Thursday, February 10, 2005

Battle for SEC on tap as Lady Vols visit Lady Tigers

(5) Tennessee (18-3) vs. (1) LSU (21-1)
Game Info: 7:00 pm EST Thu Feb 10, 2005 - ESPN2


Sole possession of first place in the Southeastern Conference will be on the line when top-ranked LSU hosts No. 5 Tennessee at the Maravich Center on Thursday.

The Lady Tigers (21-1, 8-0 SEC) are tied with the Lady Vols (18-3, 8-0 SEC) atop the league standings, and each comes into this matchup with a winning streak.

LSU has won eight straight since losing to Rutgers on Jan. 5, while Tennesee has won 10 straight wins since -- coincidentally -- a loss at Rutgers, on Dec. 29.

Although the Lady Tigers are ranked higher, the Lady Vols have won their last 39 SEC regular season games.

``It is a huge game. Anytime you are having the success that both programs are having it becomes a big game,'' LSU head coach Pokey Chatman said. ``Add on to that it is Tennessee. There is always going to be a certain buzz about it for the fans and the community.''

This will be the 40th meeting between the conference rivals, and the first since the Lady Vols beat the Lady Tigers 52-50 in last year's Final Four.

Tennessee leads the all-time series 32-7, including a 10-4 record at Baton Rouge.

All-American junior guard Seimone Augustus, the SEC's second-leading scorer with 20.2 points per game, leads a balanced LSU group. Freshman forward Sylvia Fowles averages 12.5 points and 9.0 rebounds, and senior point guard Temeka Johnson adds 9.7 points and 7.0 assists.

``They appear to be a very mature basketball team with the seniors taking charge and the freshmen blending in very well,'' Tennessee coach Pat Summitt said. ``I do not see any glaring weaknesses. They have depth and rebound the ball well, and they have a number of go-to players.

``You always think of (Temeka) Johnson and (Seimone) Augustus, but I think they are much deeper than those two.''

The Lady Vols will counter with senior forward Shyra Ely, who averages 13.3 points and 6.6 rebounds, and junior guard Shanna Zolman, who adds 11.3 points.

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