THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1997, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, January 9, 1997 TAG: 9701090522
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY VICKI L. FRIEDMAN, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: 71 lines
When second-ranked Old Dominion finally had a Tennessee victory in the bag Tuesday night, the crowd called for UConn, a team that Lady Vols coach Pat Summitt knows a thing or two about. Tennessee was beaten by top-ranked UConn on Sunday, 72-57, and Summitt was asked to assess the gap between Nos. 1 and 2.
``They're very different,'' she said. ``Connecticut is one of the best passing teams in the country in terms of their halfcourt offense and execution. They certainly get a lot out of their transition game. Kara Walters is just a presence inside.
``Old Dominion's post game is a little more athletic. They beat you with their quickness. Certainly they've got players at every position, just a different style.''
Ninth-ranked Tennessee, an 83-72 loser to ODU, is 4-6 against ranked teams this season, having played every team ranked above it except N.C. State.
Summitt said she took full responsibility for what is regarded as the toughest schedule in the nation. ``We feel we're going to be prepared playing the best teams in the country,'' she said.
PLAYING THROUGH PAIN: When Aubrey Eblin crashed to the floor after going for a rebound Sunday in ODU's game at East Carolina, the idea of her playing against Tennessee was doubtful at best. But the sophomore sharpshooter assured coach Wendy Larry she could see some action despite a sprained left ankle that was heavily taped.
Larry wasn't so sure, so she had assistant coach Cindy Fisher speak to Eblin's dad, Keith, who assured the coach that Aubrey played her best when she was hurting because she concentrates more on her shot.
``That was all I needed,'' Larry said. ``I spoke to Aubrey before the game, and I said, `Aubrey, do you want to play?' And she said `Absolutely.' And I said `Can you play?' Two different questions. And she said, `Yes I can. I know transitionally I have to get back and do the best I can.' And that's really all it takes.''
In three minutes Eblin scored eight points - two 3-pointers and two free throws. Eblin joined the standing-room-only folks, too, only she stood behind the team bench. Her ankle throbbed too much when sitting.
TO THE RAFTERS: Three-hundred people pushed the field house crowd beyond its capacity of 4,855, taking advantage of the standing-room-only tickets that went on sale 90 minutes before the game.
``Shoulder-to-shoulder,'' one usher advised the folks standing on the upper deck. Seats to the game sold out on Monday afternoon, a first for a women's game since the national championship years.
ODU athletic director Jim Jarrett said he had received all sorts of calls from fans wanting tickets. ``The area's really gotten into it,'' he said.
``I got calls from everyone from the mayor's office to the Portuguese admiral to business people who have never wanted tickets to a women's game before.''
Also in attendance: most of the University of Richmond Spiders, whom ODU drubbed 89-53 on Friday, and some of the Richmond Rage, including former ODU All-American Adrienne Goodson.
BOARD ROOM TALK: With ODU trailing 35-33 at halftime, Larry resorted to a bit of deception to motivate her team, hinting they were being killed on the boards.
After the game Mery Andrade talked about how ODU had needed to improve its rebounding in the second half to correct the discrepancy when a reporter asked if she had seen a stat sheet. The stats showed a 20-10 ODU advantage in the first half.
Larry tried to shush the question while Andrade looked down at the numbers dumbstruck. Afterward, Larry suggested Tennessee was getting the key rebounds. Overall, the Lady Monarchs outrebounded the Lady Vols 40-27.