Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: MONDAY, March 25, 1991 TAG: 9103250035
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: DOUG DOUGHTY SPORTSWRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
The semifinals of the NCAA women's tournament will pit Virginia coach Debbie Ryan and her former assistant, Connecticut coach Geno Auriemma.
The Cavaliers and Huskies will meet at 12:30 p.m. Saturday at the Lakefront Arena at the University of New Orleans. The other game will pit Tennessee and defending champion Stanford.
"It's going to be fun," Ryan said. "Geno has been a big part of my career. He was one of my first assistants [from 1981-85] and he really pushed me. I took a lot from him. I knew he would be an excellent head coach."
Auriemma has a 121-55 record in six years at Connecticut, including a 29-4 mark this season. The Huskies played in the NCAA women's tournament in 1989 and '90, but had not won a game until this season.
The Huskies, seeded third in the East, advanced with a 60-57 victory over fourth-seeded Clemson. Connecticut had beaten ACC champion North Carolina State 82-71 in the East Region semifinals.
After slipping by Stephen F. Austin 74-72 in Charlottesville, Virginia returned to its dominant ways by beating Oklahoma State 76-61 and Lamar 85-70 in the Midwest Regional in Austin, Texas.
"For the last two or three weeks, we haven't been ourselves," said Ryan, whose team was upset by Clemson 65-62 in the ACC Tournament semifinals. "In the second half against Oklahoma State, I saw the intensity and fire I had seen at the end of February."
The victory over Lamar was the 300th of Ryan's 14-year career and also marked the first time the Cavaliers have won 30 games in a season, topping their previous high of 29 set in 1989-90, when they were 29-6.
Four starters returned from that team, which reached the NCAA semifinals before falling to Stanford 75-66, and the addition of All-ACC choice Tonya Cardoza after a year's ineligibility made UVa the team to beat in 1990-91.
The Cavaliers were ranked No. 1 for all but three weeks of the regular season, but their loss in the ACC semifinals and close call against Stephen F. Austin contributed to a feeling of vulnerability.
That's why the second half against Oklahoma State was so important. After taking a 44-40 lead at the half, the Cavaliers held the Cowgirls to 21 points over the final 20 minutes.
"I just felt very confident after that," Ryan said. "A calm came over me. After shooting practice [Saturday], I realized we were back. We were right where we wanted to be."
In Lamar, the Cavaliers faced a team that had upset Texas 77-63 on the same floor in the first round, and the Lady Cardinals had beaten No. 2 seed LSU 93-73 and No. 3 Arkansas 91-75 to reach the Midwest final.
"I felt like Lamar was on a roll," Ryan said, "but, when you've been playing like that and then you're not leading, psychologically it can be hard."
Brenda Hatchett, a 5-foot guard, had made six 3-pointers against Arkansas, but was only 3-for-10 with two 3-pointers against the one-on-one coverage of UVa's Tammie Reiss.
"I was just trying to deny her the ball," Reiss said. "I wasn't playing any help defense. I just wanted to shut her down. I didn't concentrate at all on my offense."
Reiss joined teammates Cardoza and Dawn Staley on the all-region team, with Staley named MVP. Cardoza had 24 points and nine rebounds against Lamar, and Staley had 13 points and 12 assists.
Melanee Wagener, a 6-foot-2 junior who is the most unheralded of UVa's starters, had not played more than 24 minutes until she logged 35 Saturday night. She hit six of eight shots and finished with a season-high 13 points and six rebounds.
The Cavaliers were disturbed Friday at some of the remarks made by Lamar coach Al Barbre, who in an attempt to be humorous, made light of Ryan's coaching and tried to suggest UVa was taking Lamar lightly.
"We didn't want them going to the ball," said Reiss, referring to the Cinderella tag enjoyed by the Cardinals. "I think it's sweeter [going to the Final Four] this year with all the expectations and pressure of being numero uno. We've had a big weight on our shoulders."
by CNB