EAST REGIONAL : Burges Are Too Tough as No. 1 Virginia Wins

Buoyed by the knowledge that it will not have to play Tennessee to win the NCAA tournament, No. 1-ranked Virginia overwhelmed West Virginia, 103-83, Thursday night in front of an East Regional record crowd of 8,185 at University Hall.

Tennessee, which defeated Virginia in overtime for the 1991 NCAA title, was eliminated by Western Kentucky in the Mideast Regional before the Cavaliers took the court. In five of the last eight years, Tennessee ended Virginia’s title hopes by knocking it out of the NCAA tournament.

West Virginia (26-4) could not match the inside game of juniors Heather and Heidi Burge, the Cavaliers’ 6-foot-5 twins from Palos Verdes Estates. Heather scored a personal-best 32 points and Heidi had a personal-best 22.

It was the 18th consecutive victory for Virginia (31-1), which will play Vanderbilt in the East Regional title game Saturday.

With the Burges scoring from the high and low posts, and Virginia’s guards handling West Virginia’s pressing defense, the Cavaliers led, 54-31, at halftime on 60.6% shooting.

In the second half, Virginia built a 30-point lead, but the Mountaineers closed to 14 points before the Cavaliers extended the margin again.

Heather made 12 of 18 shots with a variety of low-post moves, including a left-handed baby hook shot. She also had 15 rebounds, made four assists--all to Heidi--and blocked three shots.

Heidi, who had a soft touch from the 12- to 15-feet range, made 10 of 12 shots.

Vanderbilt 77, Miami 67--Once Commodores Coach Jim Foster persuaded Shelley Jarrad to shoot, Vanderbilt pulled away from the Hurricanes (30-2).

Jarrad made four three-point baskets during a 19-5 run that gave Vanderbilt a 58-50 lead with 8:55 left.

Jarrad, who had only two points on one-for-four shooting in the first half, scored 26 points.

The Commodores (22-8) advanced to the final eight for the first time. Heidi Gillingham, a 6-8 center, had 15 points, eight rebounds and four blocked shots.

It was the Hurricanes’ first loss since their season opener. Miami’s Frances Savage made five of 22 shots but had 16 points and 16 rebounds.