it as a great motivation [to play at home]," Lady Vols coach Pat Summitt said. "The University of Tennessee is holding a party and we want to be part of the party."
Tennessee has never lost to Virginia in five meetings, including the last three NCAA Tournaments. In 1988, Tennessee defeated the Cavs 84-76 at ODU Field House in UVa's only previous trip to a region final.
"We're using it as a motivational factor," said UVa sophomore Tammi Reiss. "So far, revenge has been a factor in some of our biggest wins - like N.C. State and Penn State - so we should be pretty intense."
The Cavaliers were led by sophomore guard Dawn Staley, who had 24 points, five assists and six steals. Heidi Burge, a 6-foot-4 freshman, had 13 points and 11 rebounds before fouling out. Burge's twin, Heather, had 10 points and nine rebounds, but also made nine of UVa's 25 turnovers.
Providence center Dottie VanGheem had 26 points.
"Offensively, we were trying to take whatever the defense gave us," UVa coach Debbie Ryan said. "They gave us some openings in the post, but we didn't catch the ball very well."
After falling behind 39-29 at the half, Providence (27-5) tied the score on three occasions, the last at 52 with 9:20 remaining. The Lady Friars had several opportunities to take the lead, but missed five of six free throws during one stretch.
"There was a lot of time left," Providence coach Bob Foley said. "I wasn't that concerned about not getting the lead, but it might have given us a lift."
"We're an excellent free-throw shooting team; that's what I can't understand. We had our best shooter [Andrea Mangum] up there for two and she missed them both."
The Lady Friars were hanging tight, down 62-60, when UVa freshman Dena Evans scored to make it a four-point game with 4:15 to go.
What followed was the turning point - in Foley's estimation. After VanGheem had missed a 3-pointer, Andrea Mangum was called for a foul underneath the UVa basket.
When Mangum protested, she was whistled for a technical. Audra Smith made the first half of a one-and-one, then Reiss made both free throws from the technical.
"The official told us [Mangum] said, `No,' " Foley said. "That's all. If she'd sworn, she would have been out of the game, but she didn't.
"It was critical. I thought it was uncalled for. You don't expect that kind of stuff at this level."
By the time Providence got the ball back, it was down seven points. The closest the Lady Friars could come after that was 73-69 on a 3-pointer by Helen Mency with 1:04 left.
"I feel great about playing Tennessee right now because it means we won," Ryan said. "I think our concentration wavered at times, but not because we were looking ahead."
\ PROVIDENCE (71)
Lis 4-8 4-4 13, Van Gheem 11-13 4-6 26, Mangum 7-14 2-6 16, Cole 1-2 2-2 4, Evans 2-6 4-4 9, Mency 1-5 0-0 3, Daudelin 0-1 0-0 0, Kennedy 0-1 0-0 0, McDonnell 0-0 0-0 0, Cazeault 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 26-50 16-22 71.\ VIRGINIA (77)
Scott 1-6 0-0 3, Ward 1-1 0-0 2, Heidi Burge 6-12 1-2 13, Staley 9-15 4-4 24, Reiss 2-5 4-5 9, Franklin 0-1 0-0 0, Evans 4-7 2-2 11, Heather Burge 5-12 0-2 10, Smith 2-4 0-1 5. Totals 30-64 12-17 77.
Halftime-39-29, Virginia. Three-point goals-Providence 3-11 (Lis 1-1, Van Gheem 0-1, Mangum 0-2, Evans 1-3, Mency 1-4), Virginia 5-12 (Scott 1-5, Staley 2-4, Reiss 1-1, Evans 1-2). Fouled out-Mangum, Heather Burge. Rebounds-Providence 27 (Mangum 9), Virginia 38 (Heidi Burge 11). Assists-Providence 12 (Evans 7), Virginia 13 (Staley 5). Total fouls-Providence 18, Virginia 21. Technicals-Mangum. A-2,439.
by CNB