SPECIAL SPORTS SOUVENIR EDITION ALBUQUERQUE JOURNAL SATURDAY ,MARCH 20, 2004 D13 AT A GLANCE 2 Incomparable Teams BY MIKE HALL Associate Sports Editor Asked to compare the Uni- versity of Florida to a Moun- tain West Conference school, Melissa Forest said, “They’re faster than UNLV and a little more skilled. There’s not a team (in the MWC) that’s real- ly comparable.” That’s pretty high praise from the University of New Mexico senior post player whose Lobos take on the Gators at 7:21 tonight in the Pit in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. But, the honey didn’t stop flowing with Forest’s words. “I haven’t seen anybody else as talented at all five posi- tions,” Florida coach Carolyn Peck said of the Lobos. “They’re 4 and 5-positions are a strength, and they don’t play just the 4 and 5. Mandi Moore is a talented point guard, and they go 10 deep.” Florida sophomore guard Danielle Santos added that New Mexico doesn’t remind her of any team from the Southeastern Conference, known for its high-flying ath- letes, but did compare them to Richmond, a team that beat the Gators 98-88 early this season. “They have a bunch of shoot- ers and a style of play similar to Richmond,” Santos said. Friday at the Pit the words were kind and the mood relaxed as all four teams in this portion of the Midwest Region- al held open-to-the-public prac- tices and met with both local and visiting media. It’s bound to get a little more heated tonight when the fifth- seeded Gators (18-10) and the 12th-seeded Lobos (23-7) start things off. A fair-sized contingent of Lobos fans turned out to watch Florida practice and then rose to cheer New Mexico as their heroes took the floor. That was enough to convince 6-foot, 4-inch Florida senior center Vanessa Hayden that the Gators would be in hostile territory. “The biggest crowd we’ve played in front of was Tennessee, but that was a more friendly crowd,” she said. “We just want to stay focused and black that out,” added Santos. The Florida players also not- ed that they’ve heard about the dangers of altitude, even though New Mexico coach Don Flanagan joked that he was staying mum on the subject. “They’ll probably figure that out for themselves,” he said. “I’m sure they’ve been told about it, but I think it’s more mental than physical. But I’m not telling them about that (either).” Hayden said she’d heard all about the altitude, but that fol- lowing Friday’s one-hour workout, “I felt good out there. The last nine days (for Florida) have been serious boot camp.” Since losing March 5 to Georgia in the SEC tourna- ment, the Gators have spent much of their practice time on conditioning. With the home-court advan- tage and altitude out of the way, talk turned to what to expect on the court. Forest, at 6-2, faced Florida and Hayden when she was a freshman, but didn’t remem- ber much about that game. Has watching film of the Gators jogged her memory? “She’s still fairly large,” For- est said. “She’s a skilled, strong player who is hard to defend in the low post. We’ll try to keep her off.” The Lobos this season have faced USC’s Ebony Hoffman, 6-1, and Arizona’s Shawtinice Polk, 6-3. “She’s more like Hoffman,” Flanagan said of the Trojans’ wide-but-graceful center. “One thing about Hayden is that her arm length is incredi- ble.” He said that if Hayden stood with her arms stretched toward the sky she would have 2 feet on any of his Lobos. “She’s a physical player who can go right through you.” Hayden averages 19.3 points and 10.7 rebounds. ■ Compliments flow between Lobos, Gators before big showdown Baylor Bears Down BY RANDY HARRISON Journal Staff Writer The rhetorical tense “Is Bay- lor an elite team?” morphs into the practicality of “Does it matter?” As the only nationally ranked squad of the four com- peting, the No. 15 Lady Bears (24-8) bear the burden of expectations beginning with a first-round NCAA Tourna- ment game tonight at the Pit against Loyola Marymount (24-5). The underdog Lions, saucer- eyed first-timers in the NCAA Tournament, are looking for a win. Baylor, in the NCAAs for the third time in four years, is looking for a run. “The first time is extremely exciting, but you have no idea what to expect,” said Jessika Stratton, Baylor senior guard. “Now that I’ve been (to the NCAAs), and we have some seniors who have been to post- season