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UConn, Tennessee lose key players

 
Published March 17, 1997|Updated Oct. 1, 2005

Top-ranked Connecticut will try to top its perfect season without one of its top-notch players.

The Huskies found out Sunday that 6-foot freshman Shea Ralph, a steady and spunky swing player who provided huge boosts as the first player off the bench, blew out her right knee during Saturday's opening-round win over Lehigh and is out for the tournament.

She'll have surgery to repair the tear in her anterior cruciate ligament.

Tennessee is expected to be without point guard Kellie Jolly, who sprained an ankle late in the first half Saturday.

She'll likely be on the bench against Oregon tonight with the Vols' other point guard, Laurie Milligan, who suffered a season-ending knee injury in January.

"Our team has to understand this will be the first time we've had to play without a point guard for a whole game," coach Pat Summitt said. "It's extremely critical for our team to understand we need five ball-handlers on the floor at all times."

_ TIMES WIRES