SPORTS
The University Daily KANSAN April 2,1984 Page 12
Akeem, Ewing square off in NCAA title game
Tonight will be the first time Georgetown's Pat Ewing.
News briefs from staff and wire reports
SPORTS
McGee leads Southern Cal to women's championship
The Lady Trojans, who defeated Louisiana Tech last year in the title game, trailed 43-38 with 12 minutes left, before an 8-0 run got them back in the game.
LOS ANGELES — Pam McGee scored 13 of her 17 points in the second half yesterday, helping Southern Cal defeat Tennessee 72-61 and capture its second consecutive NCAA women's basketball championship.
The Lady Volunteers took their last lead when Lynne Collins hit two baskets, the second coming with 7:29 left. But it was McGee's basket off an offensive rebound and subsequent foul shot with 6:20 left which put USC ahead 51-49. McGee, who had 12 rebounds, then scored on another offensive rebound and Amy Alkek scored off a fast break for a 55-49 USC advantage.
Tennessee closed the gap to 57-53 with three minutes left, but USC scored 9 consecutive points, four by Cheryl Miller, to take a 13-point lead.
PONTE VEDRA, Fla. — Deborah Couples was so sure her husband Fred was going to miss the cut again in the prestigious Tournament Players Championship, she didn't bother to show up until the last day.
Fred Couples didn't blame her. In his two previous TPC appearances he shot 79-80 and 81-84 and headed for home on Friday night.
Couples edges Trevino. wins TPC
But Couples made amends yesterday by winning the $800,000 TPC by a one-shot margin over former champion Lee Trevino.
The 24-year-old Couples started the final round with a two-stroke lead and said he never looked back as he posted a 1-under-par 71 for a total of 11 under 777 that was worth a record $144,000 in this richest 72-hole stop on the PGA Tour.
By United Press International
"Winning the TPC is at the top of my accomplishment list," said Couples. "It hasn't sunk in yet. The biggest accomplishment was beating this course — not beating Lee and the rest of the field."
KU golf team second in invitational
The Kansas men's golf team, led by medalist Jim Phillips, took second place in the Park College Invitational Thursday and Friday in Parkville, Mo. KU's team score of 321 was four strokes behind Iowa State.
"We were all shocked," the Houston coach said yesterday.
Phillips shot rounds of 74 and 77, for a 36-hole score of 151, which led all golfers. Other KU golfers who finished were Chris Cejka, 158; Chris Hamman, 163 and Dan Calahan and Aven Knott, both at 164.
"We weren't too pleased with our play," KU head coach Ross Randall said. "We played OK the first day, but the weather was lousy the second day. The greens were exceptionally fast and our player's hands were tightly wrapped in all our front-line players, so we were kind of taking a chance there."
KU led Iowa State by two strokes after Thursday's opening round.
The KU women's team opens its season today at the Sooner Invitational in Norman, Okla. Maureen Kelly, Lisa Black, Brenda Sanders, Lee Ann Loeffelholz and Marilee Scheid will be KU's lineup for the tournament.
At halftime of Saturday's NCAA semifinal game between Georgetown and Kentucky, the Houston team left with a 20-17 victory. The earlier beaten Virginia 49-47 in overtime.
Women get 5 firsts; men stay home
SEATTLE — Guy Lewis returned to his hotel room, and things were in great disorder.
The men's team was also scheduled to compete in the meet, but canceled.
The Kansas women's track team braved the elements Saturday at the Ralph Higgins Invitational in Stillwater, Okla., and came away with an upset over No. 13 Stanford.
The women's team and men's coaches made the trip to Stillwater Friday, but the men's team, which was scheduled to leave Saturday later, came in early.
Kentucky was in control 29-22 before Georgetown's savage defense went to work. The Wildcats catch a ghostly 9 percent in the second half, scoring only 11 points, and were blanked for nearly all outscoring by the Hoyas surged to a 64-40 victory.
"I WAS COMPLETELY in awe of them in the second half," Lewis said. "They are an awesome team, no doubt."
Lewis gets to examine the Hoyas firsthand tonight as Houston meets Georgetown for the NCAA championship at 8:15 p.m. And many think the meeting for the Cougars is nothing more than a date with the executioner.
"I was reading where it was unanimous that the coaches were picking Georgetown," Lewis said. "But one coach did say we might keep it close."
"It was horrible down there," assistant coach Steve Kueffer said. "We had a forecast for more rain the next day, so we called and had them."
The Georgetown machine, however, may not be at peak efficiency. Guard Gene Smith suffered a strained arch against Virginia and is on crutches. He practice yesterday but told Coach John Thompson he wants to play against Houston
Already in Stillwater, the women's team stayed for the meet and managed to take the top two places in the shot put and the top four places in the discus and javelin.
Stine Lerdahl won the shot put with a distance of 47-6. Lissa Bossch set a personal best in the discus with a first-place throw of 157-3⁵ and Anne Schoenfeld set a personal best in the discus with a first-place throw of 157-3⁵.
"GENE IS CERTAINLY one of the keys to our team," Thompson said. "He created the tempo against Kentucky. He made sure for him to do that against Houston."
