Hokies hoping tough conference schedule keeps paying dividends, face Missouri in first-round matchup

3/16/2006 1:47 PM

Playing a tough ACC schedule paid off for Virginia Tech, which earned its fourth straight NCAA tournament bid and will face Missouri on Sunday in the first round of the Bridgeport Regional.

The seventh-seeded Hokies (20-9) and 10th-seeded Tigers (21-9) will be meeting for the first time. Missouri is in the tournament for only the fourth time in the last 20 years.

Virginia Tech lost to Duke in the ACC tournament quarterfinals, but earned a bid to the NCAA tournament because of the strength of the conference. Five of the Hokies' nine losses came to ACC teams ranked in the top 5 of the latest poll - three to the Blue Devils and one each to North Carolina and Maryland.

North Carolina and Duke earned No. 1 seeds while Maryland is a No. 2.

The Hokies reached the tournament for the seventh time in nine years and are looking to get past the second round for the second time in school history. Virginia Tech is 6-2 in first-round games, but has only one trip to the regional semifinals, in 1999.

Virginia Tech features a balanced attack, with four players averaging double figures in points, led by Dawn Chriss' 12.8 per contest.

Kerri Gardin, who averages 12.4 points and an ACC-best 9.9 rebounds, was chosen third team All-ACC.

``It's nice to see her rewarded for dominance on the boards,'' Virginia Tech coach Beth Dunkenberger said. ``She has been a big key to our successful season thus far.''

Missouri has its highest win total prior to NCAA tourney play since 1985 and is back in the tournament for the first time since 2004.

The Tigers, however, have lost three of their last four games, including a 75-54 defeat to Oklahoma in the Big 12 tournament semifinals.

``This team has accomplished a lot,'' Missouri coach Cindy Stein said after that loss. ``I don't think we should forget that, and you know, I think the main thing for us is to get ready for the NCAA tournament.''

The Tigers are led by LaToya Bond, a first team All-Big 12 and All-Big 12 defensive team pick. Bond scored more than 30 points three times this season and tops the Tigers with 17.3 points per game.

Missouri has had success as a No. 10 seed, advancing to the regional semifinals in 2000 for only the second time in school history.

The winner faces five-time national champion Connecticut or Coppin State on Tuesday.