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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (AP) -- Telisha Quarles admits that
sometimes her point guard mentality prevents her from taking too
much of Virginia's offensive load.
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Sunday, March 19
Virginia did a terrific job on the defensive end, especially in holding Boston College's
Alissa Murphy and Cal Bouchard to zero points in the first half. Telisha Quarles, a
two-guard with point-guard skills, was outstanding, and has really been the X-factor for
the Cavs, coming up with a career-high 24 points tonight. Schuye LaRue, who reminds me a little bit of Yolanda Griffith of the WNBA Sacramento Monarchs, also continues
to come up big inside. Whenever they get her the ball, she seems to be able to get a big
basket. She has outstanding talent.
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But Quarles forgot all about that Sunday night, scoring eight of
her career-high 24 points during a 10-0 run to lift No. 19
Virginia to a 74-70 victory against No. 17 Boston College in the
second round of the women's NCAA tournament.
"I was real relaxed today," Quarles said after making 8 of 17
overall, including 5 of 8 3-pointers. "I was real focused. I knew
I had to show up today. Sweet 16, I've never been there before. I
just wanted to do it for my team."
The Cavaliers, seeded fourth in the Mideast Regional, reached
the third round for the first time in three years and the 12th time
in the last 14 seasons.
"It's about time we got back there," said senior Renee
Robinson, who scored 19 points. Robinson was part of the Cavaliers'
11th consecutive third round appearance as a freshman in 1997, but
Virginia hasn't lasted that far since.
"It means a lot. It's a special team this year," she said. "I
said that in the beginning of the year, when people didn't think we
would go this far. I think we've shocked a lot of people ... and I
hope we continue to shock you all."
Fifth-seeded Boston College (26-9) finished its second trip to
the tournament the same way its first one ended. Last year, the
Eagles lost to Tennessee in the second round, and this year, they
came looking for more than just experience.
"We were hardly just content to be here." said Becky
Gottstein, who led the Eagles with 25 points, one shy of her career
high. "We know how bad this feels and I think I speak for all the
players when I say we don't want to feel it again."
Virginia (25-8) won its 15th consecutive home game with solid
defense against the Eagles' scoring leaders and the clutch outside
shooting of Quarles, who made three 3-pointers in the game-changing
6½-minute stretch of the second half.
"My teammates and coaches, they tell me to shoot all the time,
but I guess sometimes I do feel like I shoot too much," the
sophomore said. "But they tell me I'm not, so I'm going to just
keep shooting."
The Eagles' top two scorers were held scoreless in the first
half and managed just 14 points overall. Alissa Murphy, who had 26
in the first round, finished with three on 1-for-7 shooting, and
Cal Bouchard was 4-for-11 for 11 points.
"We hoped that Virginia would collapse on me so I could kick it
out," said Eagles point guard Brianne Stepherson, who had 21
points. "But they stayed pretty much in the lanes and made it
difficult to get the ball to our other players."
Bouchard's first basket, a 3-pointer with 15:19 left, gave the
Eagles a 40-36 lead, but with a crowd that included Buffalo Bills
quarterback and Boston College alumnus Doug Flutie cheering every
play, Quarles shot the Can front.
Quarles hit a 3-pointer from the right wing with 14:33 left,
followed a steal and layup by Robinson with a 10-footer and then
added another 3-pointer, this one from the left corner, to give
Virginia a 46-40 lead with 9:53 to play.
"Telisha was great tonight," Cavaliers coach Debbie Ryan said.
"She just wants to win. She knew she had the hot hand and she
stepped up big time."
The Eagles closed to 48-45 with 8:22 left, but Quarles pulled up
again in the left corner and knocked down another long-distance
shot. The Eagles were never within three again until the final
minute.
With the score 73-70 and four second left, Quarles capped her
night with a free throw that put the game out of reach.
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ALSO SEE
Womens College Basketball Scoreboard
Boston College NCAA Team Report
Virginia NCAA Team Report
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