The last time the fourth-ranked Tennessee Lady Vols faced off against North Carolina on the Tar Heels home floor eighteen years ago, the defending NCAA champions was ranked third and the Tar Heels were 10-13 and not making post-season plans.
The game wasn’t televised and the Lady Vols trounced UNC 88-65 that February day. Ironically, the game ended the UT-UNC series that started in 1978 and the teams would not meet again until the 1993 NCAA Sweet Sixteen when UT advanced with a 74-54 win.
Fast forward to the present and oh, how times have changed.
Of course, the Lady Vols have added five more NCAA titles since then and numerous SEC championships while remaining a perennial top five team.
North Carolina, on the other hand, is not the team of 1988.
The Tar Heel squad of today is ranked second, was the NCAA runner-up to Atlantic Coast Conference rival Maryland and was the team that prevented UT from going to the Final Four eight months ago with a 75-63 victory at the Cleveland Regional.
When UT (6-0) and UNC (7-0) meet at 8pm tonight before a sell-out crowd of 8,000 plus at Carmichael Auditorium and a ESPN audience in the battle of the unbeatens and the latest version of a potential Final Four showdown, the newborn rivalry will become more intense and Lady Vol coach Pat Summitt is eagerly anticipating the renewal of the series.
“Sylvia Hatchell (UNC head coach and a longtime friend of Summitt’s) approached me about scheduling again.” She said during her weekly teleconference. “She said she needed some time to deal with when she cancelled the series years ago. Obviously she didn’t need much time.”
“I thought it would be appealing for us, for them and for basketball fans, so we decided to do it and got the games scheduled.”
“I’m looking forward to the series with North Carolina.” She continued. “Our game against them last year in the Elite Eight convinced me even more to stick with the series. Any time that there is a program out there that has a chance of being one of the best in the country, I try to schedule them.”
The meeting will be the 15th between the schools with UT holding a decisive 12-2 lead.
The game will also feature a pair of Player of the Year candidates in UT’s Candace
Parker and UNC’s senior point guard Ivory Latta whose team has been winning games by an average of 49 points.
Parker and Latta are leading their teams in scoring (18.8 and 13.4 points per game respectively) and in accolades. Latta was the ESPN’s 2006 Player of the Year and Parker is a contender for the 2007 award having already been named the network’s pre-season winner and also being named the SEC Player of the Week twice to go along with her conference Pre-Season Player of the Year honor.
When Summitt was asked about the Lady Vols’ match-up with the Tar Heels, she said her team will have to be prepared to contend with UNC’s Erlana Larkins and Camille Little as both women are averaging 12 points and eight rebounds per outing.
“Looking at North Carolina, they are very balanced and deep.” She said. “They have great support off the bench with the point guard play (Latta) and with what they have down the middle.”
“Erlana Larkins (6’1” junior forward) was a really tough guard for us last year and Camille Little (6’2” senior forward) can make great plays.”
“They just have great balance and depth.” Summitt added. “Playing them on their home court will be a good challenge for us and just what this team needs.”
“It will be a good measure of how good we are and where we can improve. When we play against a talented team like North Carolina that can expose weakness and challenge us, it will be good for us.”
In their six previous games, the Lady Vols have been winning by an average of 20 points and the trip to Chapel Hill will be just the second road game of the season. Summitt said this game will give her an indication of how her team has progressed at this juncture.
“I think some of the games that we played in were much more one sided, so we don’t expose our weaknesses in games like that.” She said. “It gives us an opportunity to learn more about ourselves and identify where we need to get better. That is why we play the tough opponents that we face.”
UT’s Shannon Bobbitt will return to the starting lineup tonight after missing the Louisiana Tech game due to a class exam. Some observers have noted that the 5’2” Bobbitt can match her 5’6” counterpart Latta on speed and quickness.
UNC’s Hatchell, who is in her 21st season at Chapel Hill, is a graduate of Carson-Newman College and received her Master’s in Physical Education at UT in 1975.
Gameday Data:
The #4-ranked Tennessee Lady Vols (6-0) venture over the Smoky Mountains tonight to face the #2-ranked North Carolina Tar Heels (7-0) at 8 p.m. in a primetime meeting on ESPN in Carmichael Auditorium.
