Saturday, January 03, 2009

No. 8 Tennessee rallies past No. 15 Rutgers 55-51

PISCATAWAY, N.J. - Shekinna Stricklen scored 16 points and No. 8 Tennessee rallied from the biggest deficit in school history to beat No. 15 Rutgers 55-51 on Saturday.

After the Lady Vols trailed 33-13 at the break, scoring the fewest points ever in a half, Tennessee regrouped to give coach Pat Summitt her 994th career win.

The loss ended a 20-game home winning streak for Rutgers (8-3), led by Epiphanny Prince with 25 points.

Trailing 49-40 with 6:40 left, Tennessee (11-2) went on a 13-0 run. Angie Bjorkland’s jumper with 1:30 left gave the Lady Vols their first lead at 51-49. Stricklen made two free throws for 53-49 lead with 39.8 seconds left.

Prince’s jumper cut it to 53-51 with 21.8 seconds left. She then forced a jump ball giving Rutgers one last chance, but Kia Vaughn missed underneath.

Bjorklund, who scored 12 points, sealed the game from the free throw line.

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