[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 40 (Thursday, April 14, 1994)]
[Senate]
[Page S]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: April 14, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
       AS THEY SAY BACK BACK HOME, HOW 'BOUT THEM LADY TAR HEELS

  Mr. HELMS. Mr. President, it was about this time a year ago that I 
did some bragging in the Senate about University of North Carolina's 
men's basketball team that had just won the NCAA championship. Many 
college basketball fans expected a repeat performance from that team 
this year. It didn't happen--but whatta you know? The UNC Lady Tar 
Heels basketball team earned the championship spotlight this time 
around.
  While a lot of folks in Washington are celebrating the championship 
of a university from another southern State--the name escapes me--the 
remarkable accomplishments of UNC's Lady Tar Heels, in winning the 1994 
NCAA Women's National Basketball Championship, are at least as 
thrilling as those of the guys from Arkansas.
  Consider this: On April 3, just down the road in Richmond, the 
poised, unflappable young women from UNC-CH defeated Louisiana Tech 
University, 60-59.
  Talk about a thriller! Charlotte Smith's heart-stopping three point 
basket with seven-tenths of a second--repeat; second--remaining, the 
Lady Tar Heels completed their astonishing drive to their first-ever 
national title. No doubt, Miss Smith was inspired by her uncle, David 
Thompson, who--remember?--led the N.C. State Wolfpack to the NCAA men's 
championship in 1974--20 years ago.
  Miss Smith's stunning three-pointer provided an appropriate climax to 
UNC-CH's amazing 33-2 season. Led by Coach Sylvia Hatchell, these young 
women captured the Atlantic Coast Conference title, then marched onward 
to Richmond and the national crown--all from a team that finished last 
in the ACC just 3 years ago.
  Mr. President, this Tar Heel victory continues the importance of the 
Old North State in the NCAA basketball championships. I would be remiss 
if I didn't take note of the splendid performance by Coach Mike 
Krzyzewski and his Duke Blue Devils who almost made it two for two. The 
Blue Devils were edged out in a fine effort, losing 76-72 in Charlotte, 
to that talented team from the University of Arkansas.
  Allow me also to congratulate the folks in Charlotte who did such a 
tremendous job in hosting this year's NCAA Final Four. It is a 
measurement of North Carolina's hospitality that this event was such a 
success.
  So, Mr. President, it is on behalf of Dot Helms--a UNC-CH alumna--and 
all of the many other thousands who have been graduated from, or who 
have attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, that I 
express my pride in, and extend my best wishes to, UNC-CH's Lady Tar 
Heels. This Wake Forest alumnus is delighted that one of the two NCAA 
national basketball championship trophies will remain in the State of 
North Carolina for the fourth straight year.

                          ____________________