THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, March 23, 1996 TAG: 9603230447
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY VICKI L. FRIEDMAN, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: CHARLOTTESVILLE LENGTH: Medium: 94 lines
The NCAA tournament committee accomplished what Old Dominion and the University of Virginia have been unable to do on their own - put the state's two premier women's basketball teams on the same court.
The second-seeded Lady Monarchs (29-2) and the third-seeded Cavaliers (25-6) meet at 2 p.m. today in Charlottesville to decide which team advances to the Elite Eight.
``I just had this gut feeling we were going to play them,'' said U.Va. guard Jenny Boucek of today's Eastern Region semifinal.
They haven't met since 1991. Earlier this week, ODU coach Wendy Larry said it was because the Cavaliers wouldn't play in Norfolk.
On Friday, she softened her stance, saying scheduling problems prevented a matchup.
Whatever the reason, Larry concedes, ``we'll have to play our best game of the season'' to beat Virginia. But the Lady Monarchs have won their last 19 and are in the Sweet 16 for the first time in nine years.
A win today would continue ODU's rise back into national prominence, old hat for a Virginia team that has been in three Final Fours since 1990.
``We've broken into the top 25 a few times, but we've never gotten any respect,'' said ODU senior Sarah Willyerd. ``It's always been `Virginia, Virginia, U.Va.'s in the regional. It's nice to have some recognition finally.''
U.Va. and ODU have remarkably similar styles on-court; inside-outside, uptempo teams who love to be physical on defense and are led by outstanding point guards.
ODU's playmaker, Ticha Penicheiro is the CAA Player of the Year. Her prowess is measured in how she elevates her teammates rather than her own 9.0-point average. Her passes have been awe-inspiring at times and she ranks ninth nationally in assists.
Virginia's Tora Suber keeps her teammates involved offensively while remaining a threat herself. She was the Cavs' leading scorer in 10 of the last 12 games with 24.8 ppg. She is shooting 54.4 percent from the field.
Suber, whose team is coming off big wins over Manhattan and George Washington in the first two rounds, says the Cavaliers have renewed confidence after regular-season losses to Clemson and Duke. Clemson also shocked U.Va. in the ACC tournament semifinals 75-67 for a season sweep. But U.Va. is the only ACC team still in the tournament.
``Where are those teams now?'' Suber asked of Clemson and Duke. ``We're now at the point where we refuse to lose just like John Calipari said. We live and die by that quote.''
In addition to Suber, ODU has Wendy Palmer to contend with. The 6-foot-2 prolific post player, who has battled knee injuries for two seasons, was named the ACC Player of the Year for the second consecutive year. The Naismith Player of the Year finalist is the only player to average a double-double versus ACC opponents (15.3 ppg, 11.3 rpg) this year.
The Lady Monarchs, coming off home wins over Holy Cross and Toledo in the first and second rounds, will look for a cleaner, more-focused effort than they gave against Toledo, which rallied to within six after ODU led by 24 in the second half.
``We just came off one of our closest games,'' ODU senior Shonda Deberry said, ``and I think that will help us stay composed down the stretch.''
Poise might be easier for Cavs, who are in the Sweet 16 for the 10th straight year. U.Va. is also playing at home, and although Larry expects about 1,000 noisy ODU fans, it won't be the field house.
Nor does today's game have the kind of rivalry characteristics befitting two top-15 programs that are less than 200 miles apart.
``There is no bad blood,'' Palmer says flatly.
If anything, Larry says, ``this is a rivalry between two programs, not two basketball teams. What's exciting for the state of Virginia is that two teams are so highly ranked within the state.''
Neither team recruits heavily instate, which would normally fuel to a rivalry, although ODU needs the win to legitimize its No. 6 ranking. U.Va. is 15-1 in NCAA games at University Hall, its only loss coming in 1986 to James Madison.
Still, Larry wasn't taking any chances. She she invited the Lady Monarchs to her home for a baked ziti supper preceding the NCAA tournament for an evening of fantasy a-la ``The Wizard of Oz.'' A brilliantly clad wizard presented Penicheiro and each of her friends three gifts: a certificate for smarts, a badge for courage and a toy heart. It was Larry's way of imparting wisdom and adding fun to tournament preparations.
``The wizard has been very good to us and has sent us good reminders,'' Larry said. ``It's important that we be reminded that we have certain qualities that we don't necessarily always have to develop. They're there; we just have to call them into action.''
``It's important for us to believe,'' Penicheiro said, ``to know that we can do it.'' ILLUSTRATION: ODU VS. U.VA.: THE MATCHUP
[For a copy of the graphic, see microfilm for this date.]
by CNB