Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, March 17, 1994 TAG: 9403170121
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Jack Bogaczyk
DATELINE: BLACKSBURG LENGTH: Medium
Twice as many spectators came to Cassell Coliseum on Wednesday night as had appeared for any other game in Hokies history. The 3,734 saw Auburn end Tech's 25-game home-floor winning streak with an inside job.
As much as anything, the Tigers' 60-51 first-round victory was rooted in the difference between a program that's been at the top and one that would like to get there someday.
Auburn was quicker and bigger and from a league - the Southeastern Conference - that's the best in women's basketball. In the 13-year history of the NCAA women's tournament, the SEC has 73 bids, 24 more than the second-best, the ACC.
The sixth-place finisher in the SEC beat the Metro Conference tournament champion, and the seeds may not say it, but this was no upset.
The Hokies (24-6) were seeded eighth in the East Region, one spot ahead of the Tigers (20-9), in their 11th NCAA Tournament in 13 years. Tech's score matched its season low - against SEC champion and top-ranked Tennessee two months ago.
Tech was trying with futility to beat a team from a different league in more ways than one.
"We talked about that with our team, trying to get to the next level," said Hokies coach Carol Alfano, who was more thrilled about the atmosphere than she was disappointed in defeat. "And that team is definitely at the next level."
It could have been worse. Tennessee beat North Carolina A&T by 74 points in a first-round knockout, Penn State beat Fordham by 53 points and Radford lost by 47 to Purdue.
Only Tennessee and Louisiana Tech, with seven Final Four appearances - have been to the national semifinals more times than Auburn's three. The SEC has had 13 appearances in 12 Final Fours. The Metro has never had a team advance past the second round.
"Tonight, maybe there was too much at stake," said Alfano, whose 16th season was the best in Tech history. "Maybe we tried too hard. Auburn was just so quick to the ball. They rebounded with abandon."
Auburn was without one starter, and another played sparingly because of back spasms. The Tigers still had too much speed and power for the Hokies. Still, Tech refused to be run out of its own building.
While coach Joe Ciampi's team was dominating inside, mostly because of Danielette Coleman's 24 points and 12 rebounds, the Tigers' guards were helping Tech keep it close.
Pam Smith was 0-for-13, but it didn't matter because when the Hokies had their opportunity to climb back into the game, they threw it away. Tech cut its deficit to 50-43 with nine minutes left, then committed turnovers on nine of its next 12 possessions.
How dominant were the Tigers inside? Tech center and scoring leader Jenny Root scored only three points, her low in 55 games as a starter. Because she had no pump-fake, she couldn't get off her shot and Auburn's board dominance prevented Root from rebounding for garbage points.
Ciampi was forced to give 6-foot-6 Margo Raubo her first start because 6-3 Monique Morehouse had back spasms, but it was the Hokies who were hurt by that. Auburn, which averages 2.8 blocks per game, had six by halftime.
At the other end of the floor, Tech couldn't - or wouldn't - front Auburn's post players despite pleas from the sideline. Physically, it was an impossible task.
Tech also learned something other NCAA rookies have in the past, something men's teams such as Liberty will find in the next two days, too.
In the NCAA Tournament, the style of play is more physical. The officials let push come to shove more often than during the regular season.
Despite the defeat, the Hokies never will forget their first NCAA date at the Sock Hop for 64.
"Going out, it was unbelieveable," Alfano said of the crowd. "We're novices here. When we were coming in tonight, we were out in the parking lot and there were people out there.
"Maybe they weren't tailgating, but they were getting shakers out of their trunk. There were Hokies fans. They were in maroon. It was an unbelieveable experience."
And, a learning one.
by CNB