Connecticut's crystal ball is clearing once again for coach Geno Auriemma.
By game's end on Saturday at Thompson-Boling Arena, the wisps of clouds will evaporate and Auriemma will have an accurate vision of what the future holds for his Huskies.
There's nothing all that mystical about the process, however. Connecticut plays Tennessee every season and has done so for a decade, sometimes twice. And that's the measure Auriemma uses to gauge his team's chances to advance to the Final Four and perhaps win a national championship -- the Huskies have produced five of them.
``Playing them (the Lady Vols) gives me personally a feeling of what the future holds,'' Auriemma said in a teleconference on Thursday. ``I would say that for the last 10 years, whenever we've played Tennessee once or twice, I'd come out of that game feeling like I knew exactly what the possibilities were for the season. I'm not always right, but for the most part it has in the 10 years we've played them.''
Auriemma, who will autograph copies of his book ``Geno: In Pursuit of Perfection'' beginning at 7 p.m. at the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame today, says the rivalry with Tennessee has been like splitting open a fortune cookie for his teams.
``There are times when we played at our place and played unbelievably well and I thought, you know what, I think this team can win the national championship,'' Auriemma said. ``There have been times when we've played at their place and got our heads handed to us, and I thought, you know what, I'm not sure we're a national championship team.''
Although the Tennessee-Connecticut contest is still a national attention-getter each season, Auriemma doesn't believe it has the epic proportions it had in the past.
``In the history of women's basketball there've always been rivalries. The unfortunate part is that for many years, a lot of those matchups went unnoticed,'' Auriemma said.
``What I think has happened in the 10 years we've played Tennessee is not only has it been a great matchup but it happened during a time when there was a lot of attention focused on women's basketball and it created an environment that goes on today.
``At one time, it was the one game everyone in the country wanted to see and the one game national television focused on. Now there are a lot of great matchups and it's just one of the premier games in the country.''
The majority of fans in what promises to be a sold-out Thompson-Boling Arena on Saturday afternoon, 2 p.m. tip, will likely be there to see if Tennessee can win the annual regular-season matchup two years running. The Lady Vols defeated UConn last year in Hartford by one point, 68-67, snapping a six-game winning streak over UT by the Huskies.
By the time the arena clears, Auriemma will have received another fortune telling at the hands of Pat Summitt and the Lady Vols. Good or bad, he likes the insight.
``I think, believe it or not, as much as I've tried to have fun with Pat and the people of Knoxville and all that other crap I've had fun with the last 10 years,'' Auriemma said, ``more than anything (this game is) a great barometer for not only what's happening with our team at that moment but what could happen, what might happen down the road.''
GIVE-AWAYS: Auriemma joked that he hopes at least a few people show up for his book signing at the Women's Hall of Fame, since Summitt had quite a large contingent in Connecticut for a similar event a couple years ago.
``Pat's a lot more popular in Connecticut than I am in Tennessee because she's nice and, you know, humble, and all those nice things, and I've irritated a lot of people in Knoxville,'' Auriemma said.
``It'll be interesting. Whoever comes will have a good time. I'm going to be giving away stuff. Autographed pictures of Diana (Taurasi). Tickets to the Super Bowl.''
Friday, January 06, 2006
Thursday, January 05, 2006
Tennessee Lady Volunteers/South Carolina Gamecocks Recap
(1) Tennessee 66, South Carolina 51
(1) Tennessee 66, South Carolina 51
COLUMBIA, S.C. -- Before top-ranked Tennessee took on South Carolina, coach Pat Summitt heard something from her group that made her bristle.
"Some people, it wasn't the players, were talking about the Connecticut game," Summitt said of the Lady Vols' Saturday opponent. "I said, 'I don't want to hear a word about that game."'
Summitt knows better than anyone that TV showdowns are nice, Southeastern Conference titles are better. And the Lady Vols took their first step toward another title with their 32nd straight victory over South Carolina, 66-51 Wednesday night.
The Lady Vols "want to win the SEC, and I said, 'If you want to do that, you've got to get number one tonight,"' Summitt reminded them.
