ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Monday, March 25, 1996 TAG: 9603270096
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B5 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: CHARLOTTESVILLE
SOURCE: DOUG DOUGHTY STAFF WRITER
DOING COMMERCIALS isn't the UVa freshman's primary goal.
Virginia freshman DeMya Walker should need little introduction to the basketball fans who have been watching ESPN for the last month.
In the commercials for the women's Final Four, Walker is shown sizing up a free throw to the accompaniment of the theme from the Mary Tyler Moore Show, just before singer Joan Jett lets loose with an ``O-o-o-w-w-w.''
``I've only seen it twice,'' said Walker, a 6-foot-2 forward from Mount Holly, N.J., ``but I've probably been asked about it 100 times. My teammates are always singing `Brick House' or the Mary Tyler Moore song.''
Walker actually is in two commercials, the second set to ``Brick House,'' but she was only too happy to address another subject Saturday - her performance in a 72-60 victory over Old Dominion.
``DeMya came up with some huge plays for us,'' UVa coach Debbie Ryan said after Walker had 14 points, 12 rebounds and four blocked shots, and contributed to an outstanding defensive job on the Lady Monarchs' 6-5 Clarisse Machanguana, holding her to just seven points.
Although it was Walker's fifth ``double-double'' of the season, it was her first since Jan.24. She had gone nine games without scoring in double figures and 12 games without 10 or more rebounds.
``My inspiration today was my mom,'' Walker said. ``I called her right before the game and I asked her, `What do you think I can do?' She said, `DeMya, I have all the faith in the world in you.' She said a few extra things that are between me and my mother. Anything I can do to make her feel better, seeing that we're so close and I don't get to see her much, is worth it.''
Walker scored only two points in the first half; however, on ODU's first possession of the second half, she stepped into a passing lane for a steal and dribbled 60 feet for a layup.
``Defense is the best part of my game,'' said Walker, the ACC's leading shot-blocker. ``And, just like defense wins ballgames, defense generates my offense. Once I got a few blocks, I was feeling good.''
It's the kind of play Ryan was expecting when she recruited Walker, a second-team All-American in high school, and made her a starter from the first game.
``I'm not sure how heavily DeMya was recruited,'' Ryan said, ``but she caught my eye because she was so extremely athletic. I used to go watch her play in high school and she would just dominate games.
``She'd block every shot that was taken. She'd grab a rebound and go coast-to-coast. The things she did today were things I had seen her do in high school. I hadn't seen DeMya play like that until today.
``Maybe you come to college and you try to please your coach so much that you forget to play with your youthful enthusiasm. Today, she played like a kid who was freed from prison or something.''
Walker played with equal parts fearlessness and intelligence. After picking up her fourth foul with 13:14 remaining, she sat down until the 8:26 mark, then returned and played the rest of the way.
Walker scored six points after coming back, including a one-and-one while ODU was still in the game, trailing 65-56 with 2:06 left. Walker, who shot 49.2 percent from the free-throw line during the regular season, is 7-of-10 in NCAA Tournament play.
``Debbie and I have a free-throw game before every practice,'' she said. ``Every time now I'm standing at the line, I picture her standing in front of me, making noises and saying, `C'mon, DeMya, the pressure's on.'''
There has been little pressure from the commercials, which include teammates Monick Foote and Tora Suber and players from Tennessee, Connecticut and Lousiana Tech - the other teams in the Hall of Fame Classic.
``I don't get caught up in TV and drama and all that stuff,'' Walker said. ``What do you want me to say about [the commercial]? It's cute.''
LENGTH: Medium: 73 linesby CNB