Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, February 23, 1995 TAG: 9502230079
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: RANDY KING STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: BLACKSBURG LENGTH: Medium
Virginia Tech got a glimpse of women's college basketball's penthouse Wednesday night. And it wasn't a pretty picture for the Hokies.
Before a crowd of 5,000, the largest to witness a women's basketball game at Cassell Coliseum, the Hokies were smothered 66-33 by perennial national powerhouse Tennessee.
Tech, a good program trying to get better, never was a match for a Tennessee program that year-in and year-out ranks second to none in the country.
``They were bigger, stronger and faster than we were,'' said Tech star Jenny Root, who was held to a season-low seven points on 3-of-12 field-goal shooting.
``It was tough to battle for 40 minutes against somebody who outweighs you by about 60 to 70 pounds ... and I don't mean that bad, because it's all muscle.''
The Hokies (19-7) got dealt an Orange Crush, for sure. Tech's 33 points were the fewest in the 18-year history of the program. The previous low came in a 47-37 loss to James Madison in February 1977.
The Hokies shot a season-low 23.2 percent (13-of-56) from the field, including an abysmal 18.2 percent (6-of-33) in the second half. Tennessee outrebounded Tech 51-26.
``We got some good shots ... at the free-throw line,'' said Carol Alfano, Tech's coach. ``And we shot 40 percent from there where nobody was guarding us.
``We just couldn't buy a basket tonight. You're not going to beat many teams, especially a national contender like Tennessee, shooting like that.
``Offensively, we didn't play well at all. Defensively, we played pretty well, but we just couldn't rebound with them. They're just too big.''
Tech didn't grab its first rebound until the game was nearly 10 minutes old. By that point, it was 20-9 Tennessee.
The Lady Vols hit their first seven shots, and when they started misfiring it made no difference, because they collected every rebound.
Nevertheless, Tech trailed only 24-17 with 3 minutes, 9 seconds left in the first half.
``Once we got close, we thought we could get back in the game,'' said Tech's Christi Osborne, who suffered through a 4-of-16 shooting night.
``Everybody is going to have games where they can't hit. Unfortunately, we all had one on the same night.''
Trailing 24-17, Tech went the next 8:49 without a point. When the Hokies scored again on Angela Donnell's free throw with 14:20 left in the second half, Tennessee led 40-18.
Tech missed its first 11 shots of the second half before Martinsville's Cynthia Lee scored from the baseline with 12:01 left to make it 47-22.
It was Tennessee's 10th consecutive victory since being upset by Connecticut, ranked No.1.
``I hate to see UConn on our schedule if they beat them. Tennessee was enough,'' Root said.
Alfano said the game will help Tech, which must try to rebound before Louisville visits Blacksburg on Sunday. Tech can sew up its first Metro Conference regular-season title with a victory over the Cardinals.
``This game exposed some of our weaknesses, and we needed that,'' Alfano said. ``Now we know what we have to work on.
``Hey, Tennessee is the best we've seen. Their goal is a national championship. Ours is winning the Metro and and making the Sweet 16 [of the NCAA Tournament].''
by CNB