Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, March 18, 1995 TAG: 9503210040
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-5 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: RAY COX STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
But that was before the Gators whipped Radford 89-49 and before Virginia's death-defying 71-68 encounter with Dartmouth on Thursday night in the first round of the East Region.
``We try to warn the players about everything,'' Florida coach Carol Ross said Friday, before leaving for an off-day practice session at University Hall in Charlottesville. ``We know Virginia, and we know what they're capable of. You have to play to their potential. They're probably a better team than they're ranked.''
The Gators, seeded sixth in the East, will find out for sure when they play third-seeded Virginia at 7:30 p.m. today at U-Hall. The winner advances to a regional semifinal March 23 in Storrs, Conn.
The Cavaliers (25-4) came into the tournament ranked No.4 in the Associated Press poll, but that certainly didn't seem to concern the Ivy League-champion Dartmouth, which led 54-53 with 9:15 left Thursday and was within striking distance the rest of the way.
``In my experience, games like this probably help you in the NCAA Tournament,'' said Debbie Ryan, the Cavaliers' coach.
She ought to know, having assembled a 19-11 record that includes appearances in each of the past 12 NCAA women's tournaments.
Florida, by contrast, has played in the past three, progressing beyond the first round only in 1993. Coincidentally, Virginia was the opponent and the game was at U-Hall. The Cavs prevailed 69-55.
``This team has a lot more experience and we're a lot more ready to play than we were two years ago,`` Ross said.
The Gators assuredly were ready against Radford, outrebounding the Highlanders 53-29, forcing 21 turnovers - 10 of those on steals - and holding Radford to 30 percent field-goal shooting.
Florida (24-8) was stout from start to finish.
``It just happened that we played extremely well,'' Ross said. ``Hopefully, that's something we can sustain.''
Virginia didn't play that poorly against Dartmouth. The Cavaliers had a 43-27 advantage on the backboards and committed only 13 turnovers. The story, though, was the Big Green.
``Dartmouth was very heady,'' Ross said. ``They didn't have many mistakes on their own. You had to make them make mistakes.''
Dartmouth had only 11 turnovers and shot 55.6 percent from 3-point range (5-for-9) in the second half.
``We were either thinking too much or not thinking enough; I'm not sure which,'' Ryan said.
Virginia got another great game out of Wendy Palmer, the ACC player of the year, who scored 26 points and grabbed 17 rebounds. The Cavaliers' No.2 scorer for the season, 6-foot-6 center Jeffra Gausepohl, was held to six points, more than six off her average.
``At times, we were out of sync offensively,'' Ryan said.
Florida should match up well with Virginia, particularly guard-forward Merlaika Jones and center DeLisha Milton. Jones had 16 points and 10 rebounds and Milton 16 points and 11 rebounds against Radford. Lubomyr Lichonczak, the Highlanders' coach, called Jones a legitimate Kodak All-America candidate.
Florida has three veterans of the 1993 game at Virginia: forward Takilya Davis, guard Crystal Parker and Jones.
``I'm not sure what they can do to help the younger players who haven't been here before,'' Ross said.
by CNB