Mississippi (15-6) vs. (5) Tennessee (17-3)
Game Info: 3:00 pm EST Sun Feb 6, 2005
With Shyra Ely struggling through an off night Thursday, Shanna Zolman stepped up to boost Tennessee.
Zolman looks to turn in another strong performance as the fifth-ranked Lady Vols host Southeastern Conference rival Mississippi on Sunday.
Zolman scored a career-high 28 points off the bench in Thursday's 91-82 overtime win over Florida. The Lady Vols (17-3, 7-0) have won 41 consecutive regular season SEC games.
``I felt like I was shooting in the ocean,'' Zolman said. ``Whenever I have that feeling, I know when I get open looks, it's going to go in.''
Zolman injured her knee in the closing minutes of Monday's win over No. 18 Georgia, but the results of a subsequent MRI were negative. She played 34 minutes Thursday, going 8-of-9 from the field and 9-of-10 from the line, including free throws with 21.4 seconds left in regulation to send the game into overtime.
``No one panicked, and Shanna made a big play,'' said coach Pat Summitt, who is 11 wins shy of becoming the winningest coach in NCAA basketball history. ``As she got ready to shoot those two free throws, I said I would bet my house that both of them were going to go in. I didn't have any takers.''
Ely, who averages a team-best 13.1 points per game, managed only two points, no rebounds and four turnovers in 23 minutes.
Loree Moore, who was knocked unconscious during the Georgia game after being hit in the nose, returned for Thursday's game. She had four points, five rebounds and five assists in 27 minutes and played with a splint on her nose.
However, Tye'sha Fluker did not play because of an illness in the family and will not be back Sunday.
Sidney Spencer made her first start in eight games and had 11 points and seven rebounds for Tennessee. Nicky Anosike added 12 points and 11 rebounds for her first career double-double.
The Lady Rebels (15-6, 5-3) were pounded 82-58 by top-ranked LSU on Thursday, snapping a four-game winning streak. LSU and Tennessee are the only teams without a loss in SEC play this season.
Carletta Brown had 17 points and Arminitie Price added 15 for Ole Miss. The Rebels had been off to their best start in nine years, matching their 15-5 record from 1995-96.
Amber Watts, who scored 21 points in last Sunday's win at Arkansas, was in foul trouble and managed just one point.
``We just struggled out of the gate to be aggressive,'' coach Carol Ross said. ``We have to take the game to people. We can't sit back. ... It takes a lot of energy to get that turned. They popped us in the mouth, and it got away again.''
Ole Miss leads the SEC with 44.1 rebounds per game and 132 offensive boards. However, Tennessee is outrebounding conference opponents by a league-best 9.9 per game.
Tennessee leads the all-time series 27-7 and has won the last 11 meetings. Ole Miss has not won in Knoxville since Jan. 31, 1987.
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