LADY VOLS AT A GLANCE
This is the Lady Vols' 33rd season under Head Coach Pat Summitt...She has compiled a staggering 919-177 overall record... Is just 81 wins away from a staggering 1,000 career victories...Collected her 900th coaching win with a 80-68 decision over #19-ranked Vanderbilt on Jan. 19, 2006... She passed Dean Smith (879 wins) for most NCAA collegiate basketball wins of all-time with a 75-54 victory over Purdue on Mar. 22, 2005 ...Her 2005-06 squad advanced to the NCAA Elite...Finished with a 31-5 overall record and were the SEC Tournament Champions...
This season, UT returned six letterwinners, welcomed a senior manager turned player, two junior college transfers and a pair of rookies...The 2006-07 season marks the Lady Vol debut for former senior manager #10 Elizabeth Curry, JC transfers #00 Shannon Bobbitt and #33 Alberta Auguste...True freshman, #2 Cait McMahan, a 5-4 guard from Maryville, Tenn., and #34 Nicci Moats, a 6-2 forward from Daleville, Va., also see their first action in the Orange and White this season.
THE 4-1-1 ON THE TAR HEELS
The #2-ranked North Carolina Tar Heels are 7-0 on the season after a 103-48 rout of UNC Greensboro on Nov. 30, in their final tune-up before facing #4-ranked Tennessee. In the win, UNC's Camille Little scored 16 points and was one of five Tar Heels in double-figures. She was joined in the scoring parade by LaToya Pringle with 15 points, Jessica Breland adding a dozen, Heather Claytor with 11 points and Christina Dewitt tossing in 10. North Carolina scored more than 100 points for the second time this season after doing it twice all last season, and had its most points since scoring 106 against East Tennessee State on Nov. 24, 2002. Earlier in the week, UNC captured the Hawaiian Airlines Rainbow Wahine Classic on Nov. 26, with a 94-69 victory over Arkansas in the title game. The trip to the Islands marked the only journey for the Tar Heels outside of the Carolinas until a Jan. 2, 2007, junket to open ACC play at Georgia Tech. UNC's seven victories have come at the expense of East Tennessee (96-35), Winston-Salem State (83-32), Elon (90-36), UNC Greensboro (103-48) - all at home - and Sacramento State (99-38), Gonzaga (101-63) and Arkansas (94-69) in Hawaii.
OUR SCHEDULE THIS WEEK
The Lady Vols have a relatively light schedule this week. UT traveled to Louisiana Tech on Nov. 28 and recorded a sloppy 71-50 win. Tennessee now faces #2-ranked North Carolina on Sun., Dec. 3 in an 8 p.m. ESPN primetime telecast. In the coming week, UT entertains Tennessee-Martin (Dec. 5) and #21/20 George Washington (Dec. 7).
LADY VOLS ON TV
A record 21 Lady Vol regular season games are slated for national/regional television this season. Five non-televised games will be available as streaming video with voice-over from Mickey Dearstone on utladyvols.com. UT is 4-0 on TV this season.
ON THIS DAY
UT is 13-0 in games played on Dec. 3. The Lady Vols are 7-0 at home, 3-0 on the road and 3-0 on neutral courts. The last time out on Dec. 3, the Lady Vols registered a 90-66 victory over Wisconsin in Knoxville in 2000.
LOOKING BACK
Last year at this time, the Lady Vols were 6-0 and had just defeated #16 Texas, 102-61.
PLAYING 12 RANKED TEAMS
Tennessee will play 12 teams in 14 games and five of the nation's top 10 teams ranked in the AP and USA TODAY ESPN polls: 2. North Carolina, 5. Duke, 7. Connecticut, 8. Georgia, 9. LSU, 11. Stanford, 13/12. Arizona St., 14. Vanderbilt, 20/24. Kentucky 21/19. UCLA, 23/21. George Washington, and 25/NR Texas.
BOBBITT EXPECTED TO BE BACK IN THE LINE-UP
UT junior point guard Shannon Bobbitt is expected to be back in the starting line-up against #2-ranked North Carolina. Bobbitt (6.0 ppg, 4.3 apg) missed Tuesday's contest at Louisiana Tech due to a test in one of her classes. Rookie Cait McMahan started in Bobbitt's place in the 71-50 win over the Lady Techsters. McMahan had seven points, four rebounds, three assists and a steal in 24 minutes.
