Monday, March 9, 1998
The University Daily Kansan
Section B·Page 7
Women's teams shoot, score with KC crowds
By Angela Johnson
Kansan sportswriter
Ten years after the Kansas men's team won the national championship, Kemper Arena in Kansas City, Mo., again will be the focus of collegiate basketball — this time for women's basketball.
Later this month, approximately 20,000 people will pour into the area for the 1998 Women's Final Four on Mar. 27-29.
A spokesman for the committee who will promote the Final Four locally said it would be the biggest sports event for Kansas City in 1998.
"This is a great year for Kansas City to have the Final Four because of the popularity of the Women's National Basketball Association," said Matt Tidwell, a member of the Kansas City Organizing Committee.
The popularity of women's basketball is growing quickly, Tidwell said. For the first time, this year the NCAA held a ticket drawing for the women's Final Four.
"The women's Final Four is exploding with popularity," he said. "The event is officially sold out. There were so many calls for last year's Final Four in Cincinnati that the phone systems crashed."
The four teams each will have one-hour open practices from 10 a.m. to 2:15 p.m. on Mar. 26 at Kemper Arena. After each practice, the players will be available for an autograph session.
Several media events will coincide with the Final Four, including an NCAA Hoop City public exhibit
at Bartle Hall.
Mar. 26-29.
ESPN will hold
a salute dinner
on Mar. 26 at
the Hyatt
Regency
Crown Center
to honor the
teams that
have made it to
the Final Four.
All totaled, the women's Final Four will generate about $17 million in revenue. Tidwell said.
Kansas City-area retailers also will get into the action of the Final Four frenzy.
Mike Pfau, owner of the Sports Fever retail chain in the Kansas City area, said his stores would sell women's Final Four merchandise.
"We'll bring in T-shirts for each team, all with the Final Four logo." Pfau said. "Mostly, though, it will be队-specific."
Tidwell said women's basketball had increased in popularity because of the achievements of marque players such as Rebecca Lobo, who played for Connecticut, and Sheryl Swoopes, who played for Texas Tech. Both now playing in the WNBA.
"These players became household darlings, and it's because of players like these that's the key to the success of women's basketball." Tidwell said.
Semifinal games will begin at 6 p.m. on Mar. 27, and the championship game will be at 7:30 p.m. Mar. 29. Both games will be broadcast on ESPN.
WOMEN'S FINAL FOUR FACTS
1998 Women's Final Four
Kemper Arena - Kansas City, Mo.
National semifinals begin at 6 p.m., Friday, Mar. 27.
The championship game will start at 7:30 p.m. on Sunday, Mar. 29.
Both rounds will be broadcast on ESPN.
For the first time, the NCAA held a ticket drawing for this year's women's final four. The event is sold out.
The Final Four will draw approximately 20,000 people to the Kansas City area.
- The teams will conduct open practices from 10 a.m.2:15 p.m. on Thursday, Mar. 26 at Kemper Arena.
- ESPN will hold a dinner on Thursday Mar. 26 at the Hyatt Crown Center to honor the teams that have made it to the Final Four.
Women*s Final Four Records Individual:
■ Points: 47, Sheryl Swoopes, Texas Tech (vs. Ohio State, April 4, 1993).
n Three-point field goals Attempted:
15, Katy Steding, Stanford (vs.
Auburn, April 1, 1990).
■ Three-point field goals made: 6,
Katy Steding, Stanford (vs. Auburn,
April 1, 1990).
■ Three-point percentage (Min. 4 mode): 80 percent (4-5), Nykesha Sales, Connecticut [vs. Tennessee, Mar. 29, 1996]; Abby Conklin, Tennessee [vs. Georgia, Mar. 31, 1996]
- Rebounds: 23, Charlotte Smith,
North Carolina (vs. Louisiana Tech,
April 3, 1994.)
- Points: 97, Texas (vs. Southern Cal.
Iowa; Mar. 30, 1984)
- ■ Field goals attempted: 82,
30.尼莱yys, [ Tennessee, Mar. 30,
1984]; Western Kentucky (vs. Georgia,
Mar. 29, 1985).
- Field goals made: 40, Texas (vs. Southern California, Mar. 30, 1986.)
- Field-goal percentage: 59.2 percent (29.49). Tennessee (vs. Old Dominion, Mar. 30, 1997.)
Three-point field goals attempted:
27, Stanford (vs. Connecticut, April
1 1995)
Three-point field goals made, 11,
Stanford (vs. Auburn, April 1, 1990).
Three-point percentage (Min. 5
made): 62.5 percent (5-8). Stanford
(vs. Virginia, Mar. 30, 1990).
Rebounds: 57, Old Dominion (vs.
Georgia, Mar. 31, 1985, vs. North-
east La., Mar. 31, 1985.)
A NEW
FRATERNITY WITH OLD FRATERNITY TRADITIONS
Two Representatives from Theta Chi International Headquarters are currently on campus and are searching for men to assume immediate leadership roles
THE START OF SOMETHING NEW:
- LEADERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES • COMMUNITY SERVICE
• STRONG ALUMNI SUPPORT • CAMPUS INVOLVEMENT
• PERSONAL FRIENDSHIPS • PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT
• STRONG SCHOLASTIC ACHIEVEMENT
If you are interested in defining your own fraternity experience, please contact us or visit our table in the Kansas Union.
Contact Chad Ellis or Brian Pozen at 842-7030 ext.130
e-mail: expansion@thetachi.org
http://www.thetachi.org
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