Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: MONDAY, February 6, 1995 TAG: 9502060085
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: DOUG DOUGHTY STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: CHAPEL HILL, N.C. LENGTH: Medium
Her other memories of the afternoon won't be as pleasant.
A record UNC women's crowd of 9,540 and a network television audience watched 12th-ranked Virginia establish control early in the second half and pull away for an 88-78 victory. It was UVa's second victory in six days over the Tar Heels, the defending national champions.
``The thing that makes it more satisfying is that we came into No.3's homecourt, [before] the biggest crowd they've had in the history of the program, and were able to win,'' said Debbie Ryan, UVa's coach. ``It shows we've taken a big step.''
Make no mistake, this was no ordinary third-ranked team. This was the team that defeated UVa in the ACC championship game last year and, in winning the national championship, captured the crown that had eluded the Cavaliers in three consecutive trips to the women's Final Four.
``I told our kids that right now we've got to face the facts: Virginia is a better team than we are,'' Hatchell said. ``But, I did say right now. Maybe we`re setting the stage for a repeat of last year. That's all we've got to look forward to.''
Of the five games that Carolina has lost in the past two seasons, four have come to Virginia. UVa has won 19 of its last 21 games with the Tar Heels and, most incredibly, has won 33 of its last 34 ACC regular-season games.
Carolina, an 80-64 loser to the Cavaliers last Monday night in Charlottesville, seemed bent on revenge when it opened a 15-4 lead to the delight of its partisan crowd.
``I was a little upset because I didn't feel we were fundamentally sound,'' said Ryan, describing her mood during the first timeout. ``I questioned their character a little bit. That's about all it took.''
After falling behind 20-10, Virginia went on an 8-0 run that got the Cavaliers back into the game. There were eight lead changes before Wendy Palmer hit a 3-pointer with 2.4 seconds left in the half to put UVa ahead 43-42.
Palmer, who entered the week as the ACC's leading scorer, scored two points in the first 19 minutes. Picking up the slack were 6-foot-6 junior Jeffra Gausepohl, who had 12 points at the half, and senior Charleata Beale, who added 10 off the bench.
The story of the second half was Monick (pronounced Mo-NEEK) Foote, a 6-foot freshman who had scored in double figures only two times. Foote finished with 20 points, 14 after halftime.
``Foote had 20?'' Hatchell said. ``I must not have been in the gym.
``She was the national high-school player of the year, so maybe they've been waiting for her to have a performance like that. I think everybody was expecting her to come in and be that kind of player.''
Foote's biggest shot was a 3-pointer from NBA range - a good three steps behind the college line - to give UVa a 77-63 lead with 6:15 left.
``There were seven seconds on the [shot] clock,'' said Foote, rejecting any notion that the shot was taken in desperation. ``I knew I was going to make it. I could feel it in my hand.''
Ryan pointed out that a Foote 3-pointer effectively buried the Tar Heels on Monday night.
``I've been expecting it [Foote's breakout] any game,'' Ryan said. ``I've seen her taken almost a complacent role; she's fit in almost too well. I've never seen her take a bad shot, which is very unusual for a freshman.''
A couple of 3-pointers and some missed Virginia free throws enabled Carolina to cut the deficit to 84-78 with 50.1 seconds remaining, but the Tar Heels did not score again in falling to 20-3 overall and 9-3 in the ACC. Carolina was led by senior forward Charlotte Smith, who matched her 31-point output from Monday night.
Virginia (18-3, 11-0) appeared unfazed by North Carolina's pre-game routine, which included a single-file walk around the outside of the court as the Cavaliers were stretching. The Tar Heels made their grand entrance through a banner positioned nearly in the middle of UVa's layup line.
``We weren't bothered by it,'' Beale said. ``Actually, we were looking for it. When it gets to people is when they don't know about Carolina and how [the Tar Heels] like to intimidate people.
``This was fun. We had some great times this week, but it's just two games - the same two games we won from them last year. Now we have to beat them when it counts.''
by CNB