She shouldn't have worried much as Tye'sha Fluker had 14 of her 18 points in the second half to lead the Lady Vols.
Fluker, a senior reserve, matched her career high for the Lady Vols (14-0), who started the SEC with a victory for the 10th consecutive season.
South Carolina (9-4) had come in with the league's top-field goal defense, a seven-game win streak of its own and legitimate hopes of topping Tennessee for the first time since 1980.
Instead, Fluker came off the bench to give Tennessee a winning lift as young star Candace Parker struggled to put up points and frontline starter Nicky Anosike was in foul trouble throughout.
The Lady Vols led just 25-24 a minute into the second half when Fluker got going with her own 9-0 run. She had back-to-back baskets to extend the lead to 29-24, then made a three-point play and put back Parker's miss.
"It was definitely fun," Fluker said. "I'm a little happy and excited to know that my teammates have confidence in me to keep giving me the ball."
The Gamecocks seemed to lose steam after Fluker's charge. By the time Shanna Zolman hit her second straight 3-pointer, Tennessee was up 42-31 with 13:18 left.
Fluker's basket midway through the half increased the lead to 52-36.
Fluker hit 8 of 11 shots to tie her career-best game, which she set against Auburn last year and matched in Tennessee's NCAA tournament game against Purdue last March. She also added six rebounds and three steals.
"She was scoring at will," Zolman said. "We saw her gaining confidence every single play."
A question coming in was whether Parker would dunk, as former Lady Vols star Michelle Snow did in Columbia four years ago. However, Parker had enough trouble getting any shots to go at all, finishing 4-for- 10 for 10 points and nine rebounds.
Lauren Simms led South Carolina with 16 points.
South Carolina coach Susan Walvius says while she was displeased with her team's defense and rebounding in the second half -- the Gamecocks allowed Tennessee to shooting nearly 60 percent from the floor after the break -- there are many things her players can take from this.
"The potential is there," said Walvius, who has won only three SEC games the past two years. "We're seeing that. I think we can build on that."
Tennessee didn't look like the country's best team early on. The Lady Vols had eight turnovers in the first 9 minutes and the Gamecocks, after Lakesha Tolliver's consecutive baskets, led 17-9.
But Tennessee found itself and closed the half with a 16-4 run to lead 25-21 at the break.
Sidney Spencer had two 3-pointers and the Lady Vols turned up their defense -- South Carolina was just 2 of 13 shooting and had five turnovers during Tennessee's charge.
Fluker said the upperclassmen reflected their coach's attitude coming in, concentrating on the Gamecocks above anything else. "We all pretty much understood that we had to get it done," she said. "This was as important as Connecticut."
(1) Tennessee 66, South Carolina 51
COLUMBIA, S.C. -- Before top-ranked Tennessee took on South Carolina, coach Pat Summitt heard something from her group that made her bristle.
"Some people, it wasn't the players, were talking about the Connecticut game," Summitt said of the Lady Vols' Saturday opponent. "I said, 'I don't want to hear a word about that game."'
Summitt knows better than anyone that TV showdowns are nice, Southeastern Conference titles are better. And the Lady Vols took their first step toward another title with their 32nd straight victory over South Carolina, 66-51 Wednesday night.
The Lady Vols "want to win the SEC, and I said, 'If you want to do that, you've got to get number one tonight,"' Summitt reminded them.
She shouldn't have worried much as Tye'sha Fluker had 14 of her 18 points in the second half to lead the Lady Vols.
Fluker, a senior reserve, matched her career high for the Lady Vols (14-0), who started the SEC with a victory for the 10th consecutive season.
South Carolina (9-4) had come in with the league's top-field goal defense, a seven-game win streak of its own and legitimate hopes of topping Tennessee for the first time since 1980.
Instead, Fluker came off the bench to give Tennessee a winning lift as young star Candace Parker struggled to put up points and frontline starter Nicky Anosike was in foul trouble throughout.
The Lady Vols led just 25-24 a minute into the second half when Fluker got going with her own 9-0 run. She had back-to-back baskets to extend the lead to 29-24, then made a three-point play and put back Parker's miss.
