
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: FRIDAY, March 4, 1994                   TAG: 9403040103
SECTION: SPORTS                    PAGE: B7   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: ROCK HILL, S.C.                                LENGTH: Medium

UVA CHASING 3RD STRAIGHT ACC WOMEN'S TITLE

Even though her team has won two straight ACC tournament championships, Virginia coach Debbie Ryan doesn't think her team has a decided advantage in this year's event at the Winthrop Coliseum.

"We're coming into the tournament with guarded optimism," Ryan said Thursday. "We really don't look at years past. Different teams, different year."

The Cavaliers, ranked eighth, are in a similar position as in past years, though. Virginia (23-3 overall, 15-1 ACC) won its fourth straight ACC regular season title, including two victories over No. 5 North Carolina (24-2, 14-2).

Tonight's tournament opener matches eighth-seeded Wake Forest against ninth-seeded Florida State. The winner of that game faces Virginia, which has lost once in the past 17 games - at Clemson on Feb. 19.

Cavaliers sophomore Wendy Palmer is the conference's leading rebounder (10 per game) and third-leading scorer (17.3). Freshman guard Tora Suber is among the league leaders in assists, 3-point field goal percentage and steals.

Ryan said that's been the story around the league this year: young teams developing throughout the season. That has led to the incorrect NCAA perception that the league is not as strong this season, she said.

"When you have young players, you're going to experience losses early that you won't later in the year," she said. "I think you've got to look at conference in perspective from January to this moment right now."

Some league coaches think that may cost the ACC a berth or two when the NCAA tournament pairings are announced March 13. The field was increased from 48 to 64 teams this season.

"Our conference is strong from top to bottom, but they're not perceiving that," said Maryland coach Chris Weller, whose team faces fifth-seeded Duke in the first round. "We should be able to get five teams in with the expanded bracket, but we may not."

Maryland, which lost to Virginia 106-103 in triple overtime in last year's ACC final, got a boost coming in to this year's tournament. The Terrapins defeated third-seeded Clemson 84-46 on Tuesday night.

The Tigers (18-8, 11-5) face sixth-seeded North Carolina State (13-13, 6-10) in the first round. North Carolina meets seventh-seeded Georgia Tech (5-11, 12-14) in the other first-round game.

Tar Heels coach Sylvia Hatchell said it's too early to speculate on a third meeting with Cavaliers.

"If we get to play Virginia again, then I think it'll come down to what's in my players' minds when they take the court," Hatchell said. "But right now, we're just thinking of Georgia Tech."

UNC is led by guard Tonya Sampson, who has a ACC-leading 3.6 steals per game and is averaging 16.7 points.

The semifinals will be held Sunday, and the championship will be played Monday.

by CNB