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Show DAILY THE CHRONICLE UTAH U Looks to Reboun Women Squeak by Hapless Air Force in Tourney Opener Utes Hope to could have. "We might have been looking too far ahead," admitted Ute guard Amy Ewert. "That, and the Falcons were hitting a lot of shots. They were making a lot more shots this time around." Early on, it appeared as though the Utes were ready to duplicate last week's performance, as they opened up a 4 lead with 12:11 to go in the opening half. However, the scrappy Falcons remained within striking distance, closing the first period on an 2 run as Shawna Neff hit bookend closing to within 2 at the break. In the second half, Utah's offense bogged down, and had to rely upon usually passive swingman Lindsay Herbert; she scored 13 of Utah's first 17 points out of the break, hitto give the ting a three-pointteam its biggest lead of the half, at MWC competition, they actually trailed in the game's waning ERIC WALDEN Chronicle Sports Editor moments before pulling off a LAS VEGAS- - Wednesday's MWC Tournament matchup between the Utah women's basketball team and Air Force was supposed to be a blowout. Someone forgot to tell the Falfirst-roun- d 53-5- 0 victory. With the win, Utah advances to a quarterfinal matchup on Friday with No. 4 seed BYU, who defeated UNLV Before 62-5- 4. they could even think about moving on though, the Utes were just grateful that this ugly 3 rematch of last Thursday's blowout didn't end as badly as it cons. Though the Utes were ranked 14th in the nation, seeded first in the tourney and undefeated against 13-- 80-3- 8-- three-pointer- s, 27-2- er 44-3- 6. ft, "The team wasn't scoring, so -- center Lauren Beckman and I stepped up and started hitting SPlMf shots," said Herbert, who went on 21 points. to score a career-hig- h "We were just trying to pound the ball inside, where Beck had a size advantage and I had a mismatch on ' Refocus after Floor Woe: 1 Coach Greg Marsden approached with Washington his squad's and Western Michigan last weekend with apprehension after a poor week at practice. His fears were tri-me- et The Ute gymnastics team blew a big lead after two events, and a clutch 10.0 performance by UW's Mandi Klug threw the two teams into a deadlock when the smoke cleared. After the crazy finish in Seattle, on the year. Utah now stands at The Utes (196.980) still occupy the No. 3 slot in the national standings, trailing No. UCLA (197.290) and No. 2 Alabama (197.025). Another ranked Pac-i- o opponent looms ahead this weekend. No. 14 Oregon State threatens the 162 straight on Saturday at 7 p.m. The Beavers are 8 on the year, with a high score of -1 1 2-- 196.375. The Beavers are one of only three teams to come within a point of the Utes in the Huntsman Center in Utah's streak. ar Shannon Bowles is ranked No. 1 on beam for the second straight week. quality .score in their best event, the Utes were doomed, and the No. Bruins ran roughshod in a 0 victory. In their more recent matchup with Washington and Western Michigan, the Red Rocks turned an assertive 5 lead into thin air, and cost Utah the win. The problem in the meet took place on the floor, which had to come as a surprise even to the Huskies. Ranked No. 2 nationally on the floor heading 197.500-195.70- 98.775-98.02- d Despite Herbert's Force still Air shooting, though, to its lead first took with 4:05 go, as U Neff $tole an errant pass and k raced downcourt for a well-time- fast-brea- 21 'Ism it' d. me." Lindsay Herbert had a game high - RORY BRUNNER Chronicle Asst. Sports Editor points in the win over Air Force. see WOMEN'S HOOPS, page 7 Crash and Burn In their two nonwins this year, the Ute gymnasts have faltered in events which had previously been their best Against UCLA on Jan. 21, the Utes' turned in a 48.400 on beam, by far their lowest of the season. Without a see GYMNASTICS, page 6 Utah Women's Basketball - A Winning Proposition women's basketball Yes, you read right, a in 1 " RANDALL HARRINGTON Chronicle Sports Columnist game.' Have you ever watched one, much less driven, seven hours to see one live and in