Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, March 31, 1991 TAG: 9103310076
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C5 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: DOUG DOUGHTY SPORTSWRITER
DATELINE: NEW ORLEANS LENGTH: Medium
The Lady Volunteers rallied from a seven-point halftime deficit Saturday to defeat defending champion Stanford 68-60 and set up a fifth meeting with Virginia in the last six NCAA Tournaments, this time in the final.
UVa had never beaten Tennessee before the East Regional last year, when the Cavaliers handed coach Pat Summitt one of the most bitter setbacks of her 17 years at Tennessee.
"Last year was truly one of the most disappointing endings to a season - ever," Summitt said. "Not making it to the Final Four at home was devastating to our team and our fans."
So, the Lady Vols will have a chance for revenge, but for a long time Saturday, it looked as if Stanford would get revenge for a pair of regular-season losses to Tennessee.
The Cardinal (26-6) lost leading scorer Julie Zeilstra to a freak injury in pregame warmups but led 28-21 at halftime as Tennessee went 7-for-27 (25.9 percent) from the field.
"Obviously, from the sound of my voice, I wasn't real quiet [at halftime]," said a hoarse Summitt. "We were playing at their mercy. We had a change of heart and a change of attitude."
Tennessee (29-5) did not lead in the second half until freshman Peggy Evans made a three-point play with 4:39 left that put the Lady Vols ahead 56-54.
Fueled by its fans, who outnumbered the supporters of the other three schools combined, Tennessee pulled away as Stanford missed 13 of 14 shots down the stretch.
The Cardinal had lost All-Pacific 10 Conference selection Trish Stevens to a knee injury in the West Region semifinals and Zeilstra pulled a calf muscle Saturday while going through the layup line four minutes before the game.
"As soon as I saw that, I just turned around and said to one of our staff members, `We're in trouble,' " Summitt said. "I thought they would try to win it for [Zeilstra], and I thought it worked to their advantage."
All-America guard Sonja Henning led Stanford with 18 points and seven assists, and freshman Kelly Dougherty, averaging 3.3 points, contributed 15 points and eight rebounds.
Tennessee, a Southeastern Conference team, was led by 6-foot-3, 190-pound All-America center Daedra Charles, who had 16 of her 18 points after halftime. The Lady Vols shot 53.3 percent in the second half.
"I had a serious talk with Daedra at halftime," Summitt said. "One of these days, I'll have to tell you what I said, but I don't think any player in America can handle Daedra one-on-one."
by CNB