UT'S OFFENSIVE FIREPOWER
In all games, this is how Tennessee has shot from the field: 50%FG: Chattanooga (.579), MTSU (.565), Arizona St. (.548), UCLA (.531), Stanford (.500); 40%FG: Louisiana Tech (.483); 30%FG: none,
DEEE ----- FENSE
In all games, this is how the opposition has shot from the field: 50%FG: none, 40%FG: Arizona St. (.469), Stanford (.456), MTSU (.453), UCLA (.451), Chattanooga (.431), 30%FG: none; 20%FG: Louisiana Tech (.295)
2006-07 WON-LOSS DIFFERENTIAL
Wins: +30 (1), +24 (1), +23 (1), +21 (1), +17 (1), +9 (1), Losses: none
UPCOMING OPPONENT - UT-MARTIN
Lady Vol Coach Pat Summitt's alma mater, Tennessee-Martin, rolls into Knoxville on Tues., Dec. 5, for a 7 p.m. meeting with Tennessee. Prior to facing the Lady Vols, the Skyhawks (3-1) will take on the Memphis Lady Tigers on the road. In their last outing, Tennessee-Martin junior Crystal Fuller stepped to the free throw line with 19 seconds left in overtime and drained both free throws to give the Skyhawks a 53-52 victory over Dayton. It was their second consecutive one-point win and their third consecutive one-point decision of the season. Fuller sealed the win with a defensive rebound with 12 seconds left on the clock. She finished the game with 12 rebounds and seven points. UTM sophomore Phyllisha Mitchell and senior Andreika Jackson posted double-doubles for the Skyhawks. Mitchell had 12 rebounds and 15 points, while Jackson had 13 rebounds and 12 points. Dayton stormed back from a 10-point deficit to tie the game at 49-all and send it into overtime. The Skyhawks out rebounded the Flyers, 54-37.
PARKER NAMED SEC PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Candace Parker was tabbed the SEC Player of the Week on Nov. 27, after leading her team to victories over #11-ranked Stanford, 77-60 and Middle Tennessee, 88-64. The Naperville, Ill., native averaged 20.5 points, 9.0 rebounds and 4.0 blocks in the two games. Parker connected on both three-point attempts and made 65 percent of her shots from the field. Additionally, she dished four assists and nabbed six steals in the pair of contests. She also slammed home her second dunk of the 2006-07 season and fourth of her career in the win over the Cardinal. Parker earned the honor for the second time this season.
NORTH CAROLINA NOTEBOOK
The #2-ranked North Carolina Tar Heels are 7-0 on the season after a 103-48 rout of UNC Greensboro on Nov. 30, in their final tune-up before facing #4-ranked Tennessee. The Tar Heels had a busy week traveling back to Chapel Hill from Honolulu. UNC captured the Hawaiian Airlines Rainbow Wahine Classic on Nov. 26, 2006, with a 94-69 victory over Arkansas in the title game. Tar Heel junior forward Erlana Larkins was named ACC Player of the Week after leading UNC to the title. The trip to the Islands marked the only journey for the Tar Heels outside of the Carolinas until a Jan. 2, 2007, junket to open ACC play at Georgia Tech. UNC's seven victories have come at the expense of East Tennessee (96-35), Winston-Salem State (83-32), Elon (90-36) and UNC Greensboro103-48 - all at home - and Sacramento State (99-38), Gonzaga (101-63) and Arkansas (94-69) in Hawaii. Carolina currently has five players averaging double-figures led by senior guard Ivory Latta with 13.4 ppg, Larkins averaging 12.1 ppg, senior forward Camille Little tossing in 12.0 ppg, 6-3 rookie post Jessica Breland with 11.3 ppg and junior post LaToya Pringle rounding out the double-digit averages with 10.3 ppg.