"It was definitely fun," Fluker said. "I'm a little happy and excited to know that my teammates have confidence in me to keep giving me the ball."
The Gamecocks seemed to lose steam after Fluker's charge. By the time Shanna Zolman hit her second straight 3-pointer, Tennessee was up 42-31 with 13:18 left.
Fluker's basket midway through the half increased the lead to 52-36.
Fluker hit 8 of 11 shots to tie her career-best game, which she set against Auburn last year and matched in Tennessee's NCAA tournament game against Purdue last March. She also added six rebounds and three steals.
"She was scoring at will," Zolman said. "We saw her gaining confidence every single play."
A question coming in was whether Parker would dunk, as former Lady Vols star Michelle Snow did in Columbia four years ago. However, Parker had enough trouble getting any shots to go at all, finishing 4-for- 10 for 10 points and nine rebounds.
Lauren Simms led South Carolina with 16 points.
South Carolina coach Susan Walvius says while she was displeased with her team's defense and rebounding in the second half -- the Gamecocks allowed Tennessee to shooting nearly 60 percent from the floor after the break -- there are many things her players can take from this.
"The potential is there," said Walvius, who has won only three SEC games the past two years. "We're seeing that. I think we can build on that."
Tennessee didn't look like the country's best team early on. The Lady Vols had eight turnovers in the first 9 minutes and the Gamecocks, after Lakesha Tolliver's consecutive baskets, led 17-9.
But Tennessee found itself and closed the half with a 16-4 run to lead 25-21 at the break.
Sidney Spencer had two 3-pointers and the Lady Vols turned up their defense -- South Carolina was just 2 of 13 shooting and had five turnovers during Tennessee's charge.
Fluker said the upperclassmen reflected their coach's attitude coming in, concentrating on the Gamecocks above anything else. "We all pretty much understood that we had to get it done," she said. "This was as important as Connecticut."
Monday, January 02, 2006
Old Dominion Lady Monarchs/Tennessee Lady Volunteers Recap
(1) Tennessee 83, Old Dominion 67
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- Tennessee's leading scorer Shanna Zolman knows she'll be a focus for defenses, and she's learning ways to get open.
Zolman scored 23 points to help the top-ranked Lady Vols to an 83-67 win over Old Dominion on Monday night, rebounding from a horrible offensive showing at Notre Dame on New Year's Eve.
The Lady Vols (13-0) led nearly the entire game, but Old Dominion (2-7) made them work for their 10th straight victory in the series.
Zolman scored five points and made one of seven shots from the floor in the 62-51 win over the Irish. The senior guard from Syracuse, Ind., was playing in front of hundreds of hometown fans.
"They were like glue on me at Notre Dame. That's how people are going to guard me from here on out. That is something I have to be a lot more aware of and keep a more conscious effort to just keep moving continuously," Zolman said.
Against Old Dominion, she was 6-of-10 from the floor and 3-of-5 from beyond the arc.
"I think Shanna will be better now that she has that game behind her," Tennessee coach Pat Summitt said.
All of the Lady Vols had more success on offense after shooting a season-low 33 percent at Notre Dame.
Tennessee shot 52 percent (26-of-50) from the floor and went 24-of-28 from the foul line on Monday. Old Dominion had only seven chances at the line and made six.
The Lady Vols also had 17 points from Nicky Anosike, 14 from Alexis Hornbuckle and 10 from Candace Parker.
The Lady Monarchs, coming off an 88-80 overtime loss to fifth-ranked North Carolina last week, were scrappy and aggressive, but couldn't do enough defensively despite shooting 46 percent (28-of-61).
Old Dominion was led by T.J. Jordan with 17 points. She was 0-of-13 shooting in last year's game as a freshman. Sherida Triggs added 16 points and Shahida Williams had 10 for Old Dominion, which has the toughest schedule in the country according to the latest RPI.
"Some of the greatest teams that I've had the privilege of coaching have come into this building and really gotten drilled. For our little militia to come in here and fight and scrap and claw and do what they needed to do to stay into the game, I can't even begin to tell you how proud I am," Old Dominion coach Wendy Larry said.
