Roundup : Vols Hold Off Virginia, Face Louisiana Tech Next

Top-ranked Tennessee blew most of a 19-point lead, but the Lady Volunteers held on for an 84-76 victory over No. 10 Virginia Saturday in the NCAA East Regional final at Norfolk, Va., earning a spot in the women’s Final Four, starting Friday at Tacoma, Wash.

“We played extremely well in the first half,” Coach Pat Summitt said. “I probably would worry if we had played as well in the second half. I have to worry about something, so I’d worry that we had peaked.”

In the semifinals, Tennesse (31-2) will play No. 5 Louisiana Tech, and No. 3 Auburn will face No. 7 Cal State Long Beach.

Virginia (27-5), down by 19 points late in the first half, cut the lead to 77-76 with 1:09 left.

Dawn Marsh, the tournament’s most valuable player, hit a layup with 44 seconds left and added two free throws 10 seconds later to clinch Tennessee’s 22nd straight victory.

Louisiana Tech 83, Texas 80--Nora Lewis made a field goal and two free throws in the final 45 seconds of overtime, and the Lady Techsters snapped the Lady Longhorns’ 23-game winning streak in the Mideast Regional final at Austin, Tex.

Fourth-ranked Texas (32-3) had a chance to tie the score after Lewis’ basket made it 81-79, but Beverly Williams hit only one of two free throws.

Louisiana Tech’s Shiela Ethridge stepped out of bounds with eight seconds left, but Lewis stole the ball back and made two free throws with one second left.

Lewis’ two free throws with 54 seconds left in regulation had given the Lady Techsters (30-2) a 71-69 lead. Susan Anderson of Texas scored with 14 seconds left, sending the game into overtime.

It was the fourth time that Louisiana Tech eliminated Texas. The Lady Techsters beat Texas in the 1987 semifinals at Austin.

Auburn 103, Maryland 74--Sharon Stewart had 22 points and 12 rebounds as the Lady Tigers overpowered the Lady Terrapins in the Mideast Regional final at Athens, Ga.

However, Diann McNeil, who scored 19 points for Auburn (31-2) and was named the tournament’s most valuable player, left midway in the second half with a knee injury. Her status for the Final Four is unknown.

Christy Winters had 20 points for No. 9 Maryland (26-6).