person? Mow, I know the stigma that people, especially we men, typically place on not only women's basketball but women's sports In gen-er- ' ai BORING, the weekend approaches, that old, familiar, and quite annoying question inevitably As raises its ugly head once more. What are you going tc do this weekend? . That question is used to create conversation, to find out what that someone special might have planned for, you, or to just simply see if something interesting is going on. Whatever the case, as the weekend gets closer, you inevitably end up asking yourself the exact same question...what are you going to do this weekend? With everyone's thoughts turning toward Spring Break and warm weather, one place that is always iust a quick drive away is Las Vegas, Of course, you have your typical Vegas distractionsgambling, lounge shows, shopping and watching the No. 14 University of Utah women's basketball game. SKI8NG , ' NCAA Meet New Mexico at 38-- 9 3 Albuquerque, N.M. CHRONICLE 2- . Utah Middlebury,Vt. f i- BASEBALL 37-1- 0 . - Ah contraire rnon frere, think again. Last night for example, s$ I was waiting for the Southern Utah University game to get underway, the end of fee women's 3ig East Championship between Notre Dame and Connecticut was just finishing up. (For those of you out of the women's college basketball loop, those are the No. - and No. -, ranked teams in the nation playing in their conference tournament championship. It like if the Duke vs, Noith would Carolina men's game last week was for the ACC Tournament.) American male Well, as any would do If there was time to kill in between March Madness matchups, I decided to watch the end of the game.- In the last minute, Notre Dame, who had trailed most cf the game, tied the Huskies on a Utah at - SPORTS EDITOR red-blood- ed " - W-TEN- Utah State vs Utah 38 S 5 p.m. B Eccles ; free throw with five seconds left to play. , Instead of takiog a time out, UConn's Sue Bird took the inbound pais, raced down court, split two defenders in the lane and arched a , rainbow shot with one second ; left on the deck, As the ball drifted down, rotating through the air, the 10,027 spectators on hand at the sold-oGampel Pavilion on the UConn campus, hfld their breath as the bail hit the trout of ' the rim. As the bail bounced forward at the buzeen .the fans heard that faxaUiar scund you know, that "nothing but net sound the ball makes as it falls though the basket Then tbers was sudden pandemonium and berserk reactions from fans and Huskie piayers alike. . Dejection on the faces of the Fighting Irish, the No. 1 team in the nation. Sweet revenge fur the No.' 2 team hi the nation, avenging an earlier loss in South Bend. Does the scene' sound familiar? Seen any men's games end in the same fashion? Have you missed your own nationally ranked University of Utah women go unbeaten in ihs Mountain West Conference regular season on their way to a winning streak? rafter-reachi- Now I know that the women's game is nothi . ing like the men's game. I would bet that you know what I arn talking : , Thers is none of that incessant boasting, bravado that goes swaggering and super-eg- o on in men's game. ' Everybody: does not look like they, just walked out of the local tattoo parlor's going- - , ng ' ut - , . - MEN'S HOOPS UtaTT at MWC Tourney 399p.m.PT Tennis Center ERIC "WALLY" WALDEN & Las Vegas, Nev. sale; - There is actually a team concept at work. A throwback to a different era. A style similar to the one played by our beloved Utah Jazz just a few stoplights to the west of campus in the Delta Center. ;::There is 'teamwork 'and fundamentals at work.-Theris even. Lord forbid, drama and " excitement, just like sn the mens games. . You need to lock no further than last week's Utah women's game in the Huntsman Center as proof of that Utah, the nation's No. r defensive team, used a 0 run and overcame a seven-poideficit in the last seven minutes to win the MWC reg- , $6-- nt see HARRINGTON, page 6 WOMEN'S HOOPS UtaE vs BYU 39 5:30 , at 39 Las Vegas, Nev. 581-704- Utah Tampa Tourney 10 p.m. PT EWALDENCHRONICLE.UTAH.EDU SOFTBALL -- Tampa, Fla. 1 |