Boston College Athletics
Boston College
Virginia Tech (BIG EAST Champ.)
No. 24 Eagles Edged In OT
March 09, 2003 | Women's Basketball
March 9, 2003
By TOM CANAVAN
AP Sports Writer
PISCATAWAY, N.J. - Chrystal Starling scored 10 of her 18 points in overtime, leading Virginia Tech past No. 24 Boston College 74-70 Sunday in the Big East tournament quarterfinals.
Ieva Kublina added 20 points and 11 rebounds, and freshman Dawn Chriss had 14 points as the fifth-seeded Hokies (21-8) rallied from a 10-point second-half deficit to advance to a semifinal against No. 1 Connecticut or Seton Hall.
Brianne Stepherson had 22 points for fourth-seeded Boston College (20-8), which probably will get an NCAA tournament bid. Amber Jacobs added 15 points, and Jessalyn Deveny had 14, including a game-tying 3-pointer with 28.1 seconds to go in regulation.
Chriss missed a baseline jumper that could have given Virginia Tech the win in the final seconds, but the Hokies dominated overtime.
Starling, who has battled the flu all week, hit a 3-pointer from the top of the key as the shot clock expired on the opening possession of overtime. Carrie Mason added a 3-pointer on the Hokies' next possession in what turned out to be a 13-4 run.
Boston College battled back, drawing within 71-68 on a basket in the lane with 27 seconds to go by Becky Gottstein.
Starling made one of two free throws to push the lead to 72-68, but Gottstein (11 points, 10 rebounds) made it a two-point game with 5.6 seconds left.
Starling iced it with two free throws with 4.2 seconds left.
The Eagles seemed in control early in the second half with a 41-31 lead, but they went into an offensive funk and scored only 11 points in nearly 15 minutes.
Chriss' breakaway basket gave Virginia Tech its first lead at 47-46 with 7:21 left. The lead changed hands twice before Deveny forced overtime.
