Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, February 11, 1992 TAG: 9202110177
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B7 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: PHYLLIS A. FAIR SPORTSWRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
UVA WOMEN WANT REVENGE
The Virginia women's basketball team has one blemish on its record - a 67-65 loss to Maryland in Charlottesville on Jan. 15.At the time, UVa was No. 1 in the country and Maryland was No. 3.
The two teams meet again today in College Park in a matchup of the country's best women's teams. This time the Terrapins (20-1 overall, 10-0 in the ACC) are No. 1, and the Cavaliers (20-1, 10-1) are No. 2.
In the first matchup, Virginia shot 38 percent (27-for-71) from the field, and Maryland hit 44 percent. The Cavaliers had been averaging almost 49 percent and limiting their opponents to 35-percent shooting.
Virginia's top two scorers, Dawn Staley and Tammi Reiss, were 7-of-32 (22 percent) from the field.
"I think I was playing a little too fast offensively, and I think I wasn't exerting myself defensively," Staley said. "I was rushing my shots, and I wasn't playing like I usually play."
Added Reiss, "That's the worst you will ever see us play together at the same time."
The duo didn't let their performances or the loss deter them. Three days later, UVa ripped Clemson 82-52 in a game the Cavaliers led 52-22 at the half. Staley and Reiss were 13-for-18 (72 percent) from the field and scored 19 points apiece.
Virginia has won six subsequent conference games and its shooting percentage has improved.
Staley, regarded as the top women's basketball player in the country, said the Cavs didn't play Virginia basketball in the first Maryland game.
"Virginia basketball is pressuring the basketball, making teams turn the ball over, getting easy transition baskets and just playing together," she said. "I think we were a little out of sync.
"On offense, we were rushing - not really thinking about the shots we were taking. We made bad decisions throughout the game. That's very uncharacteristic of us."
Coach Debbie Ryan said: "I wouldn't say they're [the Terrapins] faster. They just have more athletic ability in certain areas than we do."
Whenever Staley got past the Terps' first line of defense, Maryland had someone ready to pick her up. Maryland led 66-56 with five minutes to go.
The Cavaliers then outscored Maryland 9-1. With 1:58 left, they failed to score on five straight possessions.
"Overall we didn't play a good game," Staley said. "I don't think we deserved to win it. I really wouldn't have felt good about winning that game because we didn't play like wanted to win.
"The fact that we were there at the end and had a chance to win just goes to show how great a team we are. . . . A lot of people talked about how we shot, and they didn't talk about how good of a job we did defensively. That's the only reason we stayed in the game."
Staley and Ryan said they aren't going to do anything differently.
"We don't have anything special up our sleeves," Staley said. "We're just going to go out and play like we're capable of playing."
Reiss, who is looking forward to the matchup, said the key is defense.
"It's important to establish ourselves on the defensive end first," she said. "They got some big girls and some strong girls. We've got to keep them off the boards to be successful in this game."