Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, March 13, 1994 TAG: 9403130187
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: E-6 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: From Associated Press and staff reports
DATELINE: GREENSBORO, N.C. LENGTH: Medium
"Winning this was the No. 1 goal we started the season with, and to accomplish it is just a tremendous feeling," Wilkey said.
Mindy Ballinger scored 18 points and Sara Larsen had 11 points and 12 rebounds for the Highlanders (18-11).
Alisa Moore scored 14 points and grabbed 17 rebounds for UNC Greensboro (17-12). Jo Zerger had 14 points, Serena King 13, Vickie Henson 11 and Julie Moore 10.
Henson, the Big South's player of the year, left the game with a knee injury with 18 minutes, 25 seconds remaining.
"We constantly wanted to push the tempo, and [Henson's absence] allowed us to maybe get a few more defensive rebounds and fast-break baskets," said Lubomyr Lichonczak, Radford's coach. "But that's normally our style."
Wilkey hit two spectacular leaning jumpers and a 3-pointer from a wing to help the Highlanders take an 18-8 lead.
"I was really focused, and I thought at that time we needed a little boost," Wilkey said.
Radford led 43-42 at halftime, but the Spartans tied it at 45 on a basket by Julie Moore and went ahead 49-48 on another Moore jumper with 17:20 left. A Ballinger free throw tied the score at 51, and a basket by Ballinger put the Highlanders up 53-51.
King tied it for UNC Greensboro at 53 with 14:38 remaining. But a Ballinger layup gave Radford the lead for good at 55-53 at the 14:01 mark.
"I think we were tired," Lichonczak said of Radford's sluggish play down the stretch. "We had three tough games, and when your legs are tired you're going to miss shots.
"I thought defensively we did a heck of a job [holding on to the lead]. You're up 10 [with just under 10 minutes left] and what you need is defense."
The Big South Conference has held eight tournaments, with the Highlanders winning seven.
Wilkey was named the tournament's MVP. Joining her on the all-tournament team were Ballinger (Radford), Samantha Gilbert (Radford), Henson (UNCG) and Moore (UNCG).
by CNB