The Lady Monarchs opened the season against then-No. 1 Duke and followed with four more ranked teams: Vanderbilt, Rutgers, North Carolina and Tennessee. They are missing three of their top players because of injuries.
"I think Wendy plays a tougher schedule than I do," said Summitt, whose teams usually ranks No. 1 in strength of schedule.
The Lady Vols were ahead by 18 early in the second half when Old Dominion rallied with a 16-6 run. Jordan had consecutive 3s during the spurt, and Lawona Davis scored four points to cut it to 61-53.
Tennessee stretched it to 12, but Old Dominion trimmed it in half after two baskets by Paula Muxiri and a pair of free throws by Triggs. That was as close as the Lady Monarchs would get as Zolman hit a 3 and then sank two foul shots to restore the double-digit lead with 6:18 left.
Old Dominion grabbed the lead early in the first half but could not extend it beyond three points. After Triggs' putback with 8:32 left put the Lady Monarchs ahead 23-21, Hornbuckle hit a 3 to start an 18-4 run for the Lady Vols.
Hornbuckle scored eight points during the spurt. Jordan ended the rally with a 3, but Tennessee responded with Lindsey Moss' 3-pointer and Parker's steal and breakaway layup to stretch the lead to 44-30.
Parker was far ahead of the trailing defender and had a wide open look at the basket but let the ball roll off her fingers into the cylinder.
Fans have been waiting for Parker to get her first collegiate dunk. The redshirt freshman dunked in high school and won the McDonald's high school All-American dunk contest.
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- Tennessee's leading scorer Shanna Zolman knows she'll be a focus for defenses, and she's learning ways to get open.
Zolman scored 23 points to help the top-ranked Lady Vols to an 83-67 win over Old Dominion on Monday night, rebounding from a horrible offensive showing at Notre Dame on New Year's Eve.
The Lady Vols (13-0) led nearly the entire game, but Old Dominion (2-7) made them work for their 10th straight victory in the series.
Zolman scored five points and made one of seven shots from the floor in the 62-51 win over the Irish. The senior guard from Syracuse, Ind., was playing in front of hundreds of hometown fans.
"They were like glue on me at Notre Dame. That's how people are going to guard me from here on out. That is something I have to be a lot more aware of and keep a more conscious effort to just keep moving continuously," Zolman said.
Against Old Dominion, she was 6-of-10 from the floor and 3-of-5 from beyond the arc.
"I think Shanna will be better now that she has that game behind her," Tennessee coach Pat Summitt said.
All of the Lady Vols had more success on offense after shooting a season-low 33 percent at Notre Dame.
Tennessee shot 52 percent (26-of-50) from the floor and went 24-of-28 from the foul line on Monday. Old Dominion had only seven chances at the line and made six.
The Lady Vols also had 17 points from Nicky Anosike, 14 from Alexis Hornbuckle and 10 from Candace Parker.
The Lady Monarchs, coming off an 88-80 overtime loss to fifth-ranked North Carolina last week, were scrappy and aggressive, but couldn't do enough defensively despite shooting 46 percent (28-of-61).
Old Dominion was led by T.J. Jordan with 17 points. She was 0-of-13 shooting in last year's game as a freshman. Sherida Triggs added 16 points and Shahida Williams had 10 for Old Dominion, which has the toughest schedule in the country according to the latest RPI.
"Some of the greatest teams that I've had the privilege of coaching have come into this building and really gotten drilled. For our little militia to come in here and fight and scrap and claw and do what they needed to do to stay into the game, I can't even begin to tell you how proud I am," Old Dominion coach Wendy Larry said.
The Lady Monarchs opened the season against then-No. 1 Duke and followed with four more ranked teams: Vanderbilt, Rutgers, North Carolina and Tennessee. They are missing three of their top players because of injuries.
"I think Wendy plays a tougher schedule than I do," said Summitt, whose teams usually ranks No. 1 in strength of schedule.
