Tuesday, December 05, 2006

(6) Tennessee 85, Tenn-Martin 29

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- Candace Parker scored 17 points and grabbed 11 rebounds to help No. 6 Tennessee respond to its first loss by beating Tennessee-Martin 85-29 on Tuesday night.

The Lady Vols (7-1) lost 70-57 at second-ranked North Carolina on Sunday, struggling against the Tar Heels' defensive pressure.

UT-Martin, the alma mater of Tennessee coach Pat Summitt, was not expected to challenge the Lady Vols, and the Skyhawks (4-2) didn't.

The Lady Vols were ahead 18-0 before Jennifer Angler scored for UT-Martin with 11:43 left in the first half.

The Ohio Valley Conference team last played its sister school in 1999, and Tennessee won 133-60.

Reserve Alex Fuller added 14 points for the Lady Vols while Sidney Spencer had 13 and Nicky Anosike 10.

Tennessee was ahead 43-13 at halftime and continued to pull away in the second half. The Skyhawks had trouble getting off shots, and the buzzer often sounded for shot clock violations. They were smaller than the Lady Vols and struggled to defend and rebound.

The Lady Vols had the rebounding edge, 46-24.

Parker scored 11 points in the first 12 minutes of the first half and then sat and watched until halftime. She added six points in the second half before going to the bench with most of the other starters with 10:15 remaining and the Lady Vols ahead by 41.

UT-Martin named its basketball court in Summitt's honor in 1997.

The Skyhawks were led in scoring by Nicole Holman, Phyllisha Mitchell and Andreika Jackson each with six points. UT-Martin made 10 of 49 shots from the field.

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