Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, March 7, 1992 TAG: 9203070257
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JOHN SMALLWOOD SPORTSWRITER
DATELINE: MARYVILLE, TENN. LENGTH: Medium
Maryville College, however, always had been there to show the Maroons they had another rung to climb.
Friday night, Roanoke finally caught up to the Lady Scots.
Senior forward Donna Cogar's 3-pointer at the buzzer ended three years of frustration against Maryville as Roanoke posted a 73-71 victory in an NCAA Division III South Region playoff game.
By beating Maryville for the first time, Roanoke advanced to the sectionals for the second consecutive year. The Maroons (24-3) will play Great Lakes Region winner Alma (Mich.) at a site to be determined.
Before Friday's game, Roanoke had posted a 75-10 record over the past three years. Four of the losses were to Maryville, including two of this season's three losses.
"You don't understand what a tremendous team Maryville is," said Roanoke coach Susan Dunagan, whose team lost to Maryville in its first NCAA Tournament appearance two years ago. "For us to overcome them, their home court and their fans is a very special win. We came in with a lot of confidence and just kept fighting back. I'm just so excited."
With the Maroons down 71-70 with seven seconds left, Roanoke's Kristie Jones inbounded to Kristie Workman, who got caught in trap on the right side of the free-throw lane.
Instead of forcing a shot, Workman, a sophomore from Radford, rotated the ball to Cogar, who was alone outside the 3-point arc.
Cogar's shot snapped the net as the buzzer sounded.
"I didn't just throw it up," said Cogar, with a grin. "It was a good shot. I had good form. To be truthful, I did look up at the clock when I got the ball. I knew I had time, and I knew where I was on the floor.
"That was not the play we wanted, but it worked."
The play called was for Jones to cut to the basket after the inbounds pass, then for Workman to dribble off a pick by Cogar and pass to Jones down low for a layup attempt.
"Any offense at the end of a game, your first option is going to be difficult to get. I'm not sure Donna's shot was any of the options."
Cogar's shot ended a back-and-forth game in which Roanoke scored six points in the final 25 seconds and Maryville missed the front end of two bonus free-throw opportunities.
After Jenn Jones pulled the Maroons to 71-70 with a 3-pointer, Sheryl Ramsey missed a free throw with 20 seconds left.
Amy Saunders rebounded for Roanoke but was called for charging with 12 seconds left as she tried to complete a court-length drive.
Kay Caldwell quickly fouled Lisa Locke, who also missed her free throw.
Cogar rebounded and, after dribbling to midcourt, called time out for Dunagan to set up a last play.
"They made the shot at the end, but there were a lot of other big plays that determined the game," Maryville coach Wes Moore said. "We felt on the last play they would try to penetrate, and they did. But [Workman] passed it back out to [Cogar], who was several steps beyond the 3-point line."
After shooting 32 percent (10-of-31) from the floor to fall behind 33-29 at the half, the Maroons changed the game's tone by taking the ball inside in the second half.
Roanoke, which had three inside baskets in the first half, got 11 of its 18 second-half field goals from inside the paint.
"We wanted to take the ball inside and either get points or get them in foul trouble," Workman said.
The Maroons shot 44 percent in the second half.
Maryville (24-4) took the first-half advantage by beating Roanoke inside. The Lady Scots made 12 of their 14 first-half field goals from within five feet of the basket. The Scots continued to have success inside in the second half and shot 60 percent (12-of-20), but they missed nine of 24 free throws and two 3-pointers.
Cogar led Roanoke with 17 points, while Workman and Caldwell scored 12 and Saunders 10. Jones had nine points and 11 rebounds.
"It's hard to point to one person," Dunagan said. "When it came to the end, we did it as a team."
Sherri Daigle scored 16 for Maryville. \
see microfilm for box score
by CNB