COLLEGE BASKETBALL / NCAA MEN’S AND WOMEN’S FINAL FOURS : Tech and Carolina Get to Play Today : Women: Banged-up Techsters get past Alabama, then Jones helps Tar Heels run past Purdue.

Louisiana Tech staggered to its 25th consecutive victory Saturday afternoon, but Coach Leon Barmore wondered afterward if he would have enough players for today’s NCAA women’s national championship game against North Carolina.

For the Techsters (31-3), it was a game of attrition in the second half as three regulars were carried off with ankle sprains and a fourth played with a groin injury in the final 10 minutes in a 69-66 victory over Alabama.

North Carolina (32-2), winner of 13 in a row, showed off its freshman, Marion Jones, and streak shooter Charlotte Smith in burying Purdue, 89-74, in the second game at the Richmond Coliseum before 11,966.

Jones, who set the national high school 200-meter record last year at Thousand Oaks High, took advantage of her speed.

She had six steals, and another half-dozen or so tipped balls that disrupted Purdue’s offense.

“I don’t think any of us were fully aware of how quick Marion Jones was until today--I certainly wasn’t,” Purdue Coach Lin Dunn said.

“You just can’t simulate that kind of speed in practice.”

Barmore, whose team won Saturday’s first semifinal, will have to move fast to prepare for today’s final.

Tech’s wounded:

--Amy Brown, right ankle.

--Kendra Neal, left ankle.

--Vickie Johnson, left ankle.

--Pam Thomas, groin pull.

They scored a combined 45 points Saturday.

Even before his team was depleted, Barmore was upset that the women’s semifinals and final are played on consecutive days. The men get a day’s break between games.

“It is wrong to ask these kids to play a national championship game 24 hours from now,” Barmore said after his team repeatedly turned back Alabama (26-7) in the second half. “If I were to do what I want to do, I’d take Louisiana Tech and go home, now.”

North Carolina Coach Sylvia Hatchell did not share that sentiment. “Our practices are a lot harder than our games,” she said. “Our players will be ready. We played three games in three days earlier this year.”

The Tar Heels should be big favorites today, considering Tech’s injuries. Smith, a six-foot junior, had 23 points against Purdue, including four consecutive baskets in an 8-0 run midway through the second half, increasing the Tar Heels’ lead to 65-50.

Smith scored on a drive, a 15-foot jumper, a tip and another drive. Purdue cut the lead to 69-60 with 5:17 left, but never recovered after 6-1, 235-pound freshman Leslie Johnson missed an easy shot.

Johnson was all alone under the basket with 4:30 left and Purdue trailing, 71-60. But she blew the two-footer. Purdue outrebounded North Carolina, 45-36, but Jones’ steals and disruptive ball-hawking--Purdue had 25 turnovers with 7:15 left--and Smith’s second half shooting were the difference.

The Tar Heels held 10- to 13-point leads for most of the first half, but let the Boilermakers close to 39-37 by halftime. Tonya Kirk tied it for Purdue, 45-45, in the second half but Smith, Jones and 6-5 Sylvia Crawley ignited a 20-5 run.

It took Alabama nearly 15 minutes to mount a challenge against Louisiana Tech. The Tide didn’t reach double digits until eight minutes into the game, when Tech held a 22-11 lead. Tech, which eliminated USC last weekend, got another outstanding game from 5-3 senior guard Thomas. But her teammate, Debra Williams--MVP at the Mideast Regional--got her fourth foul with 9:48 left and played only 17 minutes.

Thomas seemed to be near every loose ball, every muffed rebound or errant pass. She had two steals, three assists and 21 points.

And tenacious Racquel Spurlock, a 6-4 post player, had her best tournament game Saturday. She scored 10 points, but had 18 rebounds on an afternoon when Tech outrebounded Alabama, 45-35.

Alabama was hurt by an injury of its own.

An unusual halftime injury rendered Alabama’s Niesa Johnson ineffective in the second half. Johnson, who averages 15 points a game, finished with 14 after scoring 10 by halftime.

She hit a water faucet knob in the dressing room with her right hand, and opened a cut that required several stitches. She didn’t return to play until 15:33 was left in the game, and then only with a heavily wrapped hand.

Tech had a comfortable lead for most of the way, or until Barmore’s starters began suffering injuries. Alabama got to within two, 52-50, but with 8:42 left, Thomas made a 15-foot jumper and scored again after picking up a loose ball in a scramble.

The Techsters seemed to be in trouble when Spurlock missed a two-footer and Alabama rebounded with 2:18 left. With Louisiana Tech ahead, 67-63, Alabama turned it over and Thomas ran the shot clock down, missed a jumper and got her own rebound.