ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Thursday, December 12, 1996 TAG: 9612120040
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-2 EDITION: METRO
COLUMN: COLLEGE BASKETBALL
SOURCE: FROM STAFF AND ASSOCIATED PRESS REPORTS
Radford couldn't have picked a better time to get its first women's basketball victory of the season.
The Highlanders shot a season-high 55.9 percent from the floor and ended the worst start in school history with an 84-83 win over Virginia Tech at Cassell Coliseum on Wednesday night.
Radford (1-6), which had lost a team-record seven straight games dating back to last season's loss to Tennessee in the NCAA Tournament, put six players in double digits in beating Tech for the second straight year. The Highlanders led 84-77 with 24 seconds left before Tech got 3-pointers from Sherry Banks (William Byrd) and Missy Lemons.
Tech shot just 39 percent in the game and Radford held a 48-32 rebounding edge.
``This was a tremendous win for us,'' said Radford coach Lubomyr Lichonczak, who is 3-4 against the Hokies. ``I think the girls are beginning to see that their hard work will pay off for them. We did a lot of things well. We rebounded better, we got after them defensively and we spread the scoring around.''
Wilma Walton scored 17 points for Radford before leaving the game with 10:47 left after colliding with a Hokie and sustaining a gash to her forehead that needed eight stitches and left her with a slight concussion. Kelli Tull added 16 points, Kim Cruise (Pulaski County) 14, Kim Hairston (Bassett) 13 and Nakia Bridges 10.
Kim Seaver led Tech (2-4) with 21 points and fellow freshman Amy Wetzel added 18.
``We didn't play well overall, but especially on defense,'' said Tech coach Carol Alfano. ``Give Radford credit, they shot the ball well and did the things needed to win.''
Men
No. 1 Kansas 85, George Washington 56: At Lawrence, Kan., Jerod Haase scored 22 points and the Jayhawks blew open the game early in the second half to rout the Colonials.
Kansas (8-0) reeled off a 25-4 run in the first 7:28 of the second half to pull away from GW (5-3). Haase scored nine points in that run with a 3-pointer, two driving layups, and a breakaway dunk after Paul Pierce picked up a loose ball and made a blind lob toward the basket.
Raef LaFrentz added 12 points and nine rebounds for Kansas.
Pro scouts were on hand to see Kansas' frontline take on George Washington center Alexander Koul, projected to be a top NBA pick. Koul led the Colonials with 16 points and seven rebounds, but had a tough time inside.
No. 5 Michigan 76, St. John's 61: In Uniondale, N.Y., Maurice Taylor and Robert Traylor took over for the Wolverines after the Red Storm grabbed their only lead of the second half.
After St. John's (2-3) took a 47-46 lead with 11:59 to play, Taylor and Traylor sparked a 16-5 run for the Wolverines (6-0).
No. 6 Iowa State 74, Drake 50: In Ames, Iowa, Kelvin Cato used a decided height advantage inside to score a career-high 21 points for the Cyclones.
Cato made 10 of 17 shots, including seven straight at one point, and grabbed 13 rebounds as Iowa State (5-0) beat Drake (0-6), its in-state rival, for the 11th straight time.
No. 14 Duke 85, Davidson 58: In Durham, N.C., the Blue Devils regained their outside touch and running game during a second-half spurt against the Wildcats.
Duke (6-2) got a season-high 22 points from Greg Newton to beat Davidson (4-3) for the 10th straight time.
No. 22 Louisville 80, Dayton 67: In Louisville, Ky., DeJuan Wheat scored 18 of his 25 points in the second half as the Cardinals beat the Flyers for the 19th straight time.
Louisville (5-0) shot 55 percent from the field. Ryan Perryman had 22 points and 10 rebounds for the Flyers.
St. Bonaventure 89, Morgan St. 54: In Olean, N.Y., Rashaan Palmer scored 23 points as the Bonnies (3-1) racked up its largest margin of victory in two years with the rout of Morgan State.
Va. Commonwealth 79, SW Louisiana 59: In Richmond, Torrance Archie led five Rams in double figures, hitting all nine of his field goals for a career-high 18 points as VCU (2-2) opened the game with a 13-0 run en route to an easy win over the Ragin' Cajuns.
Emory & Henry 78, Washington and Lee 73: In Lexington, center Jason Light (Floyd County) scored 26 points and grabbed 13 rebounds as the Wasps (1-4, 1-1) stung the Generals.
W&L (2-6, 1-2 ODAC) lost a chance to tie when Kelly Dyer's 3-point attempt rimmed out with less than 10 seconds left.
Bridgewater 71, Hampden-Sydney 69: At Hampden-Sydney, Scott Powers broke through the defense for a layup with five seconds remaining as the Eagles (6-0, 1-0 ODAC) beat the Tigers (6-1, 2-1).
Notes
Indiana coach Bob Knight doesn't want a Big Ten basketball tournament but says if there is going to be one, the conference should at least reward the players and their families with tickets and lodging for the games.
He said the conference ``ought to be the forerunner in providing each kid that plays in that tournament with two tickets to the site of the game and hotel reservations for his parents.''
Knight said players and family should get similar help for the NCAA tournament, including meal money and free transportation.
LENGTH: Medium: 97 linesby CNB