ALL-TIME SERIES MEETINGS
DATE RANK SITE W/L SCORE
3/9/78 1/nr A20 W 92-66
2/3/79 8/nr H W 95-57
12/1/79 4/nr A W 66-55
1/26/81 7/nr H W 76-72
1/30/82 A W 76-62
11/24/82 4/nr H W 108-65
1/2/84 11/nr A W 75-59
12/7/84 16/nr H W 84-70
1/11/86 11/19 A L 68-82
1/4/87 1/nr H W 87-68
2/25/88 3/nr A W 88-65
3/25/93 2/17 N48 W 74-54
3/23/98 1/7 N83 W 76-70
3/28/06 6/1 N93 L 63-75
UNC SERIES
This marks just the 15th meeting between the two schools dating back to the 1977-78 season. Lady Vol Associate Head Coach Holly Warlick was the starting UT point guard in the first meeting ever between the two schools in the AIAW Region II Championships on Mar. 9, 1978, in Chapel Hill, N.C. Top-ranked Tennessee recorded a 92-66 win. After that meeting, the two teams played in a home-and-home series from 1979-1988. The three most recent match-ups have all come in the NCAA Tournament.
NCAA TOURNAMENT CONTESTS
The 2006 NCAA Cleveland Regional Final match-up with North Carolina marked the 14th meeting between the two teams and the third in NCAA play. UNC denied the Lady Vols a trip to the Final Four with a convincing 75-63 decision. Previously, Tennessee topped the Tar Heels, 76-70, in Nashville, Tenn., to advance to the 1998 Final Four on its way to its third consecutive and sixth overall national title. In the 1993 NCAA Tournament, Tennessee defeated UNC, 74-54, in a Mideast Regional Semifinal contest played in Iowa City, Iowa.
VERSUS THE ACC
Tennessee is 77-14 (.864) all-time versus 11 teams from the Atlantic Coast Conference. UT's last match-up with an ACC team came on Mar. 28, 2006, when the Lady Vols were defeated 75-63 by North Carolina. Currently, UT is on a two-game losing streak to the ACC with back-to-back losses to UNC and Duke. Tennessee's last win over an ACC opponent was on Nov. 26, 2005, with a 80-75 victory over #10-ranked Maryland at the Paradise Jam in the Virgin Islands. The only ACC squad to accumulate four wins over UT is Duke (4-4), while Maryland (UT leads, 10-3) and N.C. State (UT leads, 12-3) have registered three victories. UT has an 11-1 mark vs. Clemson and Virginia and is undefeated against BC (3-0), Florida State (2-0), Georgia Tech (3-0), Virginia Tech (7-0) and Wake Forest (2-0).
TENNESSEE LA TECH
OVERALL RECORD 6-0 7-0
SCORING 84.0 95.1
SCORING DEFENSE 63.3 45.9
POINT MARGIN +20.7 + 49.3
REBOUNDS 35.0 53.7
OPP. REBOUNDS 31.5 29.9
REBOUND MARGIN + 3.5 + 23.9
FG% .535 .496
OPPONENT FG% .422 .285
THREE POINT FG% .481 .373
OPPONENT 3FG% .427 .241
FT% .720 .724
OPPONENT FT% .635 .520
ASSISTS 18.2 20.0
BLOCKS AVERAGE 6.0 7.3
STEALS AVERAGE 15.5 29.7
TURNOVER AVERAGE 17.0 23.6
OUR LAST MEETING
Sixth-ranked Tennessee (31-5) didn't have the answer for top-ranked North Carolina and their speedster guard Ivory Latta, as the Lady Vols went down in defeat, 75-63, in the 2006 NCAA Cleveland Regional Championship game on Mar. 28. The Lady Vols were seeking an unprecedented 17th trip to the Final Four while Carolina earned their second visit to the Big Dane with the win. UNC got off to a fast start and the Lady Vols never held a lead in the contest - the closest UT came was a 4-4 tie with 17:11 showing in the first half. UNC starting pulling away at the 10 minute mark going up by eight points, 22-14, about the same time as Tennessee rookie All-American Candace Parker was on the bench with two fouls. UT's Nicky Anosike hit a lay up with 3:57 to go in the opening stanza to cut the margin back to eight, 33-25, but then the wheels fell off. The Big Orange hit a nightmarish two minute stretch and with 2:04 before the break, UNC led by 16 points, 43-27. UT sliced the deficit to a dozen and trailed 43-31 at the half after UNC scored 10 points off of first half Lady Vol miscues. A three-pointer by UT senior Shanna Zolman sliced UNC's lead back to eight with 12:52 to play, 50-42. Six minutes later, another bucket by Zolman reduced the lead to seven, 59-52. The Lady Vols kept chipping away and a Parker lay-up at 5:54 saw UT behind by just five points, 59-54, but Carolina answered with a trey. UT was still fighting when Parker scored on a lay up with 1:42 left and UT down by six, 69-63. Tennessee was forced to foul down the stretch and lost 75-63. "You don't win a basketball game in the first half, but you certainly can lose one," said Pat Summitt, Tennessee's Hall of Fame coach. "We just dug too deep of a hole. We were just trying to get back into the game and they just answered everything. A lot of those plays were huge." Parker led the Lady Vols with 20 points and nine rebounds, despite Carolina's swarming defense of double and triple teams. Sidney Spencer added 13 points and Zolman 11 for Tennessee. Tye'sha Fluker contributed 11 rebounds in her final collegiate game. The Lady Vols held the rebounding margin by one (37-36) and stuffed ten Tar Heel attempts, including five blocks by Anosike.
