Hltp FRIDAY, DECEMBER 3,1993 Daily (Tar HM Women's Preview SECTION B Siormin 9 Forward Tar Heel Women

M lum | g , Favored in ACC BY CARTER TOOLE “We believed in Jill, and because we y did, she had a lot of a $ sfc' jF? ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR confidence and had good season for us,” Hatchell said. coaches a top-10 bas- Suddreth played 33.5 minutes a game ketball team. last season, tops onthe squad. And she was She’s anchored a remarkable turnaround voted the team’s most improved player—- in the past three years. Her team returns for the second-straight year. five starters and is the prohibitive favorite Two highly-touted recruits have buoyed to winthe ACC. She’s becoming one ofthe the Tar Heels’ backcourt firepower and most respected coaches in the game. already are competing for starting jobs. Yet Hatchell always seems to be in Dean They’re both 5-10, which doesn’t hurt Smith’s shadow. matters. Then again, in this state, so would Elvis. Lori Gear, a product of Lennoxville, “The only way we see the men’s pro- Quebec, was the starting point guard on gram is as a positive for us because they the Canadian Junior National Team that have set such a positive example of how competed in the World University games things should be done,"Hatchell said. “We last summer. She averaged 27.6 ppg in her get a lot of stuff that other programs don’t senior year of high school. get just because of the enthusiasm and , a two-sport star from emphasis placed on basketball here atNorth Palmdale, Calif., came to UNC because Carolina." she could compete in both basketball and But the “other” program should get track. She averaged 22.8 ppg and 14.7 some much-deserved recognition this sea- rebounds per game last year. son. This ’93-’94 edition of the Tar Heels “The number-one reason a kid goes to a might be the best in the 20-year history of school is because of winning," Hatchell the program. The team hosts Maryland- said. “Now that we are a top-10 program, Baltimore County in the Carolina Invita- it’s much easier to get those great players. ” tional at 8 p.m. tonight in Carmichael With the departure of Virginia’s 6-5 Auditorium. Burge twins, Crawley, also 6-5, is the tall- “We’veplayed against some top-notch est returning starter in the ACC. She aver- teams in the past, and we saw how close we aged 10.5 points per game last season but were, and we saw we could play with those improved her post game tremendously teams,” senior Sylvia Crawley said. during the summer at the USA Basketball “We’re just as good or better than top- Premier Post Player Camp. 11M| -'• notch teams." “Her confidence level is so much higher ® „.. That would have going ww,ww9wi ¦ v ;IJW" statement provoked after out there,” Hatchell said. “She ¦ ’©%•'•...f,.. ,'^b laughter from those in the knowin women’s held her own and shamed some of them.” hoops a few years back. In 1991, UNC was UNC now has played 62 games since 12-16 and 2-16 in league play. Two years junior forward Charlotte Smith arrived in prior, the Tar Heels managed just one Chapel Hill. Smith has started 60 of them. conference win and lost 20 games. Smith led the team inrebounding both “We’ve got an excellent team, and it’s those years, and hit for 14.5 ppg last sea- been a long time coming,” Hatchell said. son. “But good things take time, and the best “With her shooting touch and athletic thing I can say is we’ve done it the right ability, she’s just so good