The Lady Vols were ahead by 18 early in the second half when Old Dominion rallied with a 16-6 run. Jordan had consecutive 3s during the spurt, and Lawona Davis scored four points to cut it to 61-53.
Tennessee stretched it to 12, but Old Dominion trimmed it in half after two baskets by Paula Muxiri and a pair of free throws by Triggs. That was as close as the Lady Monarchs would get as Zolman hit a 3 and then sank two foul shots to restore the double-digit lead with 6:18 left.
Old Dominion grabbed the lead early in the first half but could not extend it beyond three points. After Triggs' putback with 8:32 left put the Lady Monarchs ahead 23-21, Hornbuckle hit a 3 to start an 18-4 run for the Lady Vols.
Hornbuckle scored eight points during the spurt. Jordan ended the rally with a 3, but Tennessee responded with Lindsey Moss' 3-pointer and Parker's steal and breakaway layup to stretch the lead to 44-30.
Parker was far ahead of the trailing defender and had a wide open look at the basket but let the ball roll off her fingers into the cylinder.
Fans have been waiting for Parker to get her first collegiate dunk. The redshirt freshman dunked in high school and won the McDonald's high school All-American dunk contest.
Lady Vols count down with Old Dominion
KNOXVILLE -- This might be the longest week of the season for the Lady Vol basketball team.
Just two more games before the big one.
Top-ranked Tennessee (10-0) gets a visit from Old Dominion tonight at 6. The Lady Monarchs (2-6) are an old rival, facing UT every season since 1976.
However, even the continuance of that tradition and the ever-important opening of Southeastern Conference play Wednesday at South Carolina pale in comparison to what lies ahead for Pat Summitt's team.
The Lady Vols have to focus for two whole games before No. 8 UConn comes to town. The Huskies have been the contemporary rival this past decade and should be an unwelcomed distraction in preparing for Old Dominion.
UConn coach Geno Auriemma will even be in Knoxville for a book signing at the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame Friday. Hubbub aside, the Lady Vols would be wise not to take the Lady Monarchs lightly.
Old Dominion does enter tonight's contest with a losing record, but five of the team's six losses have come against ranked opponents. The Lady Monarchs took No. 5 North Carolina to overtime in their last outing, falling 88-80. Junior forward Tish Lyons tied a career-high with 20 points, while third-year star Shantel Wilson recorded a double-double.
The pair, combined with forward Sherida Triggs, give Old Dominion most of its scoring from the front court. Sophomore guard T.J. Jordan -- a threat from beyond the arc -- is the team's leading scorer with 14 points a game.
The Lady Vols are still adjusting to life after Sa'de Wiley-Gatewood, the sophomore point guard who decided to transfer midseason. Tennessee rolled over No. 12 Notre Dame, 62-51, on Dec. 30.
The signs of new player rotations seemed apparent against the Fighting Irish. Tennessee only shot 33 percent from the field and leading scorers Shanna Zoleman (16 points per game) and Candace Parker (15) were held to just 13 points combined on the night.
Alexis Hornbuckle -- 10.2 points per contest -- rose to the occasion in the game to lead the Lady Vols with 15.
Tonight's game is the 38th meeting between the two schools. Old Dominion hasn't won in Knoxville since 1982.
Just two more games before the big one.
Top-ranked Tennessee (10-0) gets a visit from Old Dominion tonight at 6. The Lady Monarchs (2-6) are an old rival, facing UT every season since 1976.
However, even the continuance of that tradition and the ever-important opening of Southeastern Conference play Wednesday at South Carolina pale in comparison to what lies ahead for Pat Summitt's team.
The Lady Vols have to focus for two whole games before No. 8 UConn comes to town. The Huskies have been the contemporary rival this past decade and should be an unwelcomed distraction in preparing for Old Dominion.
UConn coach Geno Auriemma will even be in Knoxville for a book signing at the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame Friday. Hubbub aside, the Lady Vols would be wise not to take the Lady Monarchs lightly.
