NCAA Tournament 2000 - Mideast Region: Irish stand tall

Mideast Region: Irish stand tall
From Coach's Edge

Virginia battled through the ACC to the regular-season title, but the Cavaliers face their biggest test of the season against six-time national champion Tennessee in the Mideast Regional semifinals. As everyone knows, the Lady Vols are always tough in March, and playing in their own back yard in Memphis only helps their chances of returning to the Final Four. But, don't pen them in your bracket just yet.

Texas Tech is still stinging from its loss to Notre Dame in 1998, when the Irish prevented the Lady Raiders from playing on their home court in the regionals. Revenge and tough defense will help Texas Tech against Notre Dame, but the Irish have too many offensive weapons to be shut down completely. Notre Dame wants to earn a trip to the Final Four for coach Muffet McGraw, a Philadelphia native.

Notre Dame had a 20-game winning streak during the regular season before losing to No. 1 Connecticut and then falling to Rutgers in the Big East semifinals. The Irish are ready to make another run through the tournament on the broad shoulders of 6-foot-5 junior Ruth Riley and the outstanding guard play of Niele Ivey and Alicia Ratay. Riley has been defended well in the tournament so far, but the Irish will continue to pound the ball inside to their All-American.

ANIMATE THIS PLAY DIAGRAM WITH SHOCKWAVE
	Senior point guard Niele Ivey (33) starts the action with a pass to freshman Alicia Ratay (22). The second leading scorer for the Irish can knock down this shot if the defense sags on Ruth Riley (00). (A) Ivey then makes the help defense make a decision when she screens down for Julie Henderson (32). Does the defender stay and help with Riley, or go with Henderson?
	(B) Ratay passes to Henderson, who looks high-low first to Ruth Riley. Riley is masterful at pinning the defense. (C) If Ivey's defender stays to double-team Riley, the Irish counter with a screen down from Alissa Murphy (12) for Ivey.


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