Sunday, January 02, 2005

(8) Tennessee 68, Old Dominion 58

NORFOLK, Va. -- Pat Summitt won't be needing another new clipboard.

Summitt's Tennessee Lady Vols recovered from a disappointing 65-51 loss to No. 24 Rutgers by beating Old Dominion 68-58 Sunday, snapping the Lady Monarchs' 21-game home winning streak.

It wasn't always pretty, but Summitt -- who broke her clipboard in frustration after Wednesday night's loss -- wasn't complaining about the Lady Vols' ninth consecutive win over Old Dominion.

``We feel fortunate to get out of here with a `W,''' Summitt said after the game, played before a raucous crowd of 7,063 -- Old Dominion's biggest crowd since the 2002 home opener against Virginia.

The Lady Vols (9-3) shot just 37 percent and were outrebounded 51-42.

``This team is struggling to establish an identity, and that puzzles me with seven veterans returning,'' Summitt said.

The Lady Monarchs (4-5) had even more trouble than Tennessee finding the basket, shooting 30 percent -- only 18 percent in the second half. Old Dominion dominated the offensive glass but too often came up empty on second and third shots.

``We were 5-for-21 at the rim,'' Old Dominion coach Wendy Larry said. ``That's the game. No excuses -- we've got to finish at the rim.''

Summitt said her team's failure to box out in its matchup zone defense contributed to Old Dominion's success on the glass. But Shyra Ely, who led the Lady Vols with 20 points, said the Lady Monarchs also deserve credit.

``They're a real athletic team,'' she said. ``Their board play was awesome.''

The Lady Monarchs struggled from the outside, missing all 13 of their 3-point attempts. T.J. Jordan, who had hit at least one 3 in each of the last six games, was 0-for-11 from behind the arc and 0-for-13 overall.

``I rushed a few of them,'' the freshman guard said. ``Some were good shots, they were just rolling in and out.''

Ely hit jumpers from the left and right wings and added a pair of free throws during a 10-4 run to put Tennessee ahead 22-13, but Old Dominion chipped away and took its only lead of the game, 27-26, on Tiffany Green's two free throws 4:28 before the break.

Dominique Redding hit a pair of free throws 14 seconds later to put the Lady Vols back on top. Tennessee built the lead to 36-29, but a short jumper by Shareese Grant and a layup by Lawona Davis made it 36-33 at halftime.

Old Dominion's Tish Lyons scored to open the second half, but Redding hit a 3-pointer to spark a 9-2 Tennessee run. Ely hit two jumpers in the run, which Alexis Hornbuckle capped with a driving layup to make it 45-37 with 16:28 left.

The Lady Vols twice stretched the lead to 10. But Tennessee's Sidney Spencer and Tye'sha Fluker fouled out, and Sherida Triggs hit a pair of free throws and a jumper to pull Old Dominion to 53-50 with 6:26 left.

Brittany Jackson, who scored 16 points, responded with a 3-pointer and the lady Vols held off the Lady Monarchs by going 8-for-8 from the free-throw line in the final 1:06.

Green led Old Dominion with 12 points and 11 rebounds, seven offensive. Davis added 11 points, and Grant had 10 for the lady Monarchs.

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