play, we expect to win. We’re excited to be here, but it’s much more than that now.” While that might not put all the pressure on Baylor, it relieves some from a Lions squad that has “nothing to lose and everything to gain,” says LMU head coach Julie Wilhoit. “We very much believe that we belong. We very much believe it’s OK for other peo- ple to overlook us,” said Wil- hoit. “We’re here and going to do absolutely the best we can.” Battle-tested from the rigors of its Big 12 schedule, Baylor has lost only twice in the last month. Both were to Texas by a combined five points. “At this point, it’s a little bit X’s and O’s now, but it’s more Jimmys and Joes,” said Baylor coach Kim Mulkey-Robertson. “It’s about kids making plays.” All-Big 12 sophomore Sophia Young (16.9 points and 8.6 rebounds per game) is Bay- lor’s best Jimmy, but the Bears could be without their best Joe. Steffanie Blackmon, a 6- foot, 2-inch post averaging 15.6 points and 6.9 rebounds a game, has a dislocated kneecap. Mulkey-Robertson has said all week that Blackmon, who was hurt in the Big 12 Tourna- ment on March 10, is “day to day,” and didn’t elaborate on Friday. Blackmon was at Friday’s practice in the Pit, but she did- n’t do much. Practices the day before NCAA first-round games are open to the public and pretty much for show any- way. Baylor has won 96 games in Mulkey-Robertson’s four years, but did not advance beyond the first weekend of NCAA play in its two previous appearances. Mulkey-Robertson, whose rich pedigree includes nation- al championships as a Louisiana Tech player and assistant, said that in itself shows her team has a ways to go to be “elite.” “You’ve gotta understand where I’ve been — 16 Final Fours … We are just beginning this thing and trying to figure out how to get to a Sweet Six- teen.” Loyola Marymount breezed through West Coast Confer- ence campaign and has won 15 straight despite wearing the favorite’s bull’s-eye. The Lions captured the league postsea- son tournament and thus gained the WCC’s lone NCAA bid. “Each game has a very spe- cial meaning, back to when we played Pepperdine with three games remaining (to clinch the regular season title),” said Wil- hoit. Baylor and LMU last played in December of 2000, with the Lady Bears winning 77-66 at home in Waco, Texas. Four current Lions, includ- ing WCC player of the year Kate Murray, participated in that game. LMU is an experi- enced and savvy team that goes five deep on the bench — which should help offset the Los Angeles-based school’s adjustment to playing at alti- tude. “We have to go in knowing that we prepared ourselves as much as possible,” said Mur- ray. “Our preparation and our confidence in ourselves will help us overcome any disad- vantages.” First-Time Lions Are First-Round Foe No. 12 New Mexico (23-7) LOCATION: Albuquerque NICKNAME: Lobos RECORD: 23-7 over- all, 12-2 in the Moun- tain West Conference TOURNAMENT HISTORY: 2-3 in three appearances, Sweet 16 in 2003 COACH: Don Flanagan (189-87 in ninth year at UNM) ROAD TO THE PIT: Won second consecu- tive Mountain West Conference tourna- ment and second straight automatic bid to the tournament. Lobos have won 11 in a row after opening the season at 7-5. Starters 42 Lindsey Arndt 6-1, F, Jr., 10.4 ppg, 7.1 rpg 33 Melissa Forest 6-2, C, Sr., 10.5 ppg, 6.8 rpg 5 Abbie Letz 6 feet, G, So., 5.6 ppg, 3.7 rpg 21 Mandi Moore 5-7, G, Jr., 8.0 ppg, 4.4 apg 14 Judy Vogt 6-1, G, So., 1.9 ppg, 1.0 rpg Key Reserves 13 Katie Montgomery 5-11, G, Fr., 5.1 ppg, 2.7 rpg 30 Fatima Maddox 5-6, G, Fr., 4.9 ppg, 1.9 rpg 4 Jenny Shetters 6-4, C, Jr., 3.6 ppg, 1.5 rpg 50 Lauren McLeod 5-11, F, Sr., 3.6 ppg, 1.6 rpg 40 Julie Briody 6 feet, G, Fr., 4.9 ppg, 1.0 rpg 24 Jana Francis 6-3, P, So., 2.9 ppg, 1.7 rpg No. 5 Florida (18-10) LOCATION: Gainesville, Fla. NICKNAME: Gators RECORD: 18-10 overall, 8-6 in the SEC TOURNAMENT HISTORY: 8-9 in nine appearances, the last in 2002 COACH: Carolyn Peck (second year at Florida, 27-29; 82-40 overall in five years. Won NCAA crown at Purdue in 1999) ROAD TO THE PIT: Gators were only 9-19 last season in first year under Peck. Flori- da has lost five of its last seven games after winning five in a row in the tough SEC. Center Vanessa Hayden, who averages a double-double, might be the first post player taken in the WNBA draft. Starters 45 Tashia