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March 23, 2000
GAME: No. 4 Virginia (25-8) vs. No. 1 Tennessee (30-3), Mideast Regional,Semifinal Round.
TIME: Saturday, 12 p.m. EST.
SITE: The Pyramid, Memphis, Tenn.
As far as Tennessee coach Pat Summitt is concerned, the past is the past.
Regardless of her Lady Volunteers’ dominance of Saturday’s opponent,Virginia, Summitt is very much aware of what this year’s rendition of theCavaliers brings to the court.
“With an extensive postseason history between the programs, we are nostranger to Virginia’s style of play,” Pat Summitt said. “I like theirpersonnel, and their inside play is impressive. Our basketball team willdefinitely be challenged to defend them.”
Tennessee, which is looking for an unprecedented seventh national title, haswon nine of 10 meetings with Virginia, including seven wins in postseason play.Tennessee is making its 19th consecutive appearance in the NCAA tournament, its16th straight journey to the Round of 16.
Virginia, with one trip to the championship game to its credit, is makingits 12th trip to the third round in the last 14 years.
Tennessee and Virginia are evenly matched in most statistical categories,except for rebounding where the Lady Vols average nine more rebounds per gamethan their opponents. Virginia, despite the presence of talented freshmancenter Schuye LaRue, has been much less dominating down low, averaging one lessboard per game than its opponents.
LaRue, a 6-foot-3 center from Washington, D.C., is averaging 14.5 points and8.1 rebounds, while shooting 57.6 percent from the floor. In the Cavaliers’74-70 upset of Boston College in the second round, LaRue scored 16 points on7-of-10 shooting.
“(LaRue) is one of the most impressive freshman I’ve seen this year,”Summitt said. “She doesn’t play like a freshman – she can step a way from thebasket, and she is an imposing presence that can put up impressive numbers. Shemakes Virginia a better basketball team.”
Telisha Quarles will counter from the outside as she scored a career-high 24points, including five 3-pointers, against Boston College.
“She just wants to win,” Virginia coach Debbie Ryan said of Quarles. “Sheknew she had the hot hand and she stepped up big time.”
Quarles, a 5-8 sophomore, has connected on more 3-pointers this season (62)than any other player in Virginia history.
Tennessee will look to ride the inside play of All-American Tamika Catchingsand the inside-outside play of Semeka Randall. The two scored 21 and 15 points,respectively, in the Lady Vols’ 75-60 second-round win over Arizona.
“I think the way we are playing now, we are more prepared this year thanlast season,” Catchings said. “We’re on a mission and ready to play ball.”
PROBABLE STARTERS: Virginia – F Volnaya (13.7 ppg, 4.0 rpg), F Lisa Hosac(8.3 ppg, 5.8 rpg), C LaRue (14.5 ppg, 8.1 rpg), G Quarles (12.5 ppg, 2.8 rpg),G Renee Robinson (9.4 ppg, 4.5 apg). Tennessee – F Catchings (15.6 ppg, 7.7rpg), F Randall (14.3 ppg, 5.0 rpg), C Michelle Snow (12.0 ppg, 6.3 rpg), GKara Lawson (14.0 ppg, 2.8 apg), G Kristen Clement (5.7 ppg, 3.7 apg).
HOW THEY GOT HERE: Virginia – At-large bid, ACC, defeatedPepperdine 74-62 in first round, defeated Boston College 74-70 in second round.Tennessee – Automatic bid, Southeast Conference tournament champion, defeatedFurman 90-38 in first round, defeated Arizona 75-60 in second round.
ALL-TIME TOURNAMENT RECORD: Virginia – 29-16, 17 appearances. Tennessee -66-12, 19 appearances.