DATE: Wednesday, February 26, 1997          TAG: 9702260663

SECTION: SPORTS                  PAGE: C5   EDITION: FINAL  

SOURCE: BY VICKI L. FRIEDMAN, STAFF WRITER 

                                            LENGTH:   70 lines

CORRECTION/CLARIFICATION: ***************************************************************** The UNC-Wilmington women will be playing William & Mary in a CAA tournament game. A graphic in Wednesday's editions contained an error. Correction published Thursday, February 27, 1997 on page C2 of THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT. ***************************************************************** CAA TOURNEY FIELD GIVEN LITTLE CHANCE AT UNSEATING ODU

When the women's Colonial Athletic Association tournament kicks off today, it won't be as much about choosing a champion as a runner-up.

Eighth-seeded UNC Wilmington and ninth-seeded William and Mary meet tonight at 7 for the play-in game. The winner meets top-seeded Old Dominion on Thursday afternoon at 2:30.

There seems to be little doubt that Old Dominion, riding a 25-game win streak and winner of the last 42 conference games, will walk away Sunday with a sixth consecutive conference crown. No CAA opponent has gotten closer than 25 points, as the second-ranked Lady Monarchs won their 16 league games by a margin of 42.1 points.

ODU will likely advance to the NCAA Tournament as a No. 1 seed, but during the preseason the league's coaches predicted a second team and possibly a third would make it to postseason. Touting the CAA's No. 6 ranking in the RPI Index, George Mason coach Jim Lewis still has no doubt.

``It's a given,'' Lewis said. ``Last year the conference was ranked an 11th and James Madison went as an at-large. The significant wins our conference has had this year has propelled us to a sixth ranking in the country, so it's a given. There shouldn't be any eyebrows raised when three teams are selected.''

In addition to ODU going 4-1 over ranked teams with victories over Stanford, Tennessee, Duke and Vanderbilt, American pulled off a stunning upset with an early-season beating of Virginia. George Mason surprised Auburn on the road, and the Dukes beat Minnesota in that team's Dial Classic final.

American University, which has never had a men's or women's team reach the tournament, has perhaps the best shot at an NCAA berth. The Lady Eagles (18-8, 11-5) have won nine of their last 10 games and could tally 20 wins if they advance to the CAA final.

``What I'm feeling inside, I can't begin to express,'' said Lady Eagles coach Jeff Thatcher, whose team meets VCU on Thursday. ``I have excitement that wants to let loose, but it can't yet.''

After ODU routed American 94-57 on Feb. 9, Thatcher said he sat down and spoke to his team about its NCAA potential. He told the Lady Eagles if a second team in the CAA could break away from the pack, it could land in field of 64.

``The last couple of years our goal has been to get to the tournament one way or another,'' Thatcher said. ``But I've never had that discussion with my team so late in the season.''

Thatcher said a third team in the tournament is possible given that George Mason has a 68 RPI ranking, James Madison is 72 and Richmond 74. American is rated a 65 and ODU is fourth. The top three teams are Stanford, Tennessee and Georgia. Connecticut, the No. 1 team in the Associated Press poll, is seventh.

``That's incredible in one league to have four teams from 65 to 74,'' Thatcher said. ``I'm hoping we can get three teams in somehow and selfishly I hope we're one of them.'' ILLUSTRATION: VP Graphics

CAA WOMEN'S BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP

CAA MATCHUPS

CAA WOMEN AT A GLANCE

for copy of graphics, see microfilm

Send Suggestions or Comments to webmaster@scholar.lib.vt.edu