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Compiled from Times wires
© St. Petersburg Times, published March 10, 2001
UF's Ross is honored by WBCA
ATLANTA -- The Women's Basketball Coaches Association announced Friday eight WBCA Division I District Coaches of the Year, and Florida's Carol Ross was named as the honoree for District 3. It is the second time during her 11-year career Ross has earned the accolade, also receiving the award in 1997.
Other winners: Notre Dame's Muffet McGraw (D1), Duke's Gail Goestenkors (D2), Toledo's Mark Ehlen (D4), Oklahoma's Sherri Coale (D5), Iowa's Lisa Bluder (D6), Utah's Elaine Elliott (D7) and Arizona State's Charli Turner (D8).
The association's national coach of the year will be announced March 28.
BYU 57, NO. 14 UTAH 50: In Las Vegas, Erin Thorn hit a three-pointer and two free throws in the final minute, and the Cougars rallied from a 20-point halftime deficit to advance the championship.
The Cougars, who outscored the Utes 37-10 in the second half and had the game's last nine points, face Colorado State, a 70-65 winner over New Mexico, in tonight's final.
Caroline Beus led the Cougars with 14 points, and Thorn and Stacy Jensen added 13 apiece. Lauren Beckman led Utah (26-3) with 11 points and Kristina Anderson added 10.
It was tied at 50 when Thorn hit a three-pointer with 58 seconds left. She then stole a pass, was fouled and converted both free throws.
After Utah's Erin Gibbons turned the ball over, Jensen made two free throws with 23 seconds left to complete the scoring.
Utah led 40-20 at halftime, but the Cougars scored the first seven points of the second half to begin their comeback.
A 14-0 spurt, sparked by two three-pointers by Jensen, cut the Utes' lead to 44-43 with about eight minutes left, and it was close after that until BYU pulled away in the final minute.
NO. 16 SW MISSOURI ST. 86, NO. IOWA 54: Jackie Stiles had 14 of her 16 points in the first half for the Bears. Southwest Missouri faces Drake, a 64-59 winner over Evansville, in the tournament championship this afternoon.