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February 27, 1999

Box Score
Virginia Postgame Audio
Wake Forest Postgame Audio

By JOE MACENKA
AP Sports Writer

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) – According to the scoreboard, Virginia’s reign ofsupremacy over Wake Forest’s Demon Deacons is alive and well. Cavaliers coachDebbie Ryan knows better.

“A team can turn around in a short period of time,” Ryan said after No. 19Virginia needed a strong finish for a 71-67 victory over Wake Forest in theAtlantic Coast Conference tournament quarterfinals Saturday.

The Cavaliers’ 42nd consecutive victory over the Demon Deacons, a run thatgoes back more than 21 years, was in doubt until the closing seconds, thanks inlarge part to Wake Forest making 11 of 18 shots from 3-point range.

“We could have made some better decisions down the stretch,” Ryan said.”We were fortunate.”

There were 10 lead changes and nine ties in the final 13 minutes beforeMonick Foote hit an 8-footer from the right wing to put the Cavaliers up 69-67with 30 seconds left.

Olivia Dardy missed a 3-pointer on the other end and Virginia’s Erin Stovallgot the rebound and was fouled. She hit both free throws to account for thefinal margin.

“I think a game like today can only help you,” Ryan said. “Our team knowswe can play better. We’ve got their attention now.”

The Demon Deacons’ drought against Virginia stretches back so far – to Jan.13, 1978 – that 11 of the 14 players on this season’s Wake Forest roster hadnot even been born. The Demon Deacons are 1-44 against Virginia, includinglosses by 31 and 20 points during the 1998-99 regular season.

“We showed a completely different face the last week of the season than wedid all season long, and it’s a look we were searching for all year,”second-year Demon Deacons coach Charlene Curtis said. “I’m just really proudthat we were able to show a different face, show that Wake Forest is on therise.”

Virginia (20-7) got 23 points from DeMya Walker and 10 from ElenaKravchenko.

Sophomore Janae Whiteside attempted eight 3-pointers, made a school-recordseven and wound up with a career-high 23 points to lead the Demon Deacons(8-20). Wake Forest also got 13 from Heidi Coleman, 12 from Olivia Dardy and 11from Emon McMillian.

“It’s important to us to beat them,” Whiteside said, “and it’s not justbecause of the streak. It’s because they’re an ACC rival and we need to beatthem because we play them all the time.”

Timely perimeter shooting wasn’t Wake Forest’s only bright spot. The DemonDeacons also used some aggressive play on defense to limit Virginia to41-percent shooting.

The Demon Deacons opened the second half by hitting 3-pointers on five oftheir first nine possessions, giving them a 44-39 lead with 14:46 remaining,and it stayed close the rest of the way.

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