Lady Vols Chasing History This Time

They seek history, this high-energy band of players, with a 39-0 season in their sights.

Any doubts that all signs point to 38-0 tonight and 39-0 Sunday for the Tennessee women’s basketball team were put to rest by those asking for directions from the media hotel to Kemper Arena team practices on Thursday.

“You stay on Summit Street almost all the way,” the concierge said.

Coach Pat Summitt’s Tennessee Lady Vols, preparing for tonight’s national semifinal game against Arkansas, by the numbers:

* They’ve won the last two national championships, and if they get this one Sunday, look for a streak that could extend into the next century.

* They’ve won 43 games in a row, dating to a 61-59 loss to Auburn last season.

* If they win the title, it’ll be Summitt’s sixth.

* Tennessee has won five of the last 11 NCAA tournaments.

* An undefeated season would be the NCAA’s third, following Texas’ 34-0 in 1986 and Connecticut’s 35-0 in 1995.

Tonight, Tennessee plays the Razorbacks (22-10) Louisiana Tech (30-3) takes on North Carolina State (25-6).

A look at the four teams:

ARKANSAS--The Razorbacks are the lowest-seeded team (ninth) to reach the Final Four (Southwest Missouri State was eighth when it made it in Los Angeles in 1992), and they’re playing the part.

Coach Gary Blair talked about being “humbled” and “honored” to be in Kansas City.

His best player, 5-foot-6 guard Christy Smith, talked of composure.

“Tennessee tries to get their opponents flustered and frustrated,” she said. “We need composure. If we can hold together, we’ll be all right.”

TENNESSEE--Only four teams have come within 10 points of Summitt’s 23rd Tennessee team, the 67-63 victory over Alabama being the closest. The Lady Vols trailed by 12 in the late going but rallied to beat North Carolina, 76-70, on Monday.

Tennessee’s and the nation’s best player is 6-2 junior Chamique Holdsclaw, who has a primary assignment--to shoot. Summitt must frequently remind her: “I didn’t recruit you to make a lot of assists.”

The four high-production freshmen are Teresa Geter, Tamika Catchings, Semeka Randall and Kristen Clement. The point guard is junior Kellie Jolly.

NORTH CAROLINA STATE--Sophomore Summer Erb is on a fast track as one of the nation’s best low-post players. She’s 6-6, strong and aggressive, and outplayed Connecticut’s better-known post, Paige Sauer, Monday in the East Regional final.

The Wolfpack began the regular season unranked and finished it losing two of three. But in the tournament, Coach Kay Yow spurred her team to two upsets, 55-54 over Old Dominion and 60-52 over Connecticut.

Chasity Melvin, the 6-3 most valuable player of the East Regional, leads her team in scoring (16.4) and rebounds (9.5).

LOUISIANA TECH--North Carolina State and Arkansas surprised everyone by being here, but not Louisiana Tech.

In his 16th season, Coach Leon Barmore has had nine 30-win seasons, reached eight Final Fours and won NCAA championships in 1982 and 1988.

This is one of his best teams and his center, 6-3 Alisa Burras, is his best since Venus Lacy led the team to the ’88 national title.

Every Louisiana Tech starter has a double-digit scoring average, but there is little depth.

“I’m not worried about how my starters will do here,” Barmore said, “but I am concerned about our lack of depth.”

Women’s Basketball Notes

Summer Erb, from Lakewood, Ohio, began her college career at Purdue but transferred to North Carolina State when Lin Dunn--now coach of the ABL’s Portland Power--left Purdue. . . . About 5,000 attended the free Kemper Arena practices by all four teams Thursday. . . . ESPN seeks to top its 4.0 rating (2.85 million households) for last year’s Tennessee-Old Dominion title game. It was the most-watched ESPN basketball game--men or women--since 1990. . . . Tennessee’s Tamika Catchings is the daughter of Harvey Catchings, who played 11 NBA seasons. . . . Tennessee’s Chamique Holdsclaw is the only collegian who has already made the 2000 Olympic team, designated as a “core player” by USA basketball. She’ll play in the women’s World Championships in Germany this summer. . . . Tennessee led the NCAA in women’s attendance, 14,969 per game, and had the five largest crowds of the season. Connecticut (10,744) was second, Wisconsin (10,455) third.

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Women’s Final Four

SEMIFINALS

* Today--Louisiana Tech (30-3) vs. North Carolina State (25-6), 4 p.m., ESPN; Arkansas (22-10) vs. Tennessee (37-0), 6:30 p.m. (time approximate), ESPN.

CHAMPIONSHIP

* Sunday--Semifinal winners, 5:30 p.m., ESPN.