Old Dominion does enter tonight's contest with a losing record, but five of the team's six losses have come against ranked opponents. The Lady Monarchs took No. 5 North Carolina to overtime in their last outing, falling 88-80. Junior forward Tish Lyons tied a career-high with 20 points, while third-year star Shantel Wilson recorded a double-double.
The pair, combined with forward Sherida Triggs, give Old Dominion most of its scoring from the front court. Sophomore guard T.J. Jordan -- a threat from beyond the arc -- is the team's leading scorer with 14 points a game.
The Lady Vols are still adjusting to life after Sa'de Wiley-Gatewood, the sophomore point guard who decided to transfer midseason. Tennessee rolled over No. 12 Notre Dame, 62-51, on Dec. 30.
The signs of new player rotations seemed apparent against the Fighting Irish. Tennessee only shot 33 percent from the field and leading scorers Shanna Zoleman (16 points per game) and Candace Parker (15) were held to just 13 points combined on the night.
Alexis Hornbuckle -- 10.2 points per contest -- rose to the occasion in the game to lead the Lady Vols with 15.
Tonight's game is the 38th meeting between the two schools. Old Dominion hasn't won in Knoxville since 1982.
Sunday, January 01, 2006
Summitt makes point to experiment
Three games in 6 days starts with Old Dominion
Instead of a warm-up suit, Pat Summitt should be wearing a lab coat to practice.
On Sunday, the Tennessee women's basketball coach experimented with junior forward Dominique Redding playing point guard in some half-court drills as the Lady Vols prepared to face Old Dominion.
Tipoff is at 6 tonight at Thompson-Boling Arena.
"I think what we're trying to do as a coaching staff is look at all of our options and a lot of different combinations,'' Summitt said.
The inspiration behind the experimentation is partly the departure of guard Sa'de Wiley-Gatewood, who decided to transfer after the first semester. It also has a lot to do with the available players and their potential.
Notre Dame coach Muffet McGraw has a better appreciation for the approach. The Irish achieved their defensive objective Saturday, holding Lady Vols senior guard Shanna Zolman to five points. They received a bonus when a couple of Candace Parker's shots danced around the rim but didn't fall, limiting the freshman star to eight points. And yet the Irish lost by double figures, 62-51.
"They just have so many weapons,'' McGraw said.
Since it's early January, Summitt has time to rummage through the arsenal. That explains why she didn't call a bunch of set plays for Zolman on Saturday. Should the same situation arise in March, she'll slant her strategy more toward UT's top sharpshooter. For now, she wants Zolman's teammates to shoulder more responsibility.
"I didn't want a lot of people just becoming screeners,'' Summitt said. "I wanted them to stay involved.''
Summitt's wish goes forward with No. 1 Tennessee (12-0), which plays three games in six days, beginning with ODU (2-6) and extending through the SEC opener at South Carolina on Wednesday and the annual clash with Connecticut on Saturday at the arena.
For starters, Sidney Spencer will make her third consecutive start at small forward. The 6-foot-3 junior has struggled with the new role, except for when she came off the bench to start the second half Saturday and scored all eight of her points.
"She needs to get over it,'' Summitt said. "The thing about Sidney is she has the size to shoot over people. She has a lot of big-game experience. ... She is a player who can help us.
"You think about the shots she and Dom made yesterday (combined 4-for-9 on 3-pointers), their shots were big for us.''
Redding, who started the second half in place of Spencer, will have her playing minutes parceled differently with the hope of maximizing her efficiency.
"I think shorter minutes are a better fit for her,'' Summitt said. "When fatigue sets in, that's when things fall apart.''
Four Lady Vols -- Nicky Anosike, Tye'sha Fluker, Sybil Dosty and Alex Fuller -- are sharing minutes at center and forward. Summitt would like to see a consistent double-figure scorer emerge from this group. For now, she's content with their improved rebounding and their overall contributions.
"Consistency in the post is a must for us,'' Summitt said. "I'm pleased with the progress we've made to date, but we haven't arrived.''
Scouting Report: The Lady Monarchs are coming off a near upset of No. 5 North Carolina, losing 88-80 in overtime last Thursday.
