ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Sunday, March 24, 1996 TAG: 9603250076
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C-6 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: CHARLOTTESVILLE
SOURCE: DOUG DOUGHTY STAFF WRITER
For public consumption, Virginia women's basketball coach Debbie Ryan had been saying she had no idea how her Virginia women's basketball team would defend Old Dominion's 5-foot-11 point guard, Ticha Penicheiro.
In her mind, Ryan had known all week.
And, UVa senior Jenny Boucek had known longer.
``Ever since I saw they were going to be in our region, I've wanted to guard her,'' Boucek said. ``When I asked Debbie if I could guard her, she said she'd already made the decision.''
Boucek usually defends an opponent's shooting guard, but, at 5-8, she was the Cavaliers' best option against Penicheiro, a member of the Portuguese National Team who was chosen as player of the year in the Colonial Athletic Association.
Penicheiro is not Old Dominion's primary scorer, but seldom has she been as ineffective as she was Saturday, when she had two field goals in the Lady Monarchs' 72-60 loss to Virginia in an East Regional semifinal.
``I don't know the last time I guarded a point guard,'' Boucek said, ``but it wasn't that different for me. I wasn't trying to shut her down or anything. I was just trying to make her work hard [and] at least let her know that I was out there. She made some great plays, like she always did, but she had to work for it.''
Penicheiro had seven assists, compared with two turnovers, but she was no threat to score.
``I felt Jenny Boucek, with her play on Penicheiro, was the difference in the game,'' Ryan said. ``She really didn't want to give her up the entire game.''
Wendy Larry, ODU's coach, pointed out that Penicheiro has been fighting a respiratory problem and said she could not remember a time when Penicheiro had been as tentative.
``Jenny did a good job on me,'' Penicheiro said, ``but I didn't think I played my best. I could probably [have tried] to be more aggressive on offense, but she took that away from me.''
Boucek has not been known for her offense, failing to take more than six shots in any of Virginia's previous six games, but she contributed 11 points in going over the 1,000-point mark for her career.
She can score, but defense is the focus of her game.
``I don't know why,'' Boucek said, ``but during the regular season, when [the Lady Monarchs] were on TV a lot, I just had a got feeling they were going to be in our regional.
``Whenever I see great players, great talents [like Penicheiro], I always kind of wish I could play them. I knew if I asked Debbie, she would at least let me try, but I really didn't have to ask.
``That's what she had in mind anyway.''
LENGTH: Medium: 56 linesby CNB