University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina, Virginia to Meet in ACC Women's Basketball Tournament Semifinals
June 21, 1999 | Women's Basketball
February 27, 1999
By BRIAN MAHONEY
AP MegaSports Writer
North Carolina was focused for the start of the Atlantic Coast Conference tournament. Virginia, it seems, needed a game.
After taking different routes to victories in their quarterfinal victories, the No. 13 Tar Heels and 19th-ranked Cavaliers will collide Sunday in Charlotte, N.C., for the right to advance to the championship game.
Third-seeded North Carolina (25-6) has won four of the last five ACC tournament championships and appears intent on adding another. In their quarterfinal game Saturday, the Tar Heels had all five starters score in double figures and ran away from Georgia Tech, 87-71.
"The kids are very focused," coach Sylvia Hatchell said. "They know what's on the line with the ACC championship. It's like a three-game season."
The Cavaliers (20-7) did not seem focused and were almost eliminated by a team they have dominated through the years. Virginia needed to score the final five points of the game to oust eighth-seeded Wake Forest, 71-67.
Although Virginia struggled and nearly failed to beat Wake Forest for the 42nd straight time, coach Debbie Ryan says the game will help her team.
"I think a game like today can only help you," Ryan said. "Our team knows we can play better. We've got their attention now."
Virginia should have no trouble getting motivated to play North Carolina. The Tar Heels won both meetings this season, including an 82-80 overtime thriller on Feb. 14. North Carolina has claimed six of the last seven games between the teams, including a 76-56 rout in last season's ACC tournament quarterfinals.
The winner of this game will meet top-seeded Duke or fourth seed Clemson in Sunday's final.
