Boston College Athletics
Women's Hoops Falls to Tennessee
June 21, 1999 | Women's Basketball
March 16, 1999
By TERESA M. WALKER
AP Sports Writer
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - Tennessee's unbeaten record at home in the NCAA tournament is safe for another year, thanks to three-time All-American Chamique Holdsclaw.
The senior, making her final appearance at home, tied her career high with 39 points in helping Tennessee defeat Boston College 89-62 Monday night in the second round of the East Regional.
The Lady Vols (30-2) will play Virginia Tech Saturday in the regional semifinals in Greensboro, N.C. They improved their record to 34-0 in tournament games played at home, but had to rally after trailing much of the first half.
Boston College (22-8), which upset then-No. 2 Connecticut in January, looked ready to extend its first tournament appearance into the round of 16. The Eagles started quickly, hitting five of their first seven shots, and led by as much as five during the first half.
Tennessee looked lost with Semeka Randall, their third-leading scorer and emotional spark, watching from a wheelchair with to a badly sprained ankle.
But Holdsclaw, seeking to become the first player to win four national championships, wouldn't let the Lady Vols fall.
She scored 23 of her points in the half, including four just before halftime, to give Tennessee a 42-41 lead it wouldn't relinquish. She stretched that lead by keying a 12-4 run to start the second half with six more points.
Holdsclaw went to the bench for the final time to a standing ovation after hitting two free throws with 3:51 to go.
Tamika Catchings added 13 points for Tennessee and Michelle Snow had 12.
The Eagles couldn't hit anything in the second half. With Tennessee speeding up the tempo, Boston College missed 10 of its first 12 shots and went more than six minutes without a basket.
The Lady Vols took advantage of the drought to build their lead to as many as 32 points down the stretch.
Nicole Conway and reserve Jamie Cournoyer each had 16 points to lead Boston College. Alissa Murphy added 12.
The Lady Vols started sluggishly, missing six of their first nine shots. Holdsclaw gave Tennessee its first lead of the game at 11:09 to go in the first on a tip-in during a 9-0 run that left the Lady Vols up 25-19. The Eagles used their own 7-0 spurt to take back the lead before Holdsclaw stepped up and put Tennessee in front at the half.
