ROANOKE TIMES 
                      Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times

DATE: Sunday, March 16, 1997                 TAG: 9703180030
SECTION: SPORTS                   PAGE: C3   EDITION: METRO 
DATELINE: CHARLOTTESVILLE 
SOURCE: DOUG DOUGHTY THE ROANOKE TIMES

UVA WOMEN WROTE BOOK ON HOME-COURT ADVANTAGE UTAH WOULD TIE SCHOOL RECORD WITH UPSET VICTORY

The Cavaliers have an enviable record at University Hall in the NCAA Tournament.

If Utah looks at the basketball record books, it will notice University Hall hasn't been a favorable setting for teams trying to beat Virginia in the women's NCAA Tournament.

However, the Utes have nothing bad to say about the place, not after they held off Iowa State 66-57 on Friday for their first victory in NCAA Tournament play.

No Division I women's team had played in as many NCAA Tournament games without a victory as Utah, which was 0-7 before Friday night. In fact, no other team was worse than 0-3.

``It feels good never to be asked about that ever again,'' said Elaine Elliott, in her 14th season as the Utes' coach. ``But I put it away personally about five or six years ago.

``When you're younger, those things tend to matter and you tend to be validated by the wrong thing. But I could have quit coaching tomorrow and felt pretty good about what the program has done.''

Elliott, with an overall record of 281-126, has nine seasons with at least 20 victories. The victory over Iowa State made the Utes to 25-5 this season, one victory shy of the school record.

If that record is equaled today, it will be a big story. The Utes, seeded fifth in the West Regional, face a program that has won 17 of 19 NCAA Tournament games at University Hall.

Tip-off is 7:08 p.m.

Fourth-seeded UVa (22-7) got a season-high 26 points from Monick Foote in dispatching Troy State (Ala.) 96-74 in the first round. It was the 25th women's NCAA Tournament victory for UVa.

Foote's production was viewed as a bonus by UVa coach Debbie Ryan, who feared at midweek that a sprained ankle would keep Foote out of the game. Foote played 30 minutes, as much as any UVa starter.

Utah had four scorers in double figures against Iowa State, topped by point guard Alli Bills, who had 16 points and nine assists. Junior Julie Krommenhoek, who had 12 points, is the WAC's all-time leader in 3-point field goals.

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