SYLVIA & PAT GO WAY BACK
UNC head coach Sylvia Rhyne Hatchell cut her coaching teeth in Knoxville as a graduate assistant with the Lady Vols in the mid-70s under coach Pat Head Summitt. Both were graduate assistants at the time - Head Summitt had just been named the head coach and Rhyne Hatchell was in charge of the junior varsity squad. Prior to arriving at Rocky Top, Hatchell was a 1974 cum laude graduate of Carson-Newman College in nearby Jefferson City. After she earned a master's degree in physical education from UT in 1975, she became the head coach at Francis Marion, where she led the Lady Patriots to a 272-80 mark over 11 seasons. In her time at the Florence, S.C., school, she led FMU to the 1982 AIAW small college division national championship and the 1986 squad to the NAIA national title. Combined with her 1994 title with the Tar Heels, she is the only women's basketball coach to lead teams to national titles on the AIAW, NAIA and NCAA Division I levels.
EARLY TENNESSEE DOMINANCE
The Lady Vols claimed the first eight meetings between the schools before UNC took an 82-68 decision in Chapel Hill on Jan. 11, 1986. Since that contest, the UT has won four of the last five.
VERSUS THE RANKED
In #2-ranked North Carolina, the Lady Vols will be taking on their fourth ranked opponent in seven games. UT has recorded wins over #20/21 UCLA (83-60), at #11 Arizona State (83-74) and against #11 Stanford (77-60). The game with Tennessee will mark North Carolina's first game against a ranked opponent this season. Next week, UT takes on #21/20-ranked George Washington before final exams.
DUNK YOU VERY MUCH
Forget about Michael Jordan's resounding dunks in Carmichael Auditorium. The ladies are in the house this weekend. Both the Tennessee and North Carolina women have an impressive dunking history. Lady Vol sophomore Candace Parker has already dunked twice this season (both in the first half) -- on Nov. 12, Parker stole the ball from the Chattanooga Lady Mocs, took off for the other end of the court and slammed the rock in with her right hand with 16:02 left in the game as cheers shook the Arena. The rangy soph brought the crowd to their collective feet in Thompson-Boling Arena again recording her first dunk against a ranked opponent throwing one down at the 10:55 mark in the first half against #11 Stanford on Nov. 24. Last season, Parker completed the feat twice in UT's 102-54 win over Army in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on March 19, 2006. Parker dunks followed those of former Lady Vol Michelle Snow. On Nov. 25, 2000, Snow made a two-handed slamming dunk with 10 seconds remaining in the first half of UT's 111-62 victory over 21st-ranked Illinois. The game was the first sporting event ever broadcast by the Oxygen Sports Network and, within 12 minutes, the accomplishment was replayed on ESPN's SportsCenter and was labeled the "Play of the Day" by just about every network, sports program, etc. Snow had two more dunks in her career. For Carolina, former Tar Heel Charlotte Smith had a one-handed stuff against North Carolina A&T on Dec. 4, 1994, a 113-58 UNC win.
SUMMITT CAPTURED ROAD WIN NUMBER 300 AT LA TECH
Lady Vol basketball coach Pat Summitt notched her 300th career victory on the road at Louisiana Tech. Summitt has now fashioned a 300-78 all-time record in hostile arenas - which equates to an amazing 80 percent winning mark on the road in 33 seasons at the helm of the Lady Vols.
