Defense saves Lady Vols from upset

KNOXVILLE — There were missed shots. There was arguing on the floor. There was an unranked team threatening to beat the Lady Vols at home.

Tennessee's offensive ineptitude was saved again by its defensive strength in a 52-48 win over unranked Temple yesterday.

The No. 1 Lady Vols (4-1) shot 32.3 percent from the floor, and they have yet to show any signs of consistency on offense.

''If I had the answer, I would give it to them,'' Coach Pat Summitt said. ''But right now, I don't even have the answer. I don't know.''

When the new polls come out today, the Lady Vols will no longer be No. 1 after a 74-59 loss to Texas on Thursday. But this game alone might have moved Tennessee down in the rankings.

Since the Lady Vols began playing at Thompson-Boling Arena during the 1987-88 season, Tennessee has not lost at home to an unranked opponent.

''Our kids put their hearts on the line,'' said Temple Coach Dawn Staley, also a WNBA All-Star for the Charlotte Sting.

''They almost came up with one of the biggest upsets in women's basketball.''

Trailing 50-48, the Owls (2-2) had two chances to tie the game in the final 15 seconds. Kamesha Hairston missed a jumper, and Ari Moore scrambled to pick up the loose ball on the rebound.

She missed a wide open layup, and Shyra Ely pulled down the rebound for the Lady Vols.

''I dreamed about that shot my whole life, and it didn't happen,'' Moore said.

The Lady Vols appeared to have finally taken control of the game when a 7-0 run gave them a 50-45 lead. Shanna Zolman and Ely forced turnovers on three consecutive possessions during that stretch.

''I felt like I needed to do something,'' said Ely, who was taken out of the starting lineup for this game. ''I wasn't really producing offensively.''

Cynthia Jordan, who led all scorers with 14 points, made a 3-pointer to put the Owls right back in the game, but they couldn't convert on either of their final two possessions. Ely made two free throws after her rebound to seal the win.

Zolman led the Lady Vols with 10 points.

''It's upsetting that we lost, but we'll be back,'' Moore said. ''We're going to get somebody, maybe not tonight, but somebody.''

Tennessee's offensive woes left the Owls with a 9-0 lead early in the game, and there were a few possessions in the first half when UT players were arguing about what they were supposed to be doing.

The Lady Vols started off the game 2-for-17 from the floor, but a 13-2 run at the end of the first half put them up 23-22 at halftime.

Freshman Sybil Dosty scored a pair of inside baskets, and fellow freshman Alexis Hornbuckle slashed through the lane and scored at the buzzer for the halftime lead.

Dosty finished 3-for-3 with six points and three rebounds in nine minutes, but did not play late in the game after starting in the second half.

''I wanted a little more experience,'' Summitt said. ''We're in a game like that, and I felt at that point in time, experience would probably be the best move.''