Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, March 8, 1994 TAG: 9403080074
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C-2 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: By SCOTT BLANCHARD STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Jenny Root knew only that she'd had a consistent year for Virginia Tech's women's basketball team. Monday, she got word her year was considered a little better than that.
Root, a junior center who averaged 14.6 points and 7.5 rebounds in Tech's 21-5 regular season, was selected to the All-Metro Conference first team in voting by a panel of league coaches, media representatives and sports information directors.
Hokies forward Christi Osborne, a junior who averaged 14.1 points and 4.6 rebounds, made the All-Metro second team for the second straight year. Root was a second-teamer last year.
"I'm kind of surprised," Root said from her hotel room in Biloxi, Miss., where Tech opens the Metro tournament today against Virginia Commonwealth. "I wasn't sure. There were a bunch of players who had great years."
Root punctuated a steady year with three significant double-doubles: 27 points and 15 rebounds against Mississippi State, 26 and 12 against Louisville and 23 and 13 against Louisville in the teams' second game.
"I had a real consistent year," said Root, from Pensacola, Fla. "I never did have a stretch where I had really, really bad games more than two or three in a row."
Osborne is one of Tech's go-to players, and she complements Root's inside game with her perimeter shooting.
"It's a nice honor," the Burlington, Ky., native said. "I think it does reflect nicely on the team. I don't think anyone can make one of those teams on their own."
Joining Root on the first team are Janice Felder and Tanya Bullock of Southern Mississippi, Keisha Johnson of Tulane, Tammy Van Oppen of South Florida and Jody Martin of Louisville.
Joining Osborne on the second team are Patricia Nash of Southern Mississippi, Renee Bellamy of South Florida, Kristin Mattox of Louisville and Markita Aldridge of UNC Charlotte.
Southern Miss coach Kay James, whose team won the Metro regular-season title and is ranked 19th, is the coach of the year.
by CNB