The Jayhawks other two first-place finishes were in the 400-meters, won by Victoria Fulcher in 56.67 and the 1601 relay.
If there is unanimity of opinion on Georgetown's strength, there is agreement on another matter — the meeting of Patrick Ewing of Georgetown and Akeem Olajuwan of Houston in what amounts to the best confrontation of centers in the history of the NCAA title game.
"People have been talking about the matchup," Oliwajon said. "I'd like to see them play."
"I'll be Georgetown against Houston," Ewing said. "Not myself against Olajuwon."
The No. 5 Cougars, 32-4, also go with Rickie Winslow at forward and Alvin Franklin, Reid Getts and Benny Anders at guard. Lewis said his team must shoot well, get rebounds from someone other than OlaJauwon, keep the ball from Ewing and run the fastbreak.
Neither of the 7-footers was at his best in the semifinals. Olajuwad had 12 points on just 5 shots and Ewing, fierce on defense in Georgetown's second-half blitz, finished with 8 points on just 6 shots.
"Last year I knew we were in trouble," he said. "We went out there dead. We shot it all against Louisville (in the semifinals). It was a sorry story." He added that if you have a bad practice, it's a good omen. I don't feel that way."
GEORGETOWN AGAIN will administer unrelenting pressure defense against Houston Thompson said stopping Olajuwan and Michael Young, who had 17 points in the semifinals, will be critical.
"IT SHOULD BE a terrific matchup," Lewis said. "The only difference between them is the color of their jerseys. My similar — both outstanding players."
Before leaving for practice Lewis recalled the loss to North Carolina State in the closing seconds of the 1983 title game.
"But you certainly have to stop the other players," he said.
Georgetown and Houston are bidding for their first national title. For the Cougars, it is their third consecutive trip to the Final Four and a chance to quiet those who say Houston can't win the big game.
... will face Houston's intimidating Akeem Olaiuwon
New faces abound as Royals open today
By United Press International
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The names are gone and so are the expectations for the 1984 Kansas City Royals.
Only two players in the starting lineup when the Royals last won the American League Western Division in 1980 — Frank White and Hal McAee — will be in the starting lineup today against the New York Yankees. In fact, only McAee and White are back from the opening day lineup of a year ago.
AMOS OTIS, Willie Aikens and Jerry Martin are gone. So are George Brett, Willie Wilson and Dennis Leonard.
Otis, the most prolific batter in club history, was released last September and has since signed with the Pittsburgh Pirates. Martin was also released and has joined the New York Mets. Aikens, the team's 1980 World Series darling, was traded to the Toronto Blue Jaws.
The absences of Brett, Wilson and Leonard are only temporary, however.
Brett, a two-time American League batting champion and eight-time all-star third baseman, tore ligaments in his left knee during the extinction game in Florida and will be out for six-to-eight weeks.
WILSON, WHO LIKE Aikens, Martin and Vida Blue pleaded guilty to drug charges and spent part of this year in jail.
Leonard, a three-time 20-game winner, is still recuperating from a torn tendon in his left kneecap that he suffered last May and is not expected back until July.
suspension from baseball that could end this week, in mid-May or at the end of the 1984 season.
General Manager John Schuerohr has overhauled the team with the accent definitely on youth.
The opening day outfield will feature three players — Butch Davis in left, Pat Sheridan in center and Darryl Motley in right — who have not spent a full season in the major leagues.
One-time New York Yankee farmhand Steve "Bye-Bye" Balboni will be at first base and 1983 reserves Onix Concepcion and Greg Pryor open at short and third respectively. Don Slaughter gets the nod at catcher and Bud Black, the staff aide with a 10-7 record a year ago, gets the opening-day pitching assignment opposite New York's Ron Gudry.
MARK GUBICZA, a 21 year-old who has never thrown a pitch at the Triple-A level, has been penciled in as the No. 4 starter and Danny Jackson, a 22 year-old with 32 days of major league experience, has become the No. 5 starter.
Another youngster who has not pitched an inning at the Triple-A level, 19-year-old Bret Saberhagen, also broke camp with the Royals and will be used as a middle reliever.
Kansas City finished a deceiving second place in the West a year ago. The Royals were racked with both turnul and the drug accusations and finished 20 games behind the Chicago White Sox with a 79-83 record. They aren't even considered a contender this time around. But that doesn't bother them.
"After all the trash and problems of last season," said ace Kansas City reliever Dan Quisenberry, "baseball is fun again. The guys back are willing to forget and push all the problems aside and the new guys are all trying to figure out how good we can be."
OTHER VETERANS who survived the purge were left-handed starters Larry Gura and Paul Splittorff, catcher John Wathan, shortstop U.L. Washington and outfielder Leon Roberts. Schueter also brought in a couple of veteran utilitymen, Lynn Jones from Detroit and Jorge Orta from Toronto
"I was happy with the make-up of this team when we broke camp," Schuerholz said, "but I certainly wasn't able with the late injury to George. That had a definite impact on my happiness.
out the attitude in camp was tremendous. They did what they had to do to win games. The kids were excited and enlisted and our veterans seemed to respond to it. It produced a refreshing kind of attitude in the team in win games. It takes character and the character on this team is certainly stronger than it was a year ago."
