ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Sunday, March 2, 1997 TAG: 9703040012
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C-5 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: CHARLOTTE, N.C.
TYPE: ACC WOMEN'S TOURNAMENT
SOURCE: FROM ASSOCIATED PRESS REPORTS
Sixth-seeded Clemson came away with a bizarre 77-75 victory in an ACC women's tournament semifinal Saturday when a potential winning 3-pointer by Virginia's Mimi McKinney became lodged between the rim and backboard as overtime expired.
After Natasha Anderson's fast-break layup put the Tigers ahead to stay with 12 seconds left, 13th-ranked Virginia brought the ball upcourt and gave it to McKinney on the right wing. Unable to work herself free of a double-team, McKinney jumped straight up about 25 feet from the basket and launched her 3-point try.
The ball jammed between the right side of the rim and the backboard, sending the Cavaliers crumpling to the floor in disbelief and the Clemson players running off to celebrate.
The Tigers (19-9) defeated UVa for the fifth time in six games and set up a shot at their second consecutive ACC tournament championship.
Clemson's opponent in today's title game will be top-seeded and fifth-ranked North Carolina, a 66-55 winner over Duke. The Tar Heels, winners of two of the past three ACC crowns, defeated Clemson by 12 and seven points in their two regular-season meetings.
Laura Cottrell had 21 points to lead Clemson, which also got 15 from Anderson and 13 from Amy Geren.
Second-seeded Virginia (21-7) was seeking its fourth ACC title this decade. McKinney led the Cavaliers with 21 points and 12 rebounds. Tora Suber had 13 points, Tiffany Bower 12 and DeMya Walker 10.
In the other semifinal game:
No .5 North Carolina 66, No. 25 Duke 55: Marion Jones had 23 points to send the Tar Heels to a victory over the Blue Devils. Jones added five rebounds, three steals and two assists as North Carolina (26-2) moved to the brink of its third conference tournament title in four years.
Fourth-seeded Duke (18-10) held North Carolina to a season-low 35 percent shooting and got 24 points and nine rebounds from Kira Orr, but the Blue Devils lost to the Tar Heels for the third time this season.
The Tar Heels, trying to become the first top seed to win the tournament since 1993, got little help from Tracy Reid, the ACC's player of the year. She hadn't made fewer than five field goals or shot worse than 33 percent all season, but Duke limited her to 14 points on 4-of-16 shooting.
There were nine lead changes and nine ties before North Carolina went on a 10-4 run, getting the final four points from Jones, for a 49-42 lead with 8:22 remaining.
LENGTH: Medium: 53 linesby CNB