Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, February 23, 1991 TAG: 9102230279
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JOHN SMALLWOOD SPORTSWRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
But as time progressed, Roanoke broke out of its first-half stupor with a vengeance and whipped Virginia Wesleyan 75-38 in the Old Dominion Athletic Conference Tournament semifinal game at the Salem Civic Center.
The victory put the Maroons, ranked eighth in Division III with a 21-1 record, in tonight's ODAC championship game against defending champion Bridgewater (20-7). The Eagles advanced to the 6:30 p.m. game by beating Lynchburg 63-51.
It's the third straight year the Eagles and Maroons will battle for the championship.
"We're right back where we wanted to be," said Roanoke coach Susan Dunagan. "This is something we've had our eye since we lost [68-65] last year."
After shooting 27 percent and scoring just 29 points in the first half, the Lady Maroons got going in the second.
Nine Maroons scored during the first nine minutes as Roanoke outscored Virginia Wesleyan 22-8, turning a 10-point advantage into a 51-27 lead with 11:20 left.
"The second half was big for us," said Dunagan. "We came out with better team ball and got all-around play from everybody."
Virginia Wesleyan (13-14) couldn't contend with Roanoke's defense. The Lady Marlins shot 26.8 percent and committed 31 turnovers.
Roanoke's defense was particularly important during the first half when its offense was out of whack.
Even with their poor shooting, the Lady Maroons led 29-19.
At halftime, Dunagan said, she had some choice words for her Maroons about their offensive perforsance, but added, "I complimented them on their defense."
The Maroons' first half was highlighted by a staunch defensive stand from reserves Kristie Jones, Kristie Workman, Amy Puyear, Cathie Showalter and Kay Caldwell that held Virginia Wesleyan to three points during a six-minute stretch when Roanoke extended a four-point lead to 21-13.
"Our offense wasn't clicking, but we were playing real hard defense," said Workman, a freshman out of Radford High School who had four of Roanoke's 24 steals and five of its 25 assists. "I thought that was the key to the game.
"If it wasn't for our defense, we could have gotten ourselves into a real hole."
Donna Cogar paced Roanoke with 13 points and nine rebounds. Karen Jenkins also had 13 points. Kristie Jones added 12 points and Caldwell 11.
In the other semifinal, Sheila Mosser, Tricia Weatherholtz and Melody Derrow each scored 11 points as Bridgewater advanced to the finals.
VIRGINIA WESLEYAN (38)
Garette 4, Kumpf 5, Powell 1, Brian 6, Koutas 10, Keene 5, Williams 2, Reid 5. ROANOKE (75)
K. Jones 12, Saunders 5, Workman 5, Caldwell 11, J. Jones 2, Strickland 2, Cogar 13, Showalter 6, D. Jones 4, Jenkins 13, Puyear 2.
Halftime: 29-19, Roanoke. LYNCHBURG (51)
Womack 12, Bratton 2, Howell 13, Epperson 8, Knicely 2, Hoffman 14. BRIDGEWATER (63)
Mosser 11, Weatherholtz 11, Derrow 11, Carlton 10, Hyer 7, Hanover 7, Lefler 6.
Halftime: 26-23, Lynchburg.
by CNB