Three of ODU's losses have come against teams ranked in the top 10. The other two were against Duke and Rutgers.
Since being activated three games ago, 5-11 sophomore Shahida Williams is averaging 12.3 points and 7.3 rebounds a game.
UConn Ticket Update: A limited number of reserved and general admission tickets are left for Saturday's game against Connecticut.
The ticket office phone number is 865-656-1200.
Instead of a warm-up suit, Pat Summitt should be wearing a lab coat to practice.
On Sunday, the Tennessee women's basketball coach experimented with junior forward Dominique Redding playing point guard in some half-court drills as the Lady Vols prepared to face Old Dominion.
Tipoff is at 6 tonight at Thompson-Boling Arena.
"I think what we're trying to do as a coaching staff is look at all of our options and a lot of different combinations,'' Summitt said.
The inspiration behind the experimentation is partly the departure of guard Sa'de Wiley-Gatewood, who decided to transfer after the first semester. It also has a lot to do with the available players and their potential.
Notre Dame coach Muffet McGraw has a better appreciation for the approach. The Irish achieved their defensive objective Saturday, holding Lady Vols senior guard Shanna Zolman to five points. They received a bonus when a couple of Candace Parker's shots danced around the rim but didn't fall, limiting the freshman star to eight points. And yet the Irish lost by double figures, 62-51.
"They just have so many weapons,'' McGraw said.
Since it's early January, Summitt has time to rummage through the arsenal. That explains why she didn't call a bunch of set plays for Zolman on Saturday. Should the same situation arise in March, she'll slant her strategy more toward UT's top sharpshooter. For now, she wants Zolman's teammates to shoulder more responsibility.
"I didn't want a lot of people just becoming screeners,'' Summitt said. "I wanted them to stay involved.''
Summitt's wish goes forward with No. 1 Tennessee (12-0), which plays three games in six days, beginning with ODU (2-6) and extending through the SEC opener at South Carolina on Wednesday and the annual clash with Connecticut on Saturday at the arena.
For starters, Sidney Spencer will make her third consecutive start at small forward. The 6-foot-3 junior has struggled with the new role, except for when she came off the bench to start the second half Saturday and scored all eight of her points.
"She needs to get over it,'' Summitt said. "The thing about Sidney is she has the size to shoot over people. She has a lot of big-game experience. ... She is a player who can help us.
"You think about the shots she and Dom made yesterday (combined 4-for-9 on 3-pointers), their shots were big for us.''
Redding, who started the second half in place of Spencer, will have her playing minutes parceled differently with the hope of maximizing her efficiency.
"I think shorter minutes are a better fit for her,'' Summitt said. "When fatigue sets in, that's when things fall apart.''
Four Lady Vols -- Nicky Anosike, Tye'sha Fluker, Sybil Dosty and Alex Fuller -- are sharing minutes at center and forward. Summitt would like to see a consistent double-figure scorer emerge from this group. For now, she's content with their improved rebounding and their overall contributions.
"Consistency in the post is a must for us,'' Summitt said. "I'm pleased with the progress we've made to date, but we haven't arrived.''
Scouting Report: The Lady Monarchs are coming off a near upset of No. 5 North Carolina, losing 88-80 in overtime last Thursday.
Three of ODU's losses have come against teams ranked in the top 10. The other two were against Duke and Rutgers.
Since being activated three games ago, 5-11 sophomore Shahida Williams is averaging 12.3 points and 7.3 rebounds a game.
UConn Ticket Update: A limited number of reserved and general admission tickets are left for Saturday's game against Connecticut.
The ticket office phone number is 865-656-1200.
Tennessee Lady Volunteers/Notre Dame Fighting Irish Recap
(1) Tennessee 62, (12) Notre Dame 51
SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- The only thing normal about Tennessee's victory over Notre Dame was the fact that the Lady Vols won.
Top-ranked Tennessee shot 33 percent from the field and was outscored in the second half, but beat No. 12 Notre Dame 62-51 on Saturday.
Tennessee (12-0), which entered the game averaging 83 points, won by outrebounding the Irish 50-35 and holding Notre Dame to 31 percent shooting.
