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NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament Recap (Auburn-Virginia Tech)
Posted: Tues March 16, 1999 at 1:12 a.m EST BLACKSBURG, Virginia (Ticker) -- Amy Wetzel led five players in double figures with 18 points as fourth-seeded Virginia Tech defeated fifth seed Auburn, 76-61, in the second round of the East Region of the NCAA Women's Tournament. The Hokies (28-2) reached the Sweet 16 for the first time in four NCAA Tournament appearances. They will face three-time defending national champion Tennessee in the regional semifinal Saturday at Greensboro, North Carolina. Virginia Tech extended its home winning streak to 17 straight, dating back to last season, and set a single-sason school record for wins. Auburn (20-9) fell to 19-1 in the NCAA Tournament when playing teams seeded lower than second. The Hokies shot 66 percent (16-of-24) from the field in the first half and built a 42-31 halftime lead. Virginia Tech broke open a 29-29 game by outscoring Auburn 13-2 over the final 5:11 of the half. Katie O'Connor paced the run with five points, while Wetzel chipped in four. O'Connor and Williams had 16 points apiece as five of the seven players who saw action for Virginia Tech scored in double figures. Maria Albertsson added 12 points on four 3-pointers in 11 minutes off the bench. "Like Bonnie (Virginia Tech coach Henrickson) said, I haven't been shooting well in practice for two weeks," said Albertsson. "They kept telling me, `You've got to shoot because that's what you bring to the game.' I just knew they were going to play a zone and I just shot it. I'm happy some of them went in." Tasha Hamilton paced the Tigers with 16 points and Conswella Sparrow added 10 points and 10 rebounds. Auburn lost despite outrebounding Virginia Tech, 33-25, and beating them in second-chance points, 18-2. "To win at this level, you need to be a good defensive team and obviously, we lacked that characteristic," said Auburn coach Joe Ciampi. "Anytime a team can shoot the percentage Virginia Tech did is a compliment to their ability to share the ball. They did an outstanding job." Virginia Tech defeated Auburn for the first time in five meetings.© 2000 Sportsticker Enterprises, LP
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