CONFERENCE CALL
In addition to the 14-game Southeastern Conference schedule, Tennessee will take on teams from 10 other conferences this season. The Lady Vols will be doing their best impression as members of the Pac-10 and the BIG EAST facing three opponents from each of those conferences. UT will play two foes from the ACC and one each from the Atlantic 10, Big 12, Colonial, Ohio Valley, Southern, Sun Belt and WAC.
LEFTOVERS FROM RUSTON
With Tennessee's sloppy 71-50 win over Louisiana Tech, it marked the Lady Vols seventh consecutive victory over the Lady Techsters. The 71 points were the fewest scored by the Lady Vols this season and the 50 points scored by Tech were the fewest of an opponent this season. The UT starting lineup of Cait McMahan, Alexis Hornbuckle, Sidney Spencer, Candace Parker and Nicky Anosike was used for the first time this season. Starting point guard Shannon Bobbitt stayed in Knoxville to take a test. Tennessee's smothering defense forced 10 Lady Techster turnovers in the first nine minutes of the game. The 19 first half turnovers by LTU were the most by a UT opponent this season. UT's halftime lead (+27) was the largest halfway margin since the opening game against Chattanooga (+28). In the bad news department, the smaller Tech squad embarrassed the Lady Vols on the boards with a 46-37 rebounding margin. Individually, Cait McMahan... Got her first career start...Made her first career free throw attempt and earned career-highs in points (7) and rebounds (4)...Alexis Hornbuckle...Extended her streak of games with a steal to 42. She has made at least one steal in 63 of 70 career games. Her six steals against Tech moved her past Kellie Jolly (177) into 20th place in the UT record books for career steals (180). She had four steals in the first eight minutes of the game in Ruston...Candace Parker... Became the eighth Lady Vol of all time to reach the 100-blocks plateau and she reached it in just 42 games. On the first two offensive plays of the game for LTU, Parker blocked both attempts. Her seven blocks tied her own personal-best, tie for the most by ever by a UT sophomore and vaulted her into seventh place in the UT record books for career blocks (103), past Daedra Charles (97), Vonda Ward (98) and Abby Conklin (102). Also, she scored in double figures for the 20th game in a row, the 39th time in her career...Alberta Auguste...The only Lady Vol in history to hail from the state of Louisiana, she played in Ruston, about five hours (340 miles) from her hometown of Marrero, La. Against the Techsters, and in front of a bunch of family from Marrero, she had a career-high eight steals, five of which came in the first half...Sidney Spencer...The first of four Lady Vols to reach double figures, her 10 points marked her seventh consecutive 10+ point game... Dominique Redding... Spencer's senior sidekick had a career-high 13 points on a career-high six field goals.
CAN THIS TEAM DEFEND THE 3?
Coach Pat Summitt has not been pleased with the Lady Vols' commitment to defending the three-pointer. On the season, UT's opponents have connected on 6.8 treys per game and are shooting at a 43 percent clip of their attempts. Chattanooga recorded a school record 31 attempts from three-point land versus the Lady Vols. MTSU registered 13-26 (50%) from three-point land.
STEALS, STEALS EVERYWHERE
The Pat Summitt mantra of "let your defense start your offense" hasn't fallen on deaf ears with the Lady Vols so far this season. Tennessee already has 93 thefts on the year against quality opposition for an average of 15.5 spg. Alexis Hornbuckle is leading the team individually with over four steals per game.
LADY VOL BITS & PIECES FROM THE MTSU GAME
Tennessee made 10 three-pointers, tying for the 10th most in program history...All 11 Lady Vols saw playing time... Candace Parker...Scored in double-figures for the fifth time this season and the 19th game in a row dating back to last season and moved into fourth place in career field goal percentage (.462) with her 7-of-9 shooting... Alexis Hornbuckle... Extended her streak of games with a steal to 41 and now has at least one steal in 62 of 69 career games. She moved into a tie for 21st place in the Lady Vol record books with 174 career thefts...Sidney Spencer-Scored in double figures for the fifth time this season, the sixth time in a row dating back to the North Carolina game on March 28, 2006. The streak of six consecutive double-digit scoring outings is the longest of her career. She also made four three-pointers, the most by a Lady Vol this season...Alex Fuller-The first of four Lady Vols to reach double-digits in the game. Her 12 points are a career-high and her two three-pointers tied a career-high...Nicky Anosike-Had a season-high 13 points, marking her 15th career game with a double-digit output. She moved into a tie for 13th place for career blocks (88)...Nicci Moats-Scored her first points at UT.
