THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, January 24, 1995 TAG: 9501240376
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JULIE GOODRICH, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: Medium: 91 lines
When Old Dominion takes on No. 2 Tennessee tonight, it will be one of the Lady Monarchs' last chances to stake a claim for national recognition.
``From the beginning of the season, one of our goals has been to gain respect out of our conference,'' said senior co-captain Beth McGowan. ``We feel like we should be in the top 25, but we've had some opportunities against top-ranked teams where we didn't come through.
``Now we have the chance to take care of business.''
From the moment ODU defeated Texas, a 73-70 victory that handed the Lady Longhorns only their 24th loss on their home floor since 1977, the Lady Monarchs have been clamoring for respect.
Old Dominion had the recognition it hungered for when the victory over Texas propelled the team into a No. 25 ranking in the CNN-USA TODAY coaches' poll. But the glory was short-lived, as losses to Texas Tech and Oklahoma State in the San Juan Shootout dropped the Lady Monarchs out of the rankings.
Since then, they've won nine in a row, including lopsided conference victories over American, George Mason and Richmond, and a close win over preseason CAA favorite James Madison.
But for coach Wendy Larry and her players, it's become apparent that blowing out conference foes isn't good enough. Like it or not, the true measure of a program on a national scale lies in the poll rankings, and the best way to impress the voters is with strong showings over well-respected teams.
For Old Dominion, there's no time like the present.
``For regional and national notoriety, . . . the bottom line is that the rankings are important,'' Larry said. ``This is a great opportunity for us to compete from every standpoint you can think of against the team that was a unanimous No. 1 pick in the preseason.''
ODU, currently ranked 31st in The Associated Press' poll, scored a hard-fought victory over Duke early in the season in the finals of the Dial Classic. The Lady Monarchs momentarily vaulted ahead of Duke in the rankings, but the No. 21 Blue Devils are back out in front.
Old Dominion - the Rodney Dangerfield's of women's basketball.
``I really don't understand it, but then I'm new at this whole poll thing,'' said freshman Amber Eller. ``Maybe it's our conference, but I just don't get how Duke can be ahead of us if we beat them.
``Tennessee is probably our best chance yet to prove ourselves.''
There are other things besides personal pride and national recognition on the line for Old Dominion tonight. A solid game against the Lady Vols could have an impact on the team for years to come.
``It's important from a recruiting standpoint. Young players see the polls and won-loss records in USA Today and take it as gospel,'' Larry said.
According to Tennessee coach Pat Summitt, regarded as one of the premier coaches in college basketball, the way for a team to raise its stock is simple in theory, if not in practice.
``How people really get the quickest respect is by playing ranked teams and being successful,'' she said. ``Your conference can hurt you in some cases, so the head-to-head matchups are very important.''
If ODU's chances of swaying the poll voters have been few and far between, Tennessee's schedule reads like a ``Who's Who'' of women's basketball.
Louisiana Tech, Stanford, Penn State, Colorado and Vanderbilt were all in the top 10 nationally when they lost to the Lady Vols. Tennessee has faced nine ranked teams and is scheduled to face six more. By the time the season is over, 22 of the Lady Vols' games will have been against opponents who at one time were among the nation's elite.
``Certainly every time we take the floor, people are extremely motivated and have opportunity for gain,'' Summitt said.
Tennessee ran out to a 16-0 record, its best start under Summitt, and has dropped only one game this season, a 77-66 loss on the road last week at then-No. 2 Connecticut.
The Lady Monarchs have lost just two games and are undefeated at home.
Something has to give.
``If we believe in ourselves, put forth a lot of effort and play with our hearts, we'll do well,'' said ODU point guard Ticha Penicheiro. ``They think they're favored and that it's going to be an easy game, but they don't know what we've got in store for them.'' ILLUSTRATION: Color file photo
Point guard Michelle Marciniak, who averages five-plus assists a
game, triggers a Tennessee attack that features five starters
scoring in double figures.
B\W photo
Tennessee's Pat Summitt: ``How people get the quickest respect is by
playing ranked teams and being successful.''
by CNB