Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, March 28, 1993 TAG: 9303290389
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: D3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: SCOTT BLANCHARD STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: RICHMOND LENGTH: Medium
Afterward, she shone the light on a taut game that ended the Virginia women's most successful four-year stretch.
"We love payback games," said the 6-foot-5 senior, referring to UVa's lust to avenge its January loss to Ohio State. "We had a couple of them this year, and we always come out on top."
Until Saturday, when Ohio State beat UVa 75-73 to advance to the Final Four in a game that turned on any number of pressure shots, elusive rebounds, turnovers and phantom seconds on the clock.
"It was those little things, things like a missed rebound by one person, maybe checking out and getting a foul for checking out," said Burge, who played just 10 minutes. "Little things we could have done individually. We had so many chances to win that game. It was like God was giving it to us.
"Even when we were down with 18 seconds left, I knew we were going to win. And sure enough, Dena made that three [-point goal]."
And sure enough, it came after the officials granted UVa coach Debbie Ryan a timeout with 0.6 seconds left - probably four or five seconds after Ryan wanted the whistle to blow.
Evans, Heather and Heidi Burge and bit player Allison Moore are the UVa seniors who have compiled the best four-year record in UVa history: 115-17. The class of '92 won 110 games.
Evans' shot almost extended their run. Asked if she would rather have missed the shot since it came after the timeout was called, she said:
"No, I mean, it doesn't matter. It's pointless."
The seniors' careers were anything but. Evans started 72 games, all but seven in the past two years, set UVa's single-game assists record (14 this year), is UVa's second all-time 3-point shooter and is third on the all-time assists chart - and she's a GTE Academic All-American.
The Burges gave Virginia a twin-towers lineup for four years. Heather is Virginia's all-time leading rebounder and shot-blocker and second all-time leading scorer, and she is second-team GTE Academic honoree. The Burges and Evans are 1-2-3 on Virginia's all-time list of games played.
Moore didn't play much, but Ryan called her a true representative of the program.
"I can't say enough about Heather, Heidi, Dena and Allison," Ryan said.
It was Ohio State's seniors - guards Averrill Roberts and Audrey Burcy, and forward Nikki Keyton - who bubbled to the top Saturday. Each made crucial plays down the stretch to help the Buckeyes win.
"They played like seniors, with a lot of heart and a lot of desire, and they made the difference in the game," Ryan said of Roberts and Burcy.
Ohio State's seniors play on, while Virginia's reflect. The Cavaliers won three ACC Tournaments and three ACC regular-season titles, went to three NCAA Final Fours and played in one championship game.
They never won an NCAA title, but if her classmates feel like Heidi Burge, the world didn't end when the game did on Saturday.
"It's been a great four years," she said. "It's kind of a feeling of satisfaction and completion. It's hard to end with a loss, but I don't feel any way cheated."
by CNB