(1) Tennessee (1-0) vs. N.C. State (1-0)
Game Info: 5:00 pm EST Sun Nov 21, 2004
Team Stat Leaders
Points PPG
Shyra Ely, Tenn 17.0
Billie McDowell, NCSU 21.0
Assists APG
Alexis Hornbuckle, Tenn 4.0
Marquetta Dickens, NCSU 5.0
Rebounds RPG
Shyra Ely, Tenn 10.0
Tiffany Stansbury, NCSU 16.0
This is the game that should test top-ranked Tennessee's mettle.
Two days after a 68-34 victory over Chattanooga in their season opener, the Lady Vols travel to Raleigh, N.C. to face North Carolina State in the third annual Jimmy V Classic at the RBC Arena on Sunday.
``It is quick turnaround playing N.C. State two days after Chattanooga, again playing a tough opponent, and, obviously, we will be in their environment,'' Tennessee coach Pat Summit said. ``I think we will find out a lot about the leadership of this team in how our team responds.''
Against Chattanooga, Shyra Ely had 17 points and 10 rebounds and Shanna Zolman added 14 points for the Lady Vols, who held the Lady Mocs to 13 percent shooting while outrebounding them 51-34.
``I think from the get-go our defense was crucial,'' said Zolman, who has made 36 straight free throws dating to last season. ``Offensively we had good spurts and bad spurts. For our first road game, I think we played well.''
The Lady Vols have won 21 regular season road games in a row dating to a 63-62 loss at Connecticut on Jan. 4, 2003.
Sunday's matchup features two Hall of Fame coaches in Summitt and Kay Yow, who is in her 30th season at N.C. State. Summitt, in her 31st season at Tennessee, has 853 victories and needs 27 more to become the all-time winningest coach in NCAA basketball history.
Yow is three wins shy of 600, which would put her in a class with Summitt, Texas' Jody Conradt and retired Peter Granelli of St. Peter's College.
Yow was an assistant under Summitt when she coached the 1984 USA Olympic basketball team to its first-ever gold medal.
``Having worked together with the '84 Olympic Team and really experiencing a wonderful gold medal run, we became friends,'' Summitt said. ``But at the same time, as we compete, we're both very competitive and want our team to compete to the best of their abilities and leave whatever happens on the floor.''
The Wolfpack opened its season with a 67-49 home win over UNC-Wilmington on Friday.
Junior guard Billie McDowell scored 21 points, while junior center Tiffany Stansbury added 12 points and 16 rebounds for N.C. State.
``We are really trying to find ourselves right now and I think that we did a great job,'' Yow said.
The Wolfpack, the underdog in the tournament for the third straight year, lost 78-50 to then-No. 6 UConn last season after dropping a 69-56 decision to then-No. 2 Texas the year before.
The Lady Vols won the last meeting 93-56 in the Honda Elite Classic in Orlando, Fla., on Dec. 2, 2001, and lead the all-time series 11-3.
The Wolfpack won the last home matchup, 90-77 on Dec. 1, 1990.
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