THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, March 16, 1995 TAG: 9503160557
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C4 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JULIE GOODRICH, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: KNOXVILLE, TENN. LENGTH: Medium: 60 lines
Florida International lives up to its name.
The Miami school has only one American-born starter - New York's Erica Rivers - and has raided the ranks of Eastern European amateurs for half of its roster.
``We've had foreign players on the roster for years, but we started recruiting heavily over there in 1990,'' Golden Panthers coach Cindy Russo said.
Those foreign-born players have excellent credentials.
Hungarian point guard Andrea Nagy, named to the U.S. Basketball Writers Association's All-American team, leads Division I with 9.9 assists per game and is second on the NCAA's all-time career list with 1,147. She is a four-time player of the year in the Trans America Athletic Conference.
Bulgaria's Albena Branzova starts at center. The 6-foot-5 senior averages more than 21 points and has scored in double figures in 93 consecutive games, dating back to her freshman season. Branzova is one of only 75 women in Division I history to have at least 2,000 points and 1,000 rebounds.
Forward Dessi Dakova is also from Bulgaria, and forward Tatana Pokorna hails from Czechoslovakia. Also on the roster are Branzova's sister, Gergena, and Petra Hauff of Sweden.
The Golden Panthers will extend their reach even further next year, having received commitments from players in Spain and Slovakia during the early signing period.
``We've tried to identify talent in Eastern Europe just like you would in the United States,'' Russo said. ``We recruit them exactly the same.''
When Florida International takes the court today against Old Dominion in the first round of the women's NCAA tournament, the Golden Panthers might feel like they're looking back in time.
The Lady Monarchs also have an international flavor this season with the addition of Clarisse Machanguana (Mozambique) and Ticha Penicheiro (Portugal). They are younger, less-polished versions of Branzova and Nagy, although the two have the potential to equal - if not surpass - what Russo's star players have accomplished.
If there is one distinct advantage for the Golden Panthers, it's in maturity. Four of their five starters are seniors. ODU starts three players in their first year of Division I basketball.
Size might be another advantage for Florida International, at least in the post. Russo's front-line players are 6-5 (Branzova), 6-3 (Dakova), and 6-0 (Pokorna). ODU matches up well everywhere except small forward, where 5-9 Sarah Willyerd gives up 3 inches.
At shooting guard, Rivers and ODU's Shonda Deberry are equal in stats and stature.
The marquee matchup will be Penicheiro vs. Nagy. Nagy averages 4.0 turnovers, and Penicheiro ranks nationally with 4.0 steals per game. Both are known for making spectacular passes, although Nagy, playing with teammates more familiar with her skills, has more assists.
``Nagy is incredible. She's an unselfish player who raises the level of everyone around her,'' ODU coach Wendy Larry said. by CNB