THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, October 29, 1994 TAG: 9410290354
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C5 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY PATTI WALSH, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: Short : 38 lines
Since the inception of girls basketball in the Tidewater Conference of Independent Schools, Norfolk Academy has been the bridesmaid more times than coach Joanne Renn cares to remember. But that wasn't the case Friday night.
Norfolk Academy (17-0, 8-0) took a 20-point halftime lead and cruised to a 71-36 victory over Norfolk Collegiate (17-6, 7-2) for the Bulldogs' first-ever regular-season crown.
``I really didn't think about it that much,'' Renn said of her team's first title. ``I'm glad to go into the tournament as the top seed. It feels great to win the regular season.''
Sophomore guard Kendra Robins, who finished with 17 points, sparked a 19-4 third-quarter run and scored nine points in a two-minute span to put the game out of reach.
The Bulldogs' relentless man-to-man defense shut down the core of the Oaks' offense, allowing Norfolk Collegiate's top two scorers, Elizabeth Swearingen and Julie Tebault, just eight points apiece.
``Our key was to contain Elizabeth and Julie,'' Renn said. ``And I think we did a good job.''
Norfolk Collegiate couldn't seem to get things started until the final three minutes of the fourth quarter, when they came up with an 18-point spurt. But by then, it was too late.
Norfolk Academy's Catherine Ware led all scorers with 18 points and grabbed 15 rebounds.
The conference tournament gets under way Wednesday at Catholic High School. by CNB