Dosty the difference for Lady Vols

KNOXVILLE — Maybe all they needed was a center.

The ninth-ranked Lady Vols came from behind to beat No. 15 DePaul 78-63 yesterday, but Tennessee struggled until freshman center Sybil Dosty came in late in the first half.

She played just 15 minutes, but still managed a double-double with 11 points and 11 rebounds. The Lady Vols outscored the Blue Demons 45-14 with Dosty in the game, and were dominant in the post for the first time this season.

''She's been the most efficient player for the minutes she's played,'' Coach Pat Summitt said. ''We need a presence inside, and certainly she posed a big presence inside.''

DePaul (6-2) built its lead to as big as 40-25 with 1:39 left in the first half, but that's when Dosty entered the game. She immediately got a putback bucket, was fouled and made the free throw.

Tennessee (5-2) trailed 40-31 at the half.

In the second half Dosty came back in the game with the Blue Demons leading 44-33. She led the Lady Vols on a 17-4 run, and Tennessee took a 50-48 lead on a Shyra Ely putback. From that point UT was able to wear down the Blue Demons, who had only seven players with significant playing time.

''I wanted to bring a lot of energy when I came off the bench,'' Dosty said. ''I haven't gotten too many chances to do that. So whenever I get my chance, I'm just going to take advantage of it.''

The first half shooting percentage of 32.4 looked like the same Tennessee team that lost to Duke 59-57 and nearly lost to Temple before pulling out a 52-48 win. But the Lady Vols shot 57.1 percent in the second half — a season high for one half.

''This is as hard as growing up on a dairy farm and milking cows,'' Summitt said. ''We had to work really hard for this win.''

Ely led Tennessee with 17 points. Khara Smith had 18 points and eight rebounds to lead DePaul.

UT outscored the Blue Demons 30-2 in the paint in the second half and were consistent on the offensive end for the first time since the season opener at Chattanooga.

''It's just vintage Tennessee, beating people on the glass,'' DePaul Coach Doug Bruno said.

Freshman point guard Alexis Hornbuckle struggled early but finished with 15 points, eight rebounds and three blocked shots in her first start.

Hornbuckle is filling in for senior point guard Loree Moore, who had a tonsillectomy Friday.

''I thought she was able to turn it around in the course of the game,'' Summitt said. ''A lot of times in my career, I've had players who couldn't do that. You had to wait until the next time you played.''

Tennessee travels to Ruston, La., Wednesday to play Louisiana Tech.