Fond memories of another Final Four

By BOB PUTNAM
Published April 4, 2007

Necole Tunsil stayed glued to the television as she watched Rutgers play Tennessee in the NCAA women's championship Tuesday night.

Tunsil, a former standout at Lakewood who now coaches her alma mater, squirmed with every shot and bent with every block.

"I was nervous," Tunsil said. "I felt like I was there in the Final Four with Rutgers coach C. Vivian Stringer."

Thirteen years ago, Tunsil was.

She played for Stringer at the University of Iowa and was on the 1992-93 team that reached the Final Four.

The Hawkeyes lost 73-72 in overtime of the semifinals to Ohio State. In that game, Iowa trailed by one with seven seconds left when Laurie Aaron drove to the basket before tripping and falling, turning the ball over.

Afterward, Tunsil put her arm around Aaron as they walked into the locker room.

"It was a really close game, a buzzer-beater kind of thing," Tunsil said.

Stringer, a Hall of Fame coach now with the Scarlet Knights, was back in the Final Four with the chance to claim her first national title, but her team fell to the Vols 59-46.

Stringer was an influential figure for Tunsil during her college years.

"She means the world to me," Tunsil said of Stringer. "I still talked to her and I don't have to go through a secretary or anything like that. In fact, I called her just before the (NCAA) tournament to go over some defensive strategies for my girls next season."

Tunsil expects to call Stringer again this week.

"I know no matter what, she'll find a way to take something positive from the whole experience," Tunsil said. "That's just the kind of person she is."

Bob Putnam can be reached at putnam@sptimes.com or (727) 445-4169.

[Last modified April 3, 2007, 23:48:10]