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Date Posted: 00:48:00 03/09/02 Sat
Author: Jon Ralston
Subject: Record Article
In reply to: Tiger Casey 's message, "One Half of Girls Final Set" on 14:37:30 03/08/02 Fri

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Originally Published Friday, March 8, 2002
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History, respect on line in semifinal

By Bob Highfill

Record Staff Writer

ANAHEIM -- University of the Pacific hopes to make history. UC Riverside hopes to earn some respect.

Though their motivations might differ, the Tigers and Highlanders have the same goal in mind -- winning a trip to the championship of the 19th Big West Women's Basketball Tournament.

Pacific (18-10), the No. 3 seed and owners of a five-game winning streak, will take on upstart UC Riverside (16-12), the No. 2 seed, at noon today at the Anaheim Convention Center. The winner will play either No. 1 UC Santa Barbara (23-5) or No. 4 Long Beach State (16-12) at 1 p.m. Saturday for the tournament championship and an NCAA Tournament berth.

"It's all about us and us playing to our potential," Tigers senior guard Dolinda Meeker said after Thursday's 72-45 win over Idaho in the quarterfinals. "It's just another game. Granted it's the Big West Tournament, but we're comfortable and excited to play."

Pacific has yet to play for the championship under fourth-year head coach Sherri Murrell and hasn't reached the finals since 1996. UC Riverside wants to prove its seeding isn't a fluke. The Highlanders were picked to finish at or near the bottom in preseason coaches and media polls.

"I still don't think people give us enough credit," said UC Riverside's Amy Houchens, a first-team all-conference guard. "People still aren't respecting how we play play and that gives us an extra boost."

Houchens didn't say who those people are, but rest assured, the Tigers respect the Highlanders and know they have a tough assignment after splitting their regular-season series.

Murrell said a key will be containing Houchens, who leads her team in scoring at 15.5 points per game.

"She's our Selena Ho," said Murrell, comparing Houchens with her first-team all-conference guard. "They probably won't guard each other, but they are the catalysts of their teams."

Meeker, the Tigers' top on-ball defender, will guard Houchens.

"Dolinda did a good job on her last time," Murrell said.

Houchens scored 15 points but made 7-of-18 shots from the floor when the Tigers beat UC Riverside 78-60 in their home finale on Feb. 24 at Spanos Center. She scored 14 when the Highlanders beat Pacific 79-65 on Jan. 24 in Riverside.

Both teams have solid post players. Gillian d'Hondt, a sophomore first-team all-conference center, scored 15 points and had six rebounds against Idaho on Wednesday, and 6-foot sophomore Crystal Harris had 18 points and six rebounds to lead UC Riverside to a 63-53 victory over UC Irvine in another quarterfinal.

"Harris is someone you have to be aware of, but if you take Houchens out of her rhythm, she's a big part of the equation," Murrell said.

The Tigers hope they have the right answer to that equation.

* To reach reporter Bob Highfill, phone 546-8299 or e-mail bhighfil@recordnet.com

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