Lady Vols Have Score To Settle With Texas

The answer is December 22, 2000 and the score was 67-59.

The question you ask? When was the last time the University of Tennessee Lady Vols defeated the University of Texas Longhorns on the basketball court?

It’s not a misprint and is a great sports trivia question. Almost five years have elapsed since the Lady Vols have emerged victorious against the Longhorns. It does seem unbelievable considering that the Lady Vols are customarily the dominators instead of the dominated. That’s how legendary head coach Pat Summitt became the winningest college coach of all time and is on the way to capturing an unfathomable 900th victory later this season. How many programs can only dream of what Texas coach Jody Conradt, who herself is a legend having amassed 755 wins in 29 seasons at Texas (overall, she has 872 wins including 869 entering this season), and her players have accomplished during their last four meetings with Tennessee?

When the Longhorns defeated Tennessee by 16 in Austin on Thanksgiving night 2004, the 74-59 loss was Tennessee’s worst defeat of the season. While four straight losses to the Longhorns was nothing to be proud of, it paled compared to six consecutive setbacks to the enemy opponent of the Big Orange Nation otherwise known as Connecticut. Then January came and so did UConn to Thompson-Boling Arena where Tennessee triumphantly sent the Huskies back to Storrs with a loss much to the ecstasy and relief of Big Orange loyalists.

Let’s do a quick review of how the number one Lady Vols celebrated this past Thanksgiving playing at the Paradise Jam in the Virgin Islands. One foe was the Michigan State team that ended Tennessee’s aspirations of a seventh national championship at April’s Final Four in Indianapolis.

Coach Summitt didn’t have to motivate her players for this rematch. Just ask Shanna Zolman, one of two seniors on this year’s squad along with Tye’sha Fluker.

“We were so hyped.” Zolman told reporters following Thursday night’s game. “We wanted Michigan State so bad.”

The Spartans were ready to redefine paradise after losing by 28 to the Lady Vols with Zolman leading the way with 19 points in the 83-55 shellacking.

The Lady Vols returned from the Virgin Islands still unbeaten at 5-0. However, Maryland gave Tennessee its toughest battle before the Lady Vols emerged victorious 80-75 Saturday.

Now Tennessee is preparing for a much awaited visitor on Thursday night at 7pm for a showdown that will be nationally televised on ESPN2 (TalkRadio 102.3 locally).

Texas is coming to Knoxville.

The 18th–ranked Longhorns are 3-1 since losing to New Mexico in the season opener. Texas is led by junior All-American Tiffany Jackson, who along with Zolman is a pre-season candidate for the Wade Trophy, awarded to the national player of the year.

Jackson has averaged 11.3 points and 6.8 points in the Longhorns’ wins over Sam Houston State and future Tennessee opponents George Washington and South Carolina.

The leading scorer for Texas has been freshman Erika Arriaran who has averaged 12.8 points an outing.

Meanwhile, Tennessee’s redshirt freshman sensation Candace Parker has lived up to her much publicized credentials. The 6-3 forward whose every move on the court is being photographed in anticipation of her first collegiate dunk, leads Lady Vol scoring with a 15.6 average as well as rebounds with almost nine per game.

On the defensive front, Parker has had 15 blocks and seven steals.

Zolman is averaging 14.6 points while sophomore Alexis Hornbuckle, who scored a career high of 19 against Maryland, is the third Tennessee player averaging double digits with 11.4.

Hornbuckle is also leading the team in steals with 14.

Sidney Spencer is averaging 7.6 points per game but the junior reserve forward has been perfect from the free throw line connecting on all eight attempts.

No Lady Vol has played less than 39 minutes total in the first five games this season, a testimony to the unending Tennessee depth. They have outscored the opponents 417-278.

This Tennessee team is traditionally living up to all of the expectations to which it is so accustomed to season after season.

Come Thursday night, one streak may continue or a new one might start.

If Candace, Shanna, Alexis and their Lady Vol teammates have it their way, it won’t be five losses in a row to the Longhorns.

A new streak will begin at one for Tennessee against Texas.