
DATE: Tuesday, March 25, 1997               TAG: 9703250480

SECTION: SPORTS                  PAGE: C1   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BY VICKI L. FRIEDMAN, STAFF WRITER 

DATELINE: WEST LAFAYETTE, IND.              LENGTH:   96 lines

ODU HOLDS ON - BARELY LADY MONARCHS MAKE IT TO FINAL FOUR DESPITE GOING SCORELESS IN FINAL 6:35

Sometimes when the stars don't shine, the supporting players need to give them a lift. Reserves Aubrey Eblin and Natalie Diaz gave Old Dominion enough of a boost Monday night against Florida that the Lady Monarchs are going to the Final Four for the first time in 12 years, despite going scoreless in the final 6:35.

By beating the third-seeded Lady Gators 53-51 at Mackey Arena, the top-seeded Lady Monarchs, surviving a 12-0 run and what looked like a game-tying layup by Florida's DeLisha Milton, took the Mideast Regional title, earning them a date Friday night against either West Region champ Stanford or Georgia.

``We won! We won!'' We're going to Cincinnati,'' said an exuberant Natalie Diaz encircled by her entire team dancing at midcourt to the ODU band's version of ``Celebration.'' ``We just played hard, that's what the coaches told us to do at halftime. Leave everything on the floor and that's what we did.''

Freshman point Diaz and three-point bomber Eblin were key in an ODU gameplan that deviated from the norm. Unable to work the ball inside to posts Clarisse Machanguana and Nyree Roberts, coach Wendy Larry looked to the perimeter, the bench and the same style of aggressive man-to-man defense that ranks ODU first nationally.

With the score tied at 21, Diaz, subbing for Ticha Penicheiro sitting out with two fouls, landed a three that Eblin followed with another. Dana Smith then fouled Eblin from the arc and the sophomore nailed all three free throws. Diaz capped off the 11-6 run by netting two layups, and ODU went into the break up 32-27.

``At the beginning of the year, we talked about if we didn't come in the same boat, this basketball team would be in the same ship for the next six months,'' said Larry afterward, her hair still damp from being sprayed by a liter of Sprite. ``We also talked about different people having to pilot the boat. And certainly tonight was indicative of our bench, which has been questioned quite often, really coming through headlined by Aubrey Eblin.''

The halftime stats read an atypical: Roberts and Machanguana 1 of 5 for two points. Eblin 12 points, Diaz 7.

``We knew the game would be won or lost in the paint,'' Milton said. ``But they had a key player, her number was 12 (Eblin), and she hit some key buckets for them.''

Eblin led the ODU scoring with 15 points and Andrade had 10. Machanguana, failing to reach double figures for the first time this season, had six and Roberts had six.

Florida (24-9) never completely regrouped and looked out of it with Milton picking up her fourth foul with 11 minutes remaining, and ODU out to a lead that grew to 14. But ODU (33-1) went into an offensive slump, not scoring at all in the final 6:35, and Mery Andrade and Penicheiro picking up fourth fouls.

Smith sank a falling-down 3, her first of the game, with 1:34 left to bring Florida within two, ODU was charged with a shot clock violation on its next possession. Milton looked to land a layup underneath with 30 seconds left and Murriel Page failed on the putback. Smith fouled Penicheiro on the ensuing position, and Penicheiro missed the front end of the 1-and-1. Smith drove around Andrade but her 12-footer bounced off the rim, bringing Florida's dream season to an end. The Lady Gators were making their first appearance in the Elite Eight ever.

``It's a fun run we've had and I'm disappointed we're still not running,'' said Florida coach Carol Ross. ``I give ODU credit for setting the tone defensively.''

The fun continues for the Lady Monarchs, who were as much relieved by the win as elated.

It was a night that culminated a season of hopes for ODU, ranked second nationally since its December win over Stanford.

Stacy Himes left the locker room with the net, cut down by her and her teammates, draped around her neck.

``You can't imagine how you'll feel until it happens,'' she said. ILLUSTRATION: [Color Photos]

HUY NGUYEN photos/The Virginian-Pilot

Physical play was the order of the day as Old Dominion's Mery

Andrade, left, and Florida's DeLisha Milton get tied up while Aubrey

Eblin of the Lady Monarchs moves in on the loose ball. It was the

play of reserves Eblin and Natalie Diaz that gave ODU enough of a

boost to the Final Four for the first time in 12 years.

Ticha Penicheiro of Old Dominion, center, slides between Florida's

DeLisha Milton, left, and Mahogany Hudson for a shot during