Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, November 17, 1995 TAG: 9511170039
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-6 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: DANIEL UTHMAN STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
The Cavaliers, ranked No.3 in The Associated Press' preseason poll, arguably have their best squad since the 1992 Final Four entry, but they also may have their toughest time getting back to the Final Four.
Virginia will have played three top 10 teams - No.6 Tennessee, No.2 Georgia and No.5 Vanderbilt - by Dec.9 The Cavaliers face No.16 Southern Cal on Dec.30, then begin their ACC schedule, which includes preseason No.12 N.C. State, No.17 Duke and No.23 North Carolina.
``It's by far the toughest schedule we've put together,'' coach Debbie Ryan said. ``I think it will tell us a lot about where we are.''
Wherever they end up, preseason All-American Wendy Palmer will take them there. Palmer, last season's ACC player of the year, will be joined by All-ACC second-teamer Jenny Boucek and junior guard Tora Suber as the Cavaliers' top talents.
``Tora has improved,'' Ryan said of the former ACC freshman of the year. ``I really like Tora's spontaneity.''
Sophomore forward Monick Foote and senior center Jeffra Gausepohl complete the starting lineup. Virginia's top newcomers are 6-4 forward Demya Walker - a consensus high school All-American - and 6-3 forward Lesley Brown.
``I would say this is one of the most athletic teams we have had,'' Ryan said. ``I think this year's team has a very good chance to challenge for a national championship.''
If it reaches the NCAA Tournament, Tech certainly will take a different path there. The Hokies are competing in the Atlantic 10 Conference for the first time this season, after many years in the Metro.
``The Metro was a good conference for women's basketball,'' said Carol Alfano, Tech's coach. ``The A-10 is a good conference. The 12 teams give you good exposure in different parts of the country.''
The Hokies have only one starter - senior point guard Terri Garland from Pulaski County - back from last season's 22-9 team. Junior Sherry Banks (William Byrd High School) will start beside Garland at shooting guard.
``Our guard play is really good,'' Alfano said.
The other projected starters are sophomores Michelle Hollister and Lynette Nolley at forward and senior Cynthia Lee at center.
``If Cynthia Lee has a good year, we will have a good year,'' Alfano said. ``Now she realizes she's the go-to person.''
Other than Garland, the starters have a total of five starts between them.
Following is a look at other collegiate women's programs in the region:
Like the Hokies, Radford opens the season with a third consecutive NCAA Tournament berth in mind. The Highlanders have won five consecutive Big South Conference titles, and their three returning starters - Candace Miles, Dede Logemann and Rebecca McNeil (Christiansburg) - will look to add another.
Top newcomers include guards Kim Hairston (Bassett), Shannon Graff and center Kim Cruise (Pulaski County).
The bad news for Ferrum is that the Panthers lost NCAA Division III's leading shot-blocker, Tamiko Martin, and one of the nation's top rebounders, Glossary Smith, from last season's team. The good news for Ferrum is that Dixie Conference tournament MVP Kia Williams is back. Williams, a preseason All-American, led Ferrum in scoring last season with 18.2 points per game.
Guards Latasha Randon and Marlo Ferguson-Jamison (Magna Vista) will try to help take the Panthers to another Dixie tournament title.
Susan Dunagan is trying to lead Roanoke to its 10th consecutive 20-victory season. The Lady Maroons have won five consecutive Old Dominion Athletic Conference titles, and their .790 winning percentage during the past decade ranks among the NCAA's top 10.
All-ODAC guard Marcee Hufton, from William Byrd, returns to keep Roanoke at the top. Hufton averaged 13.1 points and 3.2 assists per game last season and made 44 percent of her 3-point attempts.
Another William Byrd alumnus, Karen Harvey, takes over as coach at Hollins. Harvey was the 1991 ODAC player of the year at Roanoke College. She will rely on 5-8 junior Sara Tweedy's versatility to spark the team. Freshman Tonya Holmes, from Northside, will run the point. Sophomore Amy Worley (Blacksburg) and freshman Angie Johnson (James River) will control the paint.
Washington and Lee has three seniors ... and eight freshmen. Fortunately for the Generals, one of the seniors is Sandra Holmes, the school's all-time leading scorer. Amber Hinkle and Jennifer Higgins, both freshmen, will anchor the frontcourt from day one.
``Our talent level has doubled in just one season,'' said Terri Dadio, W&L's third-year coach.
by CNB