at that power way.” forward position,” Hatchell said. “But The pollsters agree. UNC (1-0 after a Charlotte could play point guard if we 92-52 win against UNC-Asheville Wednes- needed her to, she’s that versatile." day), is currently ranked eighth in the As- While Crawley and Smith take care of sociated Press Poll. Before this season, the matters in the paint, junior small forward Tar Heels had never been ranked higher Stephanie Lawrenceis UNC’s top outside than 12th. threat. “That’s what makes it fun to be where Lawrence has made 36percent ofher 3- we are now, because we’ve gotten there pointers in her career, and nailed the game- with just a lot ofgood kids who’veworked winning trey against Alabama inthe NCAA very hard,” Hatchell said. “You look atall second round last year. those other teams ranked in the top 10, UNC also has considerable frontcourt their rosters looks like a who’s-who list of depth. Junior Gwendolyn Gillingham, a high school All-Americans, and ours is a 6-7 center, was the Tar Heels' leading shot- who’s-who of kids that have developed blocker (27) last season and shot 50 percent into All-Americans.” from the field. But North Carolina must adjust to a Junior forward Carrie McKee played in new role this season, that of the huntee 29 games last year and was a member of an instead of the hunter. Hatchell is confident Athletes In Action team that competed in her squad can handle the newfound pres- Russia during the summer. McKee was sure ofbeing a favorite. chosen as a co-captain for the second- “Every time we walk onthe court, we’ve straight year. Sophomore Tonya Jackson got to go out like we’re playing for a na- also competed internationally over the sum- tional championship,” she said. “Just be- mer, inCanada for an ACC All-Star Team. cause we’re ranked number one doesn’t Exposure for the Tar Heels is increas- mean the other team has got to give it to us. ing. UNC faces Northwestem in the ACC/ “Ithink the final four is a very realistic Big 10 Challenge on Jan. 8 in goal, as long as we can stay healthy.” Charlottesville, a game that will be tele- Senior guard Tonya Sampson headlines vised nationally on CBS. North Carolina’s returning quintet ofstart- But one ofHatchell’s concerns is getting £jjd’ ers. Sampson, a two-time first-team All- people to watch her team. Despite having ACC selection, led the conference in scor- a 10,000-seat arena all to themselves, the F *Jk ing last season with 21 points a contest. Tar Heels only topped the 1,000 mark in But Hatchell doesn’t expect Sampson to attendance fivetimes. match those numbers this season—which But Hatchell expects that to change. is no knock on Sampson. She just won’t “The administration has really made a have to shoulder as much of the scoring commitment to promoting women’s bas- load this go-around. ketball this year,” she said. “Iwouldn’t be “She may not average as many points surprised ifour attendance tripled.” this year,” Hatchell said. “But I think she Even ifthe crowds at Carmichael aren’t may be a better player. She’s knows that’s record-shattering, UNC is pointing toward the situation and she’s happy about that.” playing in front ofa huge crowd —April2 Junior point guard Jill Suddreth, who in Richmond, site of this year’s final four. missed the opener against UNC-A because “Idon’t want to say this has to be the of a foot infection, returns after a surpris- year, because we’re going to be good again SPECIALTO THE