Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, March 13, 1992 TAG: 9203130130
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B5 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: SCOTT BLANCHARD SPORTSWRITER
DATELINE: LOUISVILLE, KY. LENGTH: Medium
The Hokies, surprise survivors in the second round of the Metro Conference tournament, went scoreless for the first 6 1/2 minutes of the second half and lost 76-63 to second-seeded Southern Mississippi at the Commonwealth Convention Center.
Tech was trying to reach the Metro Tournament title game for the first time. It was the seventh semifinal appearance for Tech, the last coming in 1989.
As it has for much of the season because of injuries to several starters, sixth-seeded Tech (10-18) played four freshmen extended minutes.
"It's a nice feeling to know you're going home with the heart of your team," Tech coach Carol Alfano said. "This is not their moment of glory for the rest of their careers."
The Hokies nearly made an inglorious tournament exit, trailing 54-34 after Southern Miss (20-9) outscored Tech 15-0 to start the second half. Ten of those points came from Vera Perry and Janice Felder.
The Hokies wobbled against Southern Miss' press.
"We didn't have a lot of intensity in the first couple minutes on offense," Alfano said. "They got us rattled a little bit."
Tech calmed itself and made up ground with a 26-14 run over the next 12 minutes. Freshman Christi Osborne had nine points and classmates Angela Donnell and Jenny Root six apiece in the stretch.
But when Osborne's jumper pulled Tech to 68-60, only 1:28 was left. On the next play, USM's Wendy Winston beat Tech freshman Stephanie Carter downcourt, got a long pass, and converted a three-point play after being fouled to turn back the Hokies.
Although USM shot 44.6 percent from the field, significant damage was done by forward Shelley Sanders (18 points, 12 rebounds) and Felder (20 points, 11 rebounds), who was injured and played only 13 minutes in Tech's Cassell Coliseum upset of the Golden Eagles earlier this season.
The Golden Eagles' offensive rebounding - they had 19 - skewered Tech.
"It was very physical on the inside, [more] than what it was [Wednesday]," Donnell said. \
see microfilm for box score
by CNB