
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: MONDAY, February 27, 1995                   TAG: 9502280051
SECTION: SPORTS                    PAGE: B-2   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: CHARLOTTESVILLE                                LENGTH: Medium

UVA WOMEN POST 16-0 RECORD IN ACC

Sixth-ranked Virginia (22-3) completed an undefeated march Sunday through the Atlantic Coast Conference, beating Maryland 56-41, for a 16-0 mark in the ACC - something no men's or women's team in the league has ever done.

Virginia never trailed but dropped off in the second half after making 54 percent of its field-goal attempts in the first half for a 33-17 halftime lead. After the break, the Cavaliers dipped to 35 percent.

``I didn't expect to struggle like we did, but I think that it has been a difficult two weeks, because when you've already won the race, it's difficult to keep running,'' Cavaliers coach Debbie Ryan said. ``We needed to get this over with in order to get on with it.''

Jeffra Gausepohl led Virginia with 15 points, including six in a first-half run that put Virginia out of Maryland's reach.

Gausepohl hit a free throw with 12 minutes, 6 seconds remaining in the first half to make it 13-4. That ignited a 16-3 run with Gausepohl scoring six points and Monick Foote getting four. That left Virginia on top 29-7 with 5:10 to play before halftime.

In the second half, Maryland cut the lead to single digits just once, when Stephanie Cross scored a running jumper with 18:30 left to make it 33-24.

Virginia's Wendy Palmer, scoreless in the first half, dominated after the break with two 3-pointers and a total of nine points.

``I don't think there is any doubt of how critical Wendy Palmer has been to this team, and that she has carried it all year long,'' Ryan said.

The Cavaliers held Maryland to 26 percent field-goal shooting for the game.

Gausepohl was the only Cavalier in double figures. Foote, Tora Suber, Jenny Boucek and Amy Lofstedt each scored six. Palmer finished with 10 rebounds.

Cross was the only player to reach double digits for Maryland, which lost its eighth consecutive game. Sonia Chase contributed nine points and nine rebounds, and Keisha Camper had 12 rebounds.

by CNB