KU baseball team loses three to ISU
Only in the second game of Saturday's double-header were the Jayhawk bats effective. KU had more hits in that game, 13, than in the other three games combined and walked away with a 10-3 victory.
Sports Writer
Iowa State won the first game Saturday, 5-2, and both games on Sunday, 1-0 and 3-2. Its record increased to 9-17 overall and 3-5 in the Big Eight Conference. KU fell to 13-12 over all and 1-5 in the conference.
By PHIL ELLENBECKER
KU tuned up for the series with an 18-2 thrashing of Baker Friday at Quigley Field. Starter Brett Morris, 1-0 on the year, allowed only two hits and one unearned run in five innings and picked up the victory.
KU led 4-1 after four innings, but
Stanfield went four-for-five and scored four runs in Saturday's seven-inning second game, leading the KU hitting barrage. He had a run-scoring double in the middle of a six-run KU play, which it increased its lead from 4-1 to 10-1.
Dennis Coplie, 1-2, started the first game Saturday and held Iowa State scoreleast through five innings. KU led at that point 1-0 on the strength of Rob Thomson, run of the game. Thomson entered the game with a .515 batting average.
Iowa State won the nine-inning game by pushing across three runs in the sixth and one in the seventh and eighth innings, both of which were relieved by Jon Steiner in the seventh.
KU had only five hits in the game.
Hugh Stanfield, who doubled, Bill
Yelton, who tripped, and Thomson had
extra-base hits for KU.
three Baker pitchers walked 11 KU batters in the fifth and sixth innings as the Jayhawks broke the game wide open.
Chuck Christenson went three-for-
ISU scored a run in the first innning of the first game Sunday off KU starter Kevin Kroeker, 1-2, and it held up the rest of the way as KU managed only two hits off Iowa State starter Troy Evers, who ran his record to 2-2.
It was the second straight hard-luck loss for Kroker, who dropped a 2-1 decision to Pan American in his last start.
Dan Christie hit his second home run of the year in the top of the seventh of the seven-inning second game, which tie the score 2-2. Iowa State was able to score a run in its final frame, though, and Jayhawks to yet another close defeat.
Starter Charlie Buzard, 1-2, picked up a pass and was followed by Chris Cakey in the seventh.
KU starter Drew Hosman, 2-1,
started and allowed all three Iowa State
runs in picking up the loss. He was
relied in the final inning by Steiner.
Softball team rallies for split with Creighton
five and drove in four runs, including two on a second-inning home run. It was his fourth of the year, best on the team.
By the Kansan Staff
A late-inning comeback by the Kansas softball team in the second game of a double-header against Creighton yesterday enabled the Jayhawks to post a 6-3 victory and a split with the Bluejays. The Jayhawks lost the first game 2-0.
In the second game, the Jayhawks trailed 3-2 going into the top of the sixth inning. Ann Brent singled and moved to second on a single by Debbie Randel. After Judith Phillips walked, Patty Regan grounded to the Bluejay third
baseman, allowing Brent to score the tying run.
Kelly Down walked to load the bases again, before Jill Williams' single scored Randle, giving the Jayhawks a 4-1 lead. KU went on to score two more runs in the sixth and held the Bluejays in the seventh to gain the victory.
Kim Tisdale went the distance for the victory, giving up six hits and two earned runs, improving her record to 2-3. Williams went 2-for-4 at the plate with 2 RBL Laura Cramer, with two singles, and Patty Cramer, with one, were the only other Jayhawks with base hits.
In the first game, the Jayhawks were held to five hits and committed three errors. Tracy Bunge pitched seven innings, giving up only four hits and no earned runs. Bunge's record stands at 8-4. Randel had two singles in three at bats in a game with no extra-base hits.
"It was a good comeback," Kansas
"I wasn't happy with the way we lost the first game," Stancliff said. "We had five or six batters come to the plate and they went in, and came away with only one hit."
coach Bob Stanciflatt said. "A real big key was when they were ahead 2-0 and we had a good inning-ending double play."
"I THOUGHT BARBARA Inman and Christine Carr had particularly good weekends. Perelman said, "I'm going to be well, well. It's nice to have them back."
Tennis teams win matches over weekend
The KU women's tennis team is on the comeback trail after two victories over the weekend, head coach Scott Perelman said yesterday. The Jayhawks beat Drake and Oral Roberts by identical 6-3 scores.
"Oral Roberts had beaten us on four other occasions since I've been coach, and this is the first time we've won." Perelman said. "The girls are starting to put it together and play up to their ability."
By the Kansan Staff
The men's team struggled against Southwest Baptist but still came away with a 54 victory.
"I was a little disappointed in our play." Perelman said. "We need to get it together more mentally than physically."
Mike Wolf and Michael Center again led the way for the Jawhayks. Wolf won the No. 1 singles by default while Center cruised to a 7.6, 4.4 victory in the doubles. The combined for a 7.6, 2.6, 6.2 victory in the No. 1 doubles competition.
"EVERY MATCH from here on out is crucial for Wolf and Center." Perelman said.