ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Monday, March 10, 1997 TAG: 9703120029
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: DOUG DOUGHTY THE ROANOKE TIMES
Virginia is home in the first - and potentially second - round of the NCAA Tournament.
The Virginia women's basketball team will open the NCAA Tournament at home in hopes of following the Cavaliers' men to the Rocky Mountains.
Coach Debbie Ryan's team was seeded fourth in the West Region and will meet Troy (Ala.) State on Friday night at University Hall.
At-large selections Utah (24-5) and Iowa State (17-11) will tip off at 6:06 p.m. in the first game of a doubleheader. The game between UVa (21-7) and Troy State (22-6) will begin 30 minutes after the end of the first game.
It is the 14th consecutive NCAA invitation for the UVa women, who have played host to a first-round game every year since 1986, although that was a bit iffy this year.
``I was very concerned about that,'' Ryan said. ``I figured it would be close, but I thought we would be at home as either a [No.]3 or 4 seed.''
Troy State, seeded 13th, made the field after winning the championship of the Mid-Continent Conference. The Lady Trojans are led by 6-3 junior Samantha Tomlinson, averaging 21.8 points and 8.4 rebounds, and 6-2 senior Mandy Armstrong, averaging 19.9 points and 8.4 rebounds.
The first-round game will come 13 days after UVa's loss to Clemson in an ACC semifinal, but Cavaliers junior Monick Foote continues to be hobbled by an ankle injury suffered before the tournament. She did not practice Sunday.
``I don't think the prognosis is really good for her right now,'' Ryan said.
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