NCAA women: Illinois battles No. 1 UConn in a Midwest semifinal

Chuck Schoffner

Friday, March 21, 1997 | 11:59 a.m.

Coach Theresa Grentz was uncommonly cool and calm after Illinois reached the final 16 of the NCAA women's basketball tournament for the first time. With good reason, she felt.

"I was asked, 'Why aren't you more excited?'" Grentz said. "I said, 'I know what's coming.'"

That would be No. 1-ranked and unbeaten Connecticut, which plays Illinois in the Midwest Regional semifinals in Iowa City on Saturday night.

The Huskies (32-0) come in after a 19-point victory over Iowa, the team that beat Illinois in the finals of the Big Ten tournament, and they have the confidence that grows from success.

Connecticut has won by an average margin of 28 points, and top scorers Kara Wolters, Nykesha Sales and Carla Berube all were part of the 1995 national championship team.

It's a big challenge for the Illini (24-7), tri-champions of the Big Ten, but one they're eager to face.

"Our players are looking forward to it," Grentz said. "This is their chance to go out on the floor and see how they measure up against the best, see where they fit."

Illinois had made big strides in just two years under Grentz, who made nine NCAA tournament appearances with Rutgers before moving to the heart of Big Ten country.

The Illini had suffered through eight straight losing seasons prior to her arrival, then showed marked improvement in finishing 13-15 a year ago.

"I honestly believe Theresa Grentz has done a national coach of the year type job this year because of the fact this is so unexpected from everybody except for her and her kids, how so quickly she has been able to get the program to this point," Connecticut coach Geno Auriemma said.

"The reason for that is they play so well together. They have great team chemistry, they shoot the three exceptionally well, they do solid things to help themselves win."

Grentz has done it with a young team. Forward Ashley Berggren, the Big Ten's player of the year, and center Nicole Vasey are juniors. No. 2 scorer Alicia Sheeler is a sophomore and regulars Tauja Catchings and Katie Coleman are freshmen.

"They obviously believe in Theresa and her system and that's really important," Auriemma said.

Defending national champion Tennessee (25-10) plays Colorado (23-8) in the other Midwest game, a matchup of teams toughened by formidable schedules.

All of Tennessee's losses were to teams that have been or were in the final Top 25, including Connecticut, No. 2 Old Dominion and No. 3 Stanford. Seven of Colorado's losses were to teams that made the NCAA tournament.

In the West Regional at Missoula, Mont., Virginia (23-7) will rely on its defense to try to slow down Stanford (32-1), which has won 23 straight.

Virginia leads the nation in field goal defense, allowing opponents to shoot only 33.7 percent. But Stanford is the nation's deepest team and can score from every position. The Cardinal ran past Texas Tech 67-45 in the second round even though All-American Kate Starbird, slowed by a sprained ankle, scored only six points.

Southeastern Conference rivals Georgia (24-5) and Vanderbilt (20-10) meet in the other West game.

Old Dominion (31-1) risks a 30-game winning streak against LSU (25-4) in the Mideast Regional at West Lafayette, Ind.

LSU just lost its best inside defender, Keia Howell, to a knee injury and that could be critical against Old Dominion's talented front line of 6-5 Clarisse Machanguana, 6-3 Nyree Roberts and 6-1 Mery Andrade. Plus, they have a first-team All-American, point guard Ticha Penicheiro, getting them the ball.

In the other Mideast game, Florida (23-8) sends its talented duo of Murriel Page and All-American DeLisha Milton against Louisiana Tech (31-3), which is seeking a ninth trip to the Final Four.

The East Regional at Columbia, S.C., has North Carolina (29-2) meeting George Washington (27-5) and Notre Dame (29-6) facing Alabama (25-6).

WOMEN'S NCAA