Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, December 9, 1993 TAG: 9312090169
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-4 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: BRIAN DeVIDO STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: CHARLOTTESVILLE LENGTH: Medium
The margin wasn't as big this time, but the result was the same.
Eighth-ranked Virginia, which had beaten Virginia Tech by an average of 42 points in their past two meetings, used its superior quickness and inside game to stop the Hokies 78-66 on Wednesday night at University Hall. The Cavaliers have won 19 of their past 20 game against Tech, and 20 of 24 overall.
Virginia (5-0) played as well as it had to, while the Hokies (2-1) were mildly surprised.
"I warned them today that they weren't ready," said Debbie Ryan, Virginia's coach. "They knew it. We haven't practiced well for two weeks. We're not a team that does well over stretches."
Wendy Palmer picked up the slack for Virginia, scoring 21 points on 9-of-11 field-goal shooting. She also had nine steals and eight rebounds. Jeffra Gausepohl, a 6-foot-6 sophomore center, led the inside game, scoring 17 points and grabbing nine rebounds. Freshman forward Konecka Drakeford scored 18 points for Virginia, but she was 8-for-20 from the field.
The Cavaliers raced to a 32-13 lead with 4 minutes, 30 seconds left in the first half, and it looked as if the Hokies would be run over. But 6-3 Hokies center Jenny Root scored the next eight points as Tech closed to 35-23 at halftime. Root finished with 19 points and 11 rebounds.
"Virginia Tech is a much, much better team than they were last year," said Ryan, who termed the spurt "Root's Run." "They didn't fold up like they did last year [in a 93-59 loss in Blacksburg]."
After senior Hokie guard Sue Logsdon hit a 3-pointer with 17:10 remaining to cut Virginia's lead to 42-31, the Cavaliers went on a 13-3 run.
"To say it's a moral victory is a bad cliche, but it was a good effort," said Carol Alfano, who needed a win to become Tech's all-time leader in basketball coaching victories. "We can play with some people."
by CNB