NEW SCHOOL RECORD
Sophomore Candace Parker broke Michelle Snow's school record for most dunks in a career in the game with #11 Stanford on Nov. 24. Parker's one-handed slam with 10:55 left in the first half was the fourth of Parker's career and the second of the season. Snow registered three dunks (1998-2002) during her career.
A TALE OF TWO HALVES
After opening games shooting at .613 (UTC), .531 (UCLA), .516 (Arizona St.) - UT had its first stinker in the opening 20 minutes making just 13-31 field goals for a season-low .419 shooting percentage in the first half against Stanford ...UT responded with .609 accuracy in the second half (14-23) for the best second half field goal performance of the season...
UT-STANFORD WRAP-UP
All Lady Vols who played scored...UT missed only one free throw, shooting at a 94.7 percent clip... Individually, Candace Parker... Sank her first three-point attempt of the season, recorded her second dunk of the season, her first career dunk against a ranked opponent, Was the first of two Lady Vols to reach double-figures, Eclipsed the 20-point plateau for the third straight game and the 13th time in her career, Surpassed 700 points for her career, Recorded five blocks, tying for the 10th-most in a single game by a Lady Vol (She now has 93 for her career, moving past Tiffani Johnson (89) and Cindy Noble (91) into 10th place in the Lady Vol record books); Alexis Hornbuckle...Extended her streak of games with a steal to 40. She has made at least one steal in 61 of 68 career game; Sidney Spencer... Scored in double figures for the fourth time this season, the 31st time in her career.
UT LEADS PAC-10 AT 3-0
The Tennessee Lady Vols have finished their Pac-10 slate with a 3-0 record against three ranked teams in consecutive games. During the stretch of wins over #20/21 UCLA, at #11 Arizona State and #11 Stanford in the last week, UT averaged 81.0 ppg and gave up 64.7 ppg for a 16.3 scoring margin. The Lady Vols shot .528 from the field, .455 from three point land and .760 from the line. UT forced the opposition in an average of 23.0 turnovers per game while coming up with 14.0 steals per contest. Individually, Candace Parker tossed in 24.0 ppg, 8.3 rpg and registered two dunks.
FIFTY IS NIFTY
With the victory over Stanford, Tennessee has now claimed 52 victories all-time against teams from the Pac-10. Outside of the Southeastern Conference (365 wins), the Lady Vols have recorded 77 wins over teams from the ACC and 66 victories over BIG EAST Conference schools. The Pac-10 ranks as the fourth most defeated conference by UT.
FIRST MONTH OF THE SEASON: STATE LOVE & PAC-10 EAST
In the first month of the 2006-07 season, the Lady Vols have eight foes scheduled. Three teams hail from the state of Tennessee as the Lady Vols will face Chattanooga (a 102-72 win), Middle Tennessee (an 88-64 win) and Coach Pat Summitt's alma mater, UT-Martin (Dec. 5). UT will seem like a member of the Pac-10, eastern division, as the Lady Vols faced three ranked Pac-10 schools in consecutive games: #20/21 UCLA (an 83-60 win), at #11 Arizona State (an 83-74 win ) and #11 Stanford (a 77-60 win). Trips to long-standing rival Louisiana Tech (a 71-50 victory) and #2-ranked North Carolina (Dec. 3) round out the first month of the season.
Candace Parker EARNS SEC PLAYER OF THE WEEK HONOR
Tennessee sophomore basketball standout Candace Parker was named the SEC Player of the Week (Nov. 13-19) for her performances in wins over #20/21 UCLA (83-60) and at #11 Arizona State (83-74). Last season, Parker received the league's Freshman of the Week honor on four occasions, and the Player of the Week award once during her rookie campaign. In two games, Parker averaged 23.5 points and eight rebounds along with four steals and a pair of blocks. In the game against Arizona State, the Naperville, Ill., native picked up her 11th career double-double and first of the season with 25 points and 10 rebounds. She shot 10-of-15 from the field against UCLA and stayed perfect from the line (2-of-2) for 22 points, six rebounds, two assists, two steals and a block to earn Philips Player of the Game accolades. The scoring occurrences marked the 35th and 36th double figure games in her 39-game career. The match-ups were also the 10th and 11th game with 20 or more points.
No comments:
Post a Comment