Morehead 5-11, F, Jr., 11.9 ppg, 5.5 rpg 32 Brittany Davis 6-2, F, So., 3.2 ppg, 3.8 rpg 55 Vanessa Hayden 6-4, C, Sr., 19.3 ppg, 10.7 rpg 21 Danielle Santos 5-10, G, So., 9.1 ppg, 3.6 rpg 3 Tishona Gregory 5-5, G, Jr., 5.8 ppg, 1.8 rpg Key reserves 33 Bernice Mosby 6-1, F, So., 13.2 ppg, 6.6 rpg 11 Sarah Lowe 5-7, G, So., 4.5 ppg, 3.1 rpg 23 Tamia Williams 6 feet, F, Jr., 2.9 ppg, 0.5 rpg 34 Dalila Eshe 6-3, F, So., 2.3 ppg, 3.0 rpg No. 4 Baylor (24-8) LOCATION: Waco, Texas NICKNAME: Lady Bears RECORD: 24-8 over- all, 10-6 in the Big 12 TOURNAMENT HISTORY: 1-2 in two appearances, last in 2002 COACH: Kim Mulkey Roberton (96-34 in four seasons at Baylor) ROAD TO THE PIT: The Bears finished the season with a No. 15 national ranking and had wins over power- houses Texas and Texas Tech. Baylor also defeated Florida in Gainesville 71-54. Stephanie Blackmon, one of the Bears top players, is doubtful with a knee injury suffered in the Big 12 tournament. Starters 33 Sophia Young 6-1, F, So., 16.4 ppg, 8.6 rpg 51 Emily Niemann 6- 1, F, Fr., 9.7 ppg, 2.7 apg 50 Dionne Brown 6-2, F, Sr., 7.9 ppg, 5.4 rpg 10 Jessika Stratton 5-10, G, Sr., 9.4 ppg, 3.8 apg 2 Chelsea Whitaker 5-9, G, Jr., 5.1 ppg, 3.3 rpg Key reserves 45 Stephanie Black- mon 6-2, C, Jr., 15.6 ppg, 6.9 rpg 21 Chameka Scott 6 feet, G, So., 4.7 ppg, 3.8 rpg 35 Abiola Wabara 6 feet, F, Fr., 2.4 ppg, 1.5 rpg 25 Melanie Hamerly 6-5, C, Jr., 2.7 ppg, 1.4 rpg No. 13 Loyola Marymount (24-5) LOCATION: Los Angeles NICKNAME: Lions RECORD: 24-5 over- all, 13-1 in the West Coast Conference TOURNAMENT HISTORY: First appearance COACH: Julie Wilhoit (236-209 in 15 years, nine at LMU) ROAD TO THE PIT: Lions won the automatic bid by win- ning the West Coast Conference tourna- ment. LMU has won 15 straight over the last two months. A deep team, it has nine players averaging more than 10 minutes a game. Starters 22 Kate Murray 6 feet, F, Sr., 16.0 ppg, 6.4 rpg 33 Mary Turner 5-10, F, Jr., 5.9 ppg, 3.7 rpg 23 Adrianne Slaughter 6-2, C, Sr., 10.8 ppg, 6.7 rpg 21 Bianca Ziemann 5-8, G, So., 6.3 ppg, 2.7 rpg 3 Raelen Self 5-6, G, Sr., 4.6 ppg, 2.8 apg Key reserves 30 Rachael Ziemann 5-8, G, So., 4.8 ppg, 1.7 rpg 32 Jacquelyn Woods 6 feet, F, Jr., 4.3 ppg, 2.8 rpg 12 Jasmin Matthews 6 feet, G, Sr., 4.0 ppg, 2.7 rpg 20 Jenni Smith 6 feet, C, So., 2.4 ppg, 1.2 rpg ARNDT FOREST LETZ MOORE VOGT MOREHEAD DAVIS HAYDEN SANTOS GREGORY YOUNG NIEMANN BROWN STRATTON WHITAKER MURRAY TURNER SLAUGHTER ZIEMANN SELF New Mexico vs. Florida Today at the Pit, 7:21 p.m. Radio: KNML-AM (610). TV: ESPN2 Baylor vs. Loyola Marymount Today at the Pit, 9:40 p.m. TV: ESPN2 JIM THOMPSON/JOURNAL UNM’s team watches as Florida’s Vanessa Hayden, No. 55, takes a shot in the Gators’ workout in the Pit Friday. Yale University Chávez Sunport Blvd. UNM Arena “The Pit” Albuquerque International Sunport Gibson JOURNAL 25 They’re available online at www.golobos.com. Click on the red-and-blue NCAA logo. Payments by check, money order or major credit card are accepted. According to the UNM ticket office, today’s session is sold out but approximately 600 tickets are available for Mon- day. Those are on sale as sin- gle-session tickets and are $12 for adults and $6 for stu- dents. Phone orders for Mon- day’s tickets can be placed after 8 a.m. Sunday at 925-5858 or 800-905-3315. The ticket office opens at 4 p.m. today for those who have not picked up tickets. The office will remain open until the start of the second game. NCAA TOURNA- MENT GUIDE PARKING: The cost is $5 in the Rio Grande, Vista, Sierra, Pecos, Mesa, Highland, Zia, Kachina and Cherry-Silver lots. There will be no charge for parking in the dirt lots or the lots east of the UNM track. SECURITY: There will be no re-entry into the arena. All large bags (backpacks, etc.) are prohibited. All bags will be inspected prior to entering the area. Ticketholders can be instructed to return prohibited items to their vehicles, homes, etc. NON-PERMISSIBLE ITEMS: Firearms, alcoholic beverages, bottles, cans, coolers, food, video cameras, laser pointers, airhorns and promotional items (e.g., cups, flags) with commercial logos. Tickets JIM THOMPSON/JOURNAL Jessika Stratton and her Baylor teammates have high hopes of a NCAA tournament run. Center Adrianne Slaughter leads Loyola Marymount into the NCAA Tournament for the first time.