DATE: Thursday, November 13, 1997           TAG: 9711090236

SECTION: SPECIAL                 PAGE: Z8   EDITION: FINAL 

TYPE: 1997-98 BASKETBALL PREVIEW

SOURCE: BY VICKI L. FRIEDMAN, STAFF WRITER 

                                            LENGTH:   77 lines

TAKING THAT ONE LAST STEP IS THE LADY MONARCHS' MAIN GOAL THEIR ROAD TO THE NATIONAL TITLE GOES THROUGH A TOUGHER SCHEDULE.

Will there be an encore - plus one more?

Last year, the Old Dominion Lady Monarchs went 34-2 and advanced to the NCAA title game before falling to Tennessee. They had two Kodak All-Americans in Ticha Penicheiro and Clarisse Machanguana. Wendy Larry was recognized as national coach of the year.

ODU ranked first nationally in scoring offense and scoring margin and second in scoring defense.

They did just about everything but win it all. This season will be about doing just that, going one step further than last year.

But first, some important questions:

All the preseason polls have ODU ranked either No. 3 or 4. Are the Lady Monarchs really that good?

ODU has three starters returning - Penicheiro, Nyree Roberts and Mery Andrade - and a bench led by Natalie Diaz, Aubrey Eblin and Amber Eller-Paul that showed off its depth in the postseason last year.

The Lady Monarchs are not the team that advanced to the title game because of the losses of leading scorer Machanguana and utility player Stacy Himes. But compared to many teams, they have enough back to be ranked among the game's finest. Roberts is in the best shape of her career and will likely lead ODU in scoring and rebounding. Penicheiro, regarded as the nation's finest point guard, and swing player Andrade acknowledge that they have to pick up their offense to compensate for Machanguana's absence.

That's three starters. What about the other two spots?

``We're going to juggle (offensive ability) with how important defense is to me,'' Larry says. ``More than looking at five in a rotation, we're probably looking at eight in a rotation.''

That said, a few names come to mind. Rebounding ace LaToya Small started two games last season when Machanguana was ill. Eblin holds the school record for 3-pointers and is stronger defensively. Eller-Paul and Diaz were terrific in the NCAA tournament against Florida and Stanford, and having Diaz and Penicheiro in the same lineup gives ODU increased offensive options.

What about the newcomers?

Junior-college transfer Emmora Keenan loves defense and at 6-4, could give ODU the height it needs inside. Amanda Levens looks composed at the point and has a good outside shot. Jessica Williams at 6-foot is a scorer who ``will remind people a little of Celeste Hill,'' Larry says. Bettina Love is an athletic shooter and longtime student of Nancy Lieberman-Cline's. Mandy Olley has been hampered by a foot injury. Look for Levens and Keenan to make the quickest impact.

Last year ODU had one of the nation's toughest non-league schedules. How does this one size up?

It's tougher, with road games at Illinois, Tennessee, Connecticut and Texas Tech. The Lady Monarchs will also face Virginia and probably Louisiana Tech at neutral sites. ODU fared well enough out-of-conference last season to receive a No. 1 seed in the NCAA tournament. The Lady Monarchs must have comparable results to be rewarded that way this season.

Aren't they going to Europe?

The Lady Monarchs will visit Portugal and France on a holiday tour Dec. 14-23. They will play four club teams including the Santarem club, where Penicheiro played her pre-ODU ball.

Other than ODU, who are the teams to beat?

No women's team has won three consecutive national titles, but Tennessee could be the first. The Lady Vols return the nation's best player in Chamique Holdsclaw and have a recruiting class touted as the best ever in women's basketball. Louisiana Tech returns all its starters from a team that advanced to the Sweet 16. Stanford's depth is down but The Cardinal is still strong. North Carolina has All-American Tracy Reid back and freshman Nikki Teasley is a great catch. Connecticut, Illinois and Texas Tech are also contenders.

What about the CAA? Any challengers to ODU?

Not a chance. ILLUSTRATION: NHAT MEYER photos/The Virginian-Pilot

...Ticha Penicheiro, Mery Andrade and Nyree Roberts...

Andrade... KEYWORDS: SPECIAL SECTION SUPPLEMENT BASKETBALL

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