Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: MONDAY, March 18, 1991 TAG: 9103180074
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: DOUG DOUGHTY SPORTSWRITER
DATELINE: CHARLOTTESVILLE LENGTH: Medium
Virginia, top seed in the Midwest Region, needed a short jumper from Heidi Burge with four seconds remaining to hold off eighth-seeded Stephen F. Austin 74-72 in the second round of the NCAA women's basketball tournament.
"They were definitely better than an eighth seed," UVa coach Debbie Ryan said. "They're the best team we've ever played in this round."
It was only the second loss in the past 22 games for Stephen F. Austin, which was ranked 14th in the final Associated Press poll. The Ladyjacks finished 26-5, their sixth straight season with 25 wins or more.
"I'm not saying we're better than 14th in the country," Ladyjacks coach Gary Blair said, "but we're a hell of a lot better than the eighth seed in the Midwest."
As the higher-seeded team, Virginia (28-2) received the home-court advantage for the second round. The Cavaliers also received a first-round bye, while the Ladyjacks advanced with a 73-62 victory over Mississippi.
"If we're in Nacogdoches [Texas], we probably win this game," said Blair, who would have preferred a neutral site Sunday. "It's not going to change, for at least five years, till we can make money for the women's game.
"Here we are, a little two-name school, and we're televising the game back home and we've got our band here. That's a prety good commitment. Some of these universities across the nation need to start doing the same thing."
Ryan said the crowd of 4,600 gave the Cavaliers a "huge advantage," but Stephen F. Austin was able to overcome a 15-point second-half deficit and take the lead at 69-68 with 2:05 remaining.
The score was 70-70 and the Ladyjacks had possession when Shannon Lawson was called for an illegal screen with 53 seconds remaining.
The foul wiped out what would have been the Ladyjacks' go-ahead basket by Dayna Reed, who said she never heard the whistle and was in tears when she met with the media after the game.
Blair was right when he said all was not lost at that point. Tammi Reiss hit both ends of a one-and-one to put UVa ahead 72-70, but Stacye Jackson tied it on a jumper with 38 seconds left.
The Cavaliers worked the 30-second clock until Staley drove the left baseline, attracted several defenders, and fed Burge for a 6-foot jumper from the left block.
"Staley made the play at the end of the game that won it," Blair said. "It wasn't Burge's shot. That was just a luck shot. She short-armed it and it just happened to roll in. Give Staley the whole credit."
Burge and her 6-5 sister, Heidi, had been a two-woman disaster area for most of the game, but Heather rejected the idea that her game-winning shot didn't deserve to go in.
"I've been shooting that shot all year," she said. "I don't think it was luck. I think I can make that shot. I wasn't making easy shots early in the game and it had to fall some time."
Heather was 3-for-8 from the field, 1-for-5 from the line and committed four turnovers. Her sister missed a 3-pointer with 3:45 left and the Cavs nursing a 66-63 that landed her a spot on the bench for the rest of the game.
The final horn triggered a gleeful celebration by the Virginia players, who had lived for 14 days with the ignominy of a 65-62 loss in the ACC Tournament semifinals. UVa had gone 14-0 in the ACC during the regular season.
The Cavaliers appeared to have Sunday's game well under control when they pulled away to a 55-40 lead with 15 minutes left, but Stephen F. Austin hit its last 10 shots from the field.
UVa committed 20 turnovers - many on attempts to feed the Burge twins inside - but got a game-high 25 points from Staley. Jackson led the Ladyjacks with 20.
"When you're one of the top seeds, everybody knows the pressure is on you," said Ryan, thankful her team had avoided the fate of another No. 1 seed, Penn State, which was upset by James Madison. "It's a lot different being in this seat."
see microfilm for box score
by CNB