Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: MONDAY, March 2, 1992 TAG: 9203020154
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JOHN SMALLWOOD SPORTSWRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
It wasn't just that Roanoke won its second consecutive and third championship in four seasons, but that the Maroons looked so good doing it.
On the verge of making their third-straight NCAA Division III playoff appearance, the Maroons played at a level that was just what Dunagan wanted to see.
"I feel so good about them right now, because they're pulling it all together," said Dunagan, whose team advanced to the NCAA quarterfinals a year ago. "Last year when we were going into the [ODAC] tournament, I felt like we had peaked and were starting to go down.
"This year were flying high and the intensity is starting to grow. Right now, we feel like we can play with anybody, regardless of who or where."
The Maroons, ranked 11th in the nation, will need to be confident because they will play at fifth-ranked Maryville (Tenn.) College on Friday in a regional game.
The Fighting Scots (24-3) have dealt the Maroons two of their three losses this season and are 4-0 overall against Roanoke. The winner will play at the winner between Alma (Mich.) and Adrian (Mich.) in a sectional game next week.
In the other South Regional game, Marymount (24-3) will play at Christopher Newport (21-5).
The Maroons (23-3) roared through the tournament. In three games, they outscored the opposition 249-157.
Tournament MVP Donna Cogar, who made nine of 13 shots for 22 points, led the Maroons. Roanoke forced 25 turnovers and limited Virginia Wesleyan to 32.8 percent shooting. Roanoke beat the Blue Marlins (17-11) for the third time this season.
"They all played well," said Dunagan. "Everybody came in and contributed. It's a special group. We might not have the best athletes, but they've worked hard and are putting it together."
With Roanoke leading by eight points early in the second half, Jenn Jones completed a three-point play. Cogar, who also had 13 rebounds, scored 10 of the Maroons' next 12 points as they put together a 15-6 run to push the margin to 58-41 with 13:04 left.
"If you're going to beat a team like Roanoke, you can't have lapses, and we had a couple," said Virginia Wesleyan coach Tom Palombo. "You make a couple of mistakes and suddenly you're down by 15 or 20 points. Roanoke has set a standard and all of the other ODAC teams are trying to catch up."
As is their custom, the Maroons snared the Marlins with a suffocating pressure defense. Virginia Wesleyan shot 27.3 percent in the second half.
Sophomore guard Kristie Workman, with assistance from junior Amy Saunders, bottled up Virginia Wesleyan's All-ODAC guard Martha Sainz.
Sainz led the Marlins with 19 points, but few came when the outcome of the game was in question. Sainz didn't get her first points until 4:26 remained in the first half, and by then Virginia Wesleyan was down 15 points. She did not score when Roanoke had a lead of less than 10 points.
"Kristie and Amy hounded [Sainz]," said Dunagan. "Our game plan was to keep the pressure on Sainz and wear her down."
Virginia Wesleyan could not adjust to Roanoke's shifting defenses.
The Maroons started with a full-court trap, but after the Marlins got several lay ups by throwing over it, Dunagan quickly shifted to a slow-down trap. Later it was a match-up zone, a half-court trap or man-to-man.
"We had a run-and-jump [defense] but weren't good it at so I got rid of it," said Dunagan. "I like to keep people guessing. You want them to be worried about what kind of defense they're going to face. Because of their experience, these kids have learned how to make those defensive switches at anytime."
Senior forward Kristie Jones scored 17 points for Roanoke, Kay Caldwell added 16 and Debbie Puch had 10.
"We're really proud of this," said Kristie Jones, one of five seniors who won their third ODAC title. "But we want to take this as far as we can. I don't even know if this is our full potential, but I know we're going to keep playing hard and intense."
Keywords:
BASKETBALL
by CNB