THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, March 11, 1995 TAG: 9503110427
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY PATTI WALSH, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: Medium: 63 lines
The last time Wingate College and Norfolk State met in the NCAA tournament's South Atlantic Regional, the Lady Bulldogs left their home court stunned after an 83-80 overtime loss in the final.
But this year, in Friday's semifinal, Wingate sent the Spartanettes off their home court and out of the NCAAs in utter disbelief with a 70-68 win at Echols Arena.
Norfolk State finished its season at 25-5.
``We didn't play hard defense,'' Norfolk State point guard and four-year star Lisa Rice said. ``I think we felt the game was over.''
But it wasn't over until the very end, when Rice's shot to send it to overtime failed.
With 1.0 second to play, Norfolk State got the got the ball just over halfcourt and called a timeout to set up a play for Rice.
LaTina Bullock's inbounds pass was a bit off, forcing Rice to take a step back. She got up a 12-foot jumper that bounced off the glass.
``With one second, you have to catch the ball and get it off,'' Norfolk State coach James Sweat said. ``We self destructed all night long. We just made mistake after mistake.''
The Lady Bulldogs made the Spartanettes pay for them.
Wingate (25-5) didn't take its first lead until 25 seconds were left to play, when Cynthia Thomas sank the front end of a one-and-one.
It was Thomas' second attempt, after Kristi Greene stepped in the lane on Thomas' initial missed shot.
On the ensuing Norfolk State possession, Greene had a chance to give the Spartanettes the lead when she was fouled by Lori Reaves putting up a rebound.
But Greene, a 74 percent free throw shooter, missed both shots.
Wingate's Andrea Grissett was fouled on the rebound and hit the front end of a one-and-one to put the Lady Bulldogs up by two, 70-68, to close the scoring.
``We were extremely fortunate to pull it out,'' Wingate coach Johnny Jacumin said. ``With one second on the clock, we'll take our chances. They got the shot off. Luckily, they weren't successful.
Norfolk State, which had five players in double figures, outplayed Wingate on most of the stat sheet. The Spartanettes outrebounded the Lady Bulldogs, 53-46, and shot 44 percent to Wingate's 39 from the field.
Greene led the Spartanettes with 15 points and a game-high 18 rebounds.
Trina Blair, Rolanda Dent and Danielle Hill had 11 points apiece and Rice chipped in 10.
Reaves led Wingate with 16 points and Nessy Brewer and Thomas each contributed 11.
Wingate advances to tonight's 7:30 p.m. final against South Carolina-Spartanburg, a 73-53 winner over Longwood. ILLUSTRATION: Photo by LAWRENCE JACKSON, Staff
Wingate's Andrea Grissett, left, and Norfolk State's Kristi Greene
let a loose ball get away in the Spartanettes' loss Friday.
by CNB