Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, February 24, 1991 TAG: 9102240070
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: CHARLOTTESVILLE LENGTH: Medium
Virginia (26-1 overall, 14-0 in the ACC) becomes the first women's team to go undefeated in the ACC since N.C. State went 9-0 in 1980.
The Cavaliers' school-record 26th victory came before a sellout crowd of 8,864.
Staley also had 11 rebounds and 10 assists, marking the second time she has hit double figures in all three categories. The first was Virginia's 123-120 triple-overtime victory over N.C. State in January.
Staley took her triple-double in stride.
"There's nothing special about the triple-double. Every night I try to give the team what it needs. I just do what has to be done," she said.
Virginia led by 10 at halftime, but Rhonda Mapp and Andrea Stinson combined for 13 points as the Wolfpack (22-5, 9-5) outscored Virginia 15-5 to open the second period, tying the score at 54 with 15:52 to play.
The Cavaliers then resumed shooting the ball inside, which had helped them to a 12-point first-half lead. The Cavaliers forced N.C. State to foul and sank nine of 10 free throws over the next five minutes.
Tonya Cardoza and Heather Burge each scored inside to put Virginia ahead 69-60 with 10:32 left.
N.C. State got as close as 69-64, but Virginia scored seven straight, including five by Staley, to take a 76-64 lead.
The Wolfpack's 15-5 run to open the second half did not disconcert the Cavaliers.
"I think we came out flat and did a couple of stupid things. Then we settled down and got back to the game plan," Cardoza said.
Included in the game plan was a diamond-and-one zone defense with Cardoza guarding Stinson. Stinson did not score for the next eight minutes, and the Cavaliers took control.
"We felt comfortable going against the diamond-and-one, but on each of those possessions we didn't execute," said N.C. State coach Kay Yow. "We didn't have the kind of patience we needed against that defense."
Virginia coach Debbie Ryan said one of the keys was the Cavaliers' domination of the rebounding, grabbing 39 rebounds to 27 for the Wolfpack.
"We really keyed on our rebounds. We knew that if we didn't rebound well offensively and keep State from running, it could get ugly," Ryan said.
Virginia had 13 offensive rebounds.
NORTH CAROLINA STATE (78)
Parker 2-6 3-4 7, Stinson 10-20 1-2 22, Mapp 13-18 3-4 29, K. Kuziemski 1-2 2-2 4, Manning 4-6 0-2 8, Whyte 2-2 0-0 4, J. Kuziemski 1-8 0-0 2, Gibson 1-2 0-0 2, Lehmann 0-3 0-0 0. Totals 34-67 9-14 78. VIRGINIA (95)
Toney 0-0 0-0 0, Reiss 7-15 0-0 17, Heather Burge 6-9 6-8 18, Cardoza 8-19 4-5 20, Ward 0-0 0-0 0, Staley 7-13 9-9 23, Heidi Burge 3-6 1-1 7, Evans 1-1 0-0 2, Wagener 3-4 2-2 8, Smith 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 35-67 22-25 95.
Halftime-49-39, Virginia. Three-point goals-N. Carolina St. 1-9 (Stinson 1-5, J. Kuziemski 0-1, Lehmann 0-3), Virginia 3-8 (Reiss 3-5, Cardoza 0-2, Staley 0-1). Fouled out-Stinson, Heather Burge. Rebounds-N. Carolina St. 27 (Stinson 7), Virginia 39 (Staley 11). Assists-N. Carolina St. 14 (Parker 8), Virginia 17 (Staley 10). Total fouls-N. Carolina St. 21, Virginia 17. A-8,864.
by CNB