Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, December 2, 1994 TAG: 9412020086
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B6 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: RANDY KING STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: BLACKSBURG LENGTH: Medium
The Hokies weren't about to run off the road again. Not against backyard rival Radford. Not in their home opener.
``We were bound to come out very focused tonight,'' Tech senior center Jenny Root said.
``After what happened to us in Ohio [a 67-66 overtime loss in which Tech committed 40 turnovers] it didn't matter who was next. We were going to make somebody pay.''
With 800 fans at Cassell Coliseum, the Hokies took up collection, routing the cold-shooting Lady Highlanders 72-42.
Root and senior forward Christi Osborne led Tech with 16 points apiece. Senior forward Stephanie Carter came off the bench to supply 10 points and a game-high nine rebounds.
Tech (2-2) took care of business in a hurry, slapping a 19-point run on the visitors midway in the first half to expand a two-point lead into a 28-7 cushion.
The 6-foot-3 Root had all but two of her points in the first half, most coming off easy hoops on the baseline.
``Jenny Root just dominated in the first half,'' Tech coach Carol Alfano said. ``And Carter came off the bench and was just fantastic. She was around every loose ball and made a huge difference.''
Although her club got sloppy at times, Alfano was simply glad to see a fire burning again. That wasn't the case in Athens, Ohio, on Monday, where the Hokies lost a game they were supposed to win.
``We played probably the worst game we've played in four years,'' Alfano said. ``It was really bad. And it was everybody, not just one. We just didn't show up.
``And we're not good enough to do that. We can't be daydreaming or sleepwalking and expect to beat somebody.
``Our pride was so wounded and we needed to come out fast. I put the challenge in front of the players and they responded.''
Osborne said the Tech team on Thursday ``wasn't the same bunch that showed up'' at Ohio U.
``We had done a lot wrong and we needed to fix some things,'' Osborne said. ``There was absolutely no way we were going to play like that again.''
After its early run to take command, the Hokies never were pushed. Radford got no closer than 15 in the second half.
The Lady Highlanders took the low road by committing 33 turnovers, many off Tech's press, and shooting 26.2 percent from the field (16-of-61). The 42 points was RU's lowest output since 1986-87, when it scored 36 in a loss to James Madison.
Radford coach Luby Lichonczak, whose club -like Tech - made the NCAA Tournament last season, said he knew what was coming. He just couldn't do anything to stop it.
``They got after us pretty hard,'' Lichonczak said. ``I kind of expected it after they kind of took it on the chin from OU. I thought they'd come out like gangbusters and that's exactly what they did.''
New Zealander Nicole Gardiner paced Radford with 14 points. No other Lady Highlander had more than six.
Tech senior point guard Lisa Leftwich made her season's debut, getting one point in seven minutes of spot duty. Leftwich, who has started 70 games at the point in her career, missed Tech's first three games while allowing a stress fracture in her right heel to heal.
``Lisa just came back [Wednesday],'' Alfano said. ``We're planning on giving her a few minutes here and a few there so she'll be at full strength for the tournament in Puerto Rico [San Juan Shootout from Dec. 18-20].''
It was Tech's 26th straight regular-season home win.
by CNB