Loss Ends Run for Barmore

Louisiana Tech never got its offense going after a first-half cold spell and lost to Penn State, 86-65, Monday night at Kansas City, Mo., in the Midwest Regional final of the NCAA women’s basketball tournament.

By losing, Louisiana Tech failed to take outgoing Coach Leon Barmore to the Final Four one last time. Barmore, who has been part of 10 NCAA Final Four trips as a coach or assistant, is resigning with a 520-77 record in 18 years at the school. His winning percentage of .872 is the best of any major college basketball coach.

The victory gave Penn State and Coach Rene Portland their first trip to the Final Four.

Lisa Shepherd scored 20 of her 25 points in the first half to put Penn State (30-4) in control.

Louisiana Tech (31-3) had won 21 in a row, but Penn State had a 51-39 advantage in rebounding, shot 54% (seven for 13) from three-point range, and frustrated Tech with its zone defense that resulted in 12-for-40 shooting from the guard tandem of Betty Lennox (19 points) and Tamicha Jackson (14 points).

“Execution of your offense and defense will get you a victory if you do it well,” Barmore said. “Penn State did that.”

It’s on to Philadelphia for second-seeded Penn State, which will play East Regional champion Connecticut in the national semifinals Friday night.

At the end of the game, Barmore rose from his chair, hugged his seniors and then embraced Portland before walking off the floor for the last time.

“I’m really happy for you,” Barmore told Portland.

Helen Darling and Andrea Garner each scored 15 points for Penn State, with Darling getting 12 assists and Garner grabbing 12 rebounds. Darling was named the regional’s outstanding player.

EAST REGIONAL

Connecticut 86, Louisiana State 71--The top-ranked Huskies got their first scare of the tournament as the hot-shooting Lady Tigers stayed with them until midway through the second half of the East Regional final at Richmond, Va.

“We really had to buckle down in the second half to make sure we were going to win,” said Shea Ralph, who had 15 points for Connecticut (34-1).

Third-seeded LSU (25-7) shot 73.9% in the first half and trailed only 46-41 at the intermission.

Connecticut, which shot 56.9%, was led by Svetlana Abrosimova, who scored 25 points and was selected the regional’s most valuable player.

“I think we finally ran out of gas,” LSU Coach Sue Gunter said.

MIDEAST REGIONAL

Tennessee 57, Texas Tech 44--Tamika Catchings, playing on a sprained right ankle much of the game, scored only seven points but grabbed 16 rebounds in helping the top-seeded Lady Vols (31-3) beat the Lady Raiders (28-5) in the Mideast Regional final at Memphis, Tenn.

For a while, the game looked like a replay of last year’s East Regional final, when Tennessee’s star player, Chamique Holdsclaw, couldn’t made a shot. Tennessee lost that game to Duke, ending a run of three consecutive national championships.

But Catchings was outstanding against Texas Tech, tipping away passes, taking charges, getting six assists and making three steals.

“She is the player of the year, and players of the year tend to make plays in a lot of different ways that hurt people,” Texas Tech Coach Marsha Sharp said. Kara Lawson led Tennessee with 13 points.

WEST REGIONAL

Rutgers 59, Georgia 51--Shawnetta Stewart scored 22 points as the second-seeded Scarlet Knights physically dominated the top-seeded Lady Bulldogs to claim the West Regional championship.

Rutgers (26-7) will play Tennessee in the national semifinals Friday in Philadelphia. Rutgers is 2-7 all-time against Tennessee.

While the Scarlet Knights had never been to the Final Four, it’s old hat for Coach Vivian Stringer. She is the only women’s coach to take even two teams to the Final Four--Cheyney State in 1982 and Iowa in 1993.

Kelly Miller and her twin sister Coco each scored 15 points to lead the Georgia (32-4).

An off-balance, turnaround jumper by Stewart helped the Scarlet Knights break a 39-39 tie and take the lead for good with 9:41 to go. Stewart finished the 9-0 run with a three-point shot.