Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, March 23, 1990 TAG: 9009060067
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C/2 EDITION: STATE
SOURCE: Doug Doughty/Sportswriter
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: Medium
On the way to their annual showdown with the Vols, the Cavaliers had their problems Thursday night before disposing of Providence 77-71 in the East Region semifinals at the Old Dominion Field House.
Big East champion Providence, which had won 15 games in a row, erased a 10-point deficit but never could take the lead in falling to 27-5.
Virginia, which set a school record for victories at 28-5, will meet the Lady Vols (27-5) at noon Saturday in a game that will be televised 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.
Tennessee has never lost to Virginia in five meetings, including the last three NCAA Tournaments. In 1988, Tennessee defeated the Cavaliers 84-76 at ODU Field House in UVa's only previous appearance in 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 contributed nine of UVa's 25 turnovers. The Burges also had trouble containing Providence center Dottie Van Gheem, who had a game-high 26 points.
"Offensively, we were trying to take whatever the defense gave us," UVa coach Debbie Ryan said.
After falling behind 39-29 at the half, Providence tied the score on three occasions, the last at 52-52 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 at that point 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 still hanging tight, down 62-60, when freshman Dena Evans scored to make it a four-point game with 4:15 remaining.
That was followed by the turning point of the game _ in Foley's estimation. After Van Gheem had missed a 3-pointer, Mangum was called for a foul underneath the UVa basket.
When Mangum protested the call, she was whistled for a technical. Audra Smith made the first half of one-and-one; then, Tammi Reiss made both free throws resulting from the technical.
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