In another rematch from last year's Big Dance, the Gophers looked ragged and never led in the first half, but defeated Virginia anyway behind junior posts Podominick and Broback, who combined for 32 points. UVA's Sharnee Zoll had 16 points and three treys.

Annoyed with the Gophs' lackluster win on Friday, coach Borton sounded a brighter note yesterday: "That was a war tonight, and I'm excited about the poise we displayed down the stretch... Virginia played very hard."

Gopher frosh guard Emily Fox, already a difference-maker, stayed on the floor towards the end of the hard-fought game, in place of Shannon Schonrock-- a major rotation experiment for coach Borton. Broback was tournament MVP.