Monday, March 26, 2001
Xavier fans turn up the Vol-ume
By Cindy Kranz
The Cincinnati Enquirer
There was no organized hoopla at Xavier University Sunday, but students and fans privately cheered the women's basketball win over the No. 1 NCAA seed.
The victory Saturday over six-time national champion Tennessee in the NCAA Tournament's Mideast Regional ushered the Musketeers into the Elite Eight.
Tonight, the women meet Purdue in Birmingham, Ala.
“I didn't think they would get this far,” said Anja Wierutsch, a 26-year-old MBA student from Hanover, Germany. “I actually thought the guys would get farther than the women did.”
She didn't watch the game Saturday, but plans to tune in tonight.
“I think they're really motivated now because they got that far,” Ms. Wierutsch said.
Just as team members struck a businesslike attitude after their win, it was business as usual Sunday at XU,where students trickled in and out of the library on the Evanston campus.
Many students said they didn't expect the Xavier women to overcome the powerhouse Lady Vols.
“I was very surprised because Tennessee has a great program,” said Tim Connolly, a 20-year-old junior philosophy major from South Bend, Ind. “That we can beat them is really great for our school.”
Mr. Connolly is optimistic about tonight's game: “Anything can happen. That's the great thing about basketball, especially now.”
Off-campus, Tristaters hailed the team.
“With UK losing and with UC going down, the women are all we have left. I think it's wonderful,” said Jack Gormley, 54, who earned an MBA from Xavier in 1978 and an undergraduate degree at University of Kentucky.
“I think they've got a very balanced team. They just wanted it more than Tennessee,” said Mr. Gormley, of Mount Lookout, who was shopping at Surrey Square in Norwood Sunday..
Tonight, he said, Xavier needs Jennifer Phillips, the forward who hurt her knee, to be healthy. “They're going to need to continue to shoot well and keep up the defense.”
Even those who don't describe themselves as Xavier fans complimented the team on its victory, considered the most important in team history.
William Moore, an assistant manager for Blockbuster Video, said he's proud of the Xavier women for beating Tennessee and hopes they go all the way.
“They seem like they had a "Never say die' attitude. They weren't intimidated by the No. 1 team,” the 27-year-old Norwood man said.
Catherine Wilkerson is a University of Cincinnati alum and hadn't heard of Xavier's win, but she was thrilled just the same.
“At least somebody in the city still has it! I'm happy for that. UC didn't do so hot,” said the 30-year-old Clifton woman.
Ms. Wilkerson, who works in communications, said it's a shame people hear more about men's teams than women's. She's happy the women have gotten recognition.
“You go, girls!”
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Xavier fans turn up the Vol-ume
