Spencer finally taking best shot

Lady Vols senior reduces passes to increase points

KNOXVILLE — Sidney Spencer spent her first three years on the Tennessee women's basketball team frustrating Coach Pat Summitt by passing up too many open shots.

At least she had a reason.

"I didn't think my role at that point was to take 30 shots," Spencer said. "Back when I was a freshman or sophomore, there were other players like Shyra Ely and Shanna Zolman that were our scorers."

Spencer, now a senior, has changed with the times.

The sharp-shooting forward doesn't waste many opportunities these days. She's the second-leading scorer for the Lady Vols and perhaps the biggest key to UT's chances for a fifth Final Four berth in six years and a seventh national title.

Top-seeded Tennessee (28-3) opens play in the NCAA Tournament at 6 Sunday night against No. 16 seed Drake (14-18) at the Petersen Events Center in Pittsburgh.

Shaky shooting

In many cases, Tennessee's success this season can be tied directly to Spencer's shooting.

Spencer shot 45.4 percent from the field in the Lady Vols' 28 victories and hovered around 50 percent as they won 17 of their first 18 games. In their losses to North Carolina, Duke and LSU, she connected on just 18.9 percent (7-of-37) of her shots.

"I haven't really been consistent," Spencer said.

Spencer endured her roughest stretch during the last month of the season. After scoring in double figures in 16 of the first 21 games, she was held to fewer than 10 points in seven of the last 10 games.

She also has been a non-factor against some of UT's toughest opponents. She scored just five points against North Carolina, a combined 14 points in two games against Georgia and nine points in two games against LSU.

"She has been in a little bit of a slump," Summitt said. "But I want her to shoot every time that she's open."

Potentially hot hand

For every off night Spencer has had this year, she's had an equally dominating performance.

She scored 22 points in UT's first-round SEC Tournament victory over South Carolina, giving her four games this season with 20 points or more.

Spencer's best — and timeliest — performance came in a 67-57 win over Vanderbilt at Memorial Gym on Jan. 25, when she scored a career-high 26 points on 8-of-13 shooting as UT rallied to win in the final minutes.

"It's unique to have someone at (small forward) with her shooting range," Summitt said.

"She has exceptional range, and when she's in a zone, you want her to have the ball."