Riley scores just two as Notre Dame earns 67-49 win over Virgina Tech
By NOAH AMSTADTER
Assistant Sports Editor
STORRS, Conn.
With nine minutes, 30 seconds remaining in Monday's 67-49 Big East Tournament semifinal win over Virginia Tech, Irish center Ruth Riley was fouled driving to the hoop.
Riley grinned as she approached the line. After connecting on the first, she pointed to the sky. She then connected on the second.
The points were the first — and only — on the night for the Big East's Player of the Year and leading scorer. It was the first time this season Riley entered halftime scoreless.
"We tried to force catches six to seven feet away tried to provide more ball pressure," Virginia Tech coach Bonnie Henrickson said. "I thought our effort defensively was very good."
Despite her offensive struggles, Riley was happy to see her teammates step up in her absence. She laughed the entire time she was at the free-throw line.
"You've got to [laugh]. I was thankful," Riley said. "I was thanking the Lord a little bit there for that free throw."
The senior played only 24 minutes, struggling with her shooting and committing four fouls. In Riley's absence, sophomore backup Amanda Barksdale stepped up her play for the second day in a row.
After blocking six shots in Sunday's quarterfinal win over Georgetown, Barksdale added three more on Monday, to go along with a season-high six points. The North Carolina native pulled down nine rebounds, which tied teammate Kelley Siemon for most on the night.
"I though Mandy had a lot more than three blocks," Irish coach Muffet McGraw said after the game. "She certainly distorted a lot of shots and so did Ruth. With those two in the middle of the lane, I think we're going to play well defensively."
The game was tied at six points each five minutes into the game before the Irish (28-1, 15-1) got going. Notre Dame went on a 17-0 run, holding the Hokies (21-8, 11-5) scoreless for 11 straight minutes.
Senior forward Tere Williams, who finished with 15 points to lead the Hokies, took some of the blame for the Virginia Tech offensive shutdown.
"We were getting good looks, I just couldn't finish," Williams said. "I had good looks and even on Ruth I made a move on her and got an open look to the basket but I couldn't finish the shot."
Riley ignored her offensive struggles to key the defensive stand. The three-time Big East Defensive Player of the Year blocked three shots and pulled down eight rebounds in the opening half. McGraw contends that the team's three-two zone defense is more successful with players like Riley and Barksdale on the floor.
"The zone is so much more effective when you have the shot blocker in the middle," McGraw said.
Siemon and freshman Jeneka Joyce each scored six points during the run. Joyce hit two 3-pointers, while on three occasions Siemon drove to the left and created uncontested lay-ups.
The Irish built a 36-17 halftime lead with zero first-half points from Riley and only two tallies from point guard Ivey. Ivey did not score her first points until hitting two free throws with 55.7 seconds remaining in the first half.
Sophomore guard Alicia Ratay scored eight points in the opening half.
"I thought Alicia Ratay really sealed the game for us in the first half," McGraw said. "She did a great job offensively."
Ratay finished with 14 for the game, tied with Siemon for the team high.
Forward Ericka Haney finished with 12 points and six rebounds.
As the Hokies concentrated on keeping the ball away from Riley and the 3-point attack of Ivey and Ratay, Haney and Siemon were often left open paths to the basket.
"Ericka and I did a pretty good job today of attacking those areas where they left us open," Siemon said. "I didn't hit any outside jumpers."
Despite the lopsided margin, Notre Dame shot only 36.4 percent from the field, their lowest mark this season.
"Virginia Tech did a great job defensively," McGraw said. "That's the best defense we've faced."
Virginia Tech ends their first season in Big East play hoping for a berth in the NCAA tournament. The Hokies finished fourth in the Big East, losing only one conference game to a team not ranked above them.
"I don't know if you can get from what we got this season from anywhere else in the country," Williams said. "We had four top 25 teams at one time and we competed."
Barring a weather delay, the Irish will take on Connecticut in the Big East Championship game tonight at 7:30 p.m. The battle between the No. 1 and No. 2 teams in the country will be televised on ESPN2.
All Sports Stories for Tuesday, March 6, 2001
