The last time the Tennessee Lady Vols played a game at Liacouras Center in Philadelphia, they advanced to the 2005 NCAA Final Four.
Tomorrow’s game with 22nd ranked Temple on their home court in Philadelphia doesn’t have any post-seasons implications yet for the nation’s number one team.
However, the Lady Vols will be seeking its eleventh straight victory in remaining undefeated when they face the Owls in a 7 p.m. skirmish that will be televised by Comcast Sports South on tape delay at 9 p.m.
Tennessee is embarking on a two game road trip that will conclude on Saturday when they travel to South Bend to face 12th ranked Notre Dame.
This will be just the second meeting between the Lady Vols and the Owls. In the series opener last November, Tennessee came from behind to edge Temple 52-48.
The Owls are coached by former University of Virginia great and current WNBA Houston Comet star Dawn Staley.
Staley, who is in her sixth season as Temple’s leader, was the Most Valuable Player in the 1991 NCAA Final Four despite the fact that the Lady Vols defeated the Cavaliers in overtime to win its third national championship at the time. It was the first NCAA women’s title game to go beyond regulation.
Tennessee head coach Pat Summitt, who is eight wins shy of attaining her 900th career victory, is an ardent admirer of Staley’s, whose 8-2 team upset 17th ranked Georgia on the 19th.
“I have tremendous respect and admiration for Dawn’s playing ability and her competitiveness” she said in a Lady Vol press release. “You could see her leadership then on the court and now you see it on the sidelines as a coach. I believe that what allowed her to be a special basketball player has also allowed her to be a successful coach.”
“She possesses the knowledge of the game and has great composure. She obviously knows the game and with the communication and leadership skills gained from her playing days, she now shares that with her team. It’s great to see players coaching the game and giving back to help build on the success of our sport.”
Summitt, who is the all-time winnningest coach in NCAA history, has only added to her infinite legacy with the 2005-06 Lady Vols which is a team that is winning games by an average of almost 30 points per outing.
Senior guard Shanna Zolman is having a memorable final season at Tennessee becoming the team’s leading scorer averaging 17.3 points per game thanks in part to her Midas touch from the three point line and her near perfection at the free throw stripe.
Zolman has scored 87 of her 173 total season points from the outer line as she has nailed 29 of 61 attempts. The 5-10 native of Syracuse, Indiana connected on five of six three-pointers in the 68-point victory over Princeton last week.
As impressive as her three point shooting has been, her free throw performance has been almost immaculate. The 5-10 Zolman has missed just two of 24 charity shots this season.
As Zolman is in the twilight of her Lady Vol career, for redshirt freshman sensation Candace Parker her Tennessee memories are just starting.
Parker, the 6-3 forward from Naperville, Illinois who arrived in Knoxville amidst unprecedented media coverage befitting a two time national high school player of the year, has already been tabbed the Southeastern Conference Freshman of the Week two times this young season.
Parker leads in Lady Vol rebounding with 9.5 per game and is second in scoring behind Zolman averaging 15.6 points. The Princeton game was the first in which she failed to score in double figures. She has had three double-double games in the wins against Texas, Stanford and Stetson.
Alexis Hornbuckle, who inherited the point guard position following the departure of Sa’de Wiley-Gatewood, is averaging 10.3 points per game. Hornbuckle had a career high six steals against Princeton and leads the Lady Vols with 31.
Joining Zolman, Parker and Hornbuckle in the Lady Vol starting lineup will be senior center Tye’sha Fluker and sophomore forward Nicky Anosike.
The Owls are led by a pair of forwards in senior pre-season All-American Candice Dupree and junior Kamesha Hairston. Dupree is tops in both scoring and rebounding for Temple averaging 16.3 and 9.8 respectively. Hairston is averaging 13 points a contest.
After the Notre Dame game on Saturday, the Lady Vols return to Knoxville to host Old Dominion on Monday.
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