DTH/GRANTHALVERSON ingly successful season at the point last next year," Suddreth said. “Ijust feel like Tonya Sampson (34 ), North Carolina's go-to player, will lead North Carolina into the 1993-94 season. The Tar Heels, ranked No. 8 in the nation, return five year. with the potential and the talent and skills talented starters, a capable bench and add two of the nation's blue-chip recruits, making this North Carolina's most promising season in the program's history. At least surprising to everyone but we have this year, I feel ifwe want itbad Hatchell and Suddreth. enough, then we’re going to get it.” |_Date Tjme Opponent Fri., Dec. 3 8 p.m. *Md.-Baltimore Cos. Chapel Hill 1992-93 Sat, Dec. 4 2/4 p.m, 'Consolation/Championship Chapel Hill North Carolina Women's Basketball Statistics Player G-GS Min-Avg Wed., Dec. 8 7 p.m. tCoastal Carolina Chapel Hill FG-FGA Pet 3P-3PA Pet. FT-FTA Pet OR-DR Reb.-Avg. PM A T Blk. S Pts.-Avg. Sat. Dec. 11 7 p.m. Chapel tFlorida State Hill Sampson 30-28 956-31.9 217468 .464 60-174 .345 137-187 .737 87-158 245-8.2 94-3 91 111 Sat, Dec. 18 4:30 p.m. tCollege ofCharleston Chapel Hill 8 111 631-21.0 Smith 30-30 Wed, Dec. 29 2 6 p.m. *Radford Orlando, Fla. 994-33.1 172-377 .456 6-21 .286 96-157 .611 93-176 269-9.0 86-2 63 92 21 56 446-14.9 Thurs.-Fri., Dec. 30-31 semifinals and finals Orlando, Fla. Crawley 30-29 829-27.6 137-255 .537 OO .000 42-63 .667 61-102 163-5.4 96-5 15 49 23 25 ThurL, Jan. 6 7 p.m. Wake Forest Chapel Hill 316-10.5 Lawrence 3020 Sat, Jan. 8 1:30 p.m. "Northwestern (CBS) Charlottesville, Va. 894-29.8 81-219 .370 55-162 .340 23-32 .719 44-61 105-3.5 61-2 60 56 8 22 2408.0 Wed, Jan. 12 7 p.m. Virginia(HTS) Chapel Hill Suddreth 3029 100033.3 61-171 .357 32-95 .337 3044 .682 8-51 59-2.0 56-2 119 102 2 45 Fri, Jan. 14 7 p.m. at Florida State Tallahassee, Fla. 184-6.1 Gillingham 302 303-10.1 Sun, Jan. 16 2 p.m. Georgia Tech Chapel Hid 59-117 .504 02 .000 15-26 .577 31-53 84-2.8 340 0 21 27 4 1334.4 Wed, Jan. 19 7 p.m. at Duke Durham •Montgomery 3011 438-14.6 38-91 .418 5-18 .278 3448 .708 31-23 54-1.8 59-1 32 50 0 12 115-3.8 Mon, Jan. 24 7:30 p.m. at Maryland College Park, Md. McKee Thurs, Jan. 27 6 p.m. at N.C. State (WRDC-28) Raleigh 29-1 268-9.2 23-66 .348 OO .000 25-39 .641 39-30 69-2.4 340 9 11 4 14 71-2.4 Sun, Jan. 30 Ip.m. Clemson Chapel #Vukojicic .474 Hill 150 56-3.7 9-19 OO ,000 9-10 .900 7-9 16-1.1 80 2 7 2 1 27-1.8 Tues., Feb. 1 7 p.m. Winthrop Chapel Hill Jackson 160 59-3.7 1027 .370 OO Sun, Feb. 6 Noon at Wake Forest Winston-Salem .000 5-11 .455 8-15 23-1.4 70 1 6 33 25-1 6 Wed, Feb. 9 p.m. at Virginia Chariottesville, Wight 7:30 Va. 140 87-6.2 6-18 .333 1-7 .143 OO .000 3-10 130.9 110 7 18 1 6 130.9 Sat, Feb. 12 2 p.m. Georgia Atlanta, at Tech Ga. Rouse 120 45-3.8 3-11 .273 Wed, Feb. 16 6 p.m. N.C. State (WRDC-28) Chapel Hill 1-3 .333 2-2 1.000 1-6 7-.06 20 1 3 0 2 90.8 Sun, Feb. 20 Mwyland(HTS) Cooper 210 Noon Chapel Hill 121-5.8 5-27 .185 1-8 .125 3-6 .500 6-14 20-1.0 90 4 15 1,8 140.7 Tues, Feb. 22 7 p.m. Duke Chapel Hill UNC 30 821-1866.440 161490 .329 421-624 .675 Sun, Feb. 27 3 p.m. at Clemson Clemson, S.C. 467.766' 2224-74.1 Thurs.-Mon, 4-7 Opponents March ACC Tournament Rock Hill,S.C. 30 685-1738.394 93-339 .274 385-612 .629 423-695 1114-37.1 557 352 633 65 309 1848-61.6 • Carolina Invitational: games at * Holiday t ‘Smith Center: UCF Classic:" ACC/Big Ten Challenge: ACC game* in boU ‘eligibility expired; #Will redshiirt 1993-94 season