Lady Vols Get Scare, Rally to Win, 76-70

Tennessee’s quest for a third straight NCAA women’s championship and a perfect season almost came crashing down Monday night before the Lady Vols rallied.

Trailing in the second half for the first time in more than three months, the top-ranked Lady Vols stormed back from 12 points down and beat North Carolina, 76-70, in the Mideast Regional final at Nashville, Tenn.

Tennessee (37-0) rallied after trailing 61-49 with less than 7 1/2 minutes left. A smothering press that led to several steals and the presence of star Chamique Holdsclaw was too much for the Tar Heels (27-6) to handle, as the Lady Vols outscored them, 15-1, in 2 1/2 minutes toe lead, 64-62.

Holdsclaw, who finished with 29 points, scored eight of the 15 points, and Teresa Geter had five points, including a three-point play that got the run started.

Holdsclaw was named the regional’s outstanding player.

North Carolina State 60, Connecticut 52--The Huskies’ worst fears--that their title hopes ended when Nykesha Sales ruptured an Achilles’ tendon last month--proved true as they lost to the Wolfpack in the East Regional final at Dayton, Ohio.

“Tonight, all of the things I worry about came true,” said Connecticut Coach Geno Auriemma. “A lot of it had to do with NC State’s post players, who thoroughly outplayed ours.”

North Carolina State, pulling off its second straight upset, advanced to the women’s Final Four for the first time.

Chasity Melvin scored eight of her 18 points during the 14-0 run that brought the Wolfpack (25-6) back into the game after the Huskies (34-3) took a 36-26 lead three minutes into the second half.

North Carolina State was seeded No. 4, the lowest-seed this year to go to the Final Four.

Louisiana Tech 72, Purdue 65--Alisa Burras had 17 points and 16 rebounds as the Lady Techsters fended off the Boilermakers in the Midwest Regional final at Lubbock, Texas.

LaQuan Stallworth added 18 points, including four on free throws in the last 30 seconds, to ensure that the Lady Techsters (30-3) would maintain their streak of advancing to the Final Four at least once every four years.

No. 4-seeded Purdue (23-10) was an even match for third-seeded Louisiana Tech until Tamicha Jackson’s jumper touched off a 15-4 run that gave the Lady Techsters a 60-49 lead with 8:02 left.

The Boilermakers had rallied from double-digit second-half deficits in five of their last seven games but couldn’t do it again.