"Our philosophy has always been you better pack your defense and your board work on the road," Tennessee coach Pat Summitt said, "because those ugly nights and those poor shooting nights, you just have to grind games out. Today, we just had to grind it out."
Alexis Hornbuckle had 15 points and eight rebounds, Nicky Anosike added nine points and freshman Candace Parker had eight points and 11 rebounds for the Lady Vols.
Megan Duffy led Notre Dame (9-2) with 19 points, including eight points in the last 4 minutes.
Tennessee led 47-25 with 13:09 left, but Notre Dame went on a 16-4 run to cut the lead to 51-41 with 6:16 remaining. Duffy's jumper trimmed the deficit to 57-51 with 2 minutes left, but Tennessee went 5-of-8 from the free-throw line to end the game.
Notre Dame coach Muffet McGraw liked how hard her the Irish played before a crowd of 11,418, just the third sellout in Joyce Center history.
"I was really proud of our effort," McGraw said. "I felt we really battled. I thought we came out and we were a little nervous in the first half. We're just trying so hard with the crowd."
Tennessee's Shanna Zolman, the Lady Vols' top scorer with 17 points per game, was held to five on 1-of-7 shooting.
"I felt we did a nice job on Zolman, we did a pretty good job on Parker, then Hornbuckle steps up and has a great game," McGraw said. "They just have so many weapons. We tried to limit a couple of them."
Duffy struggled until late in the game. She shot 5-for-18 from the field and 3-for-10 from 3-point range, but scored 14 points in the second half.
"We talked about being aggressive and driving to the basket," Duffy said. "Both teams were in the one-and-one, and we figured we could get some free throws and try to get some points that way. I just tried to look for my shot. We ran a couple of plays to get me free."
Zolman said the Lady Vols let the pressure get to them when Notre Dame made its second-half run.
"I think we kind of took ourselves out of our offense," she said. "After they scored a couple points, we just started rushing and trying to force things and not playing together as a team. They did a great job of stepping the intensity up on defense, I do give them that, but we were taking shots that we didn't need to take."
The Lady Vols forced 15 first-half turnovers to take a 29-14 lead. The Irish (9-2) barely avoided their lowest-scoring half thanks to Courtney LaVere's 3-pointer with 1:09 left before the break. Notre Dame's all-time low of 12 was set in 1981.
LaVere had 10 points before fouling out. The Lady Vols improved to 17-0 all-time against the Irish.
"I just think Tennessee is one of the elite teams in the country," McGraw said. "They rebound better than any team we've ever seen. They just crushed us on the boards, and I think that was obviously the difference in the game."
Another difference might have been Tennessee's confidence level. Zolman said the Lady Vols expect to win every game.
"That's the mind-set we have going into every game," she said. "It's not cockiness, it's just a confidence that no matter who we play, we're going to win, no matter what the circumstances."
SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- The only thing normal about Tennessee's victory over Notre Dame was the fact that the Lady Vols won.
Top-ranked Tennessee shot 33 percent from the field and was outscored in the second half, but beat No. 12 Notre Dame 62-51 on Saturday.
Tennessee (12-0), which entered the game averaging 83 points, won by outrebounding the Irish 50-35 and holding Notre Dame to 31 percent shooting.
"Our philosophy has always been you better pack your defense and your board work on the road," Tennessee coach Pat Summitt said, "because those ugly nights and those poor shooting nights, you just have to grind games out. Today, we just had to grind it out."
Alexis Hornbuckle had 15 points and eight rebounds, Nicky Anosike added nine points and freshman Candace Parker had eight points and 11 rebounds for the Lady Vols.
Megan Duffy led Notre Dame (9-2) with 19 points, including eight points in the last 4 minutes.
Tennessee led 47-25 with 13:09 left, but Notre Dame went on a 16-4 run to cut the lead to 51-41 with 6:16 remaining. Duffy's jumper trimmed the deficit to 57-51 with 2 minutes left, but Tennessee went 5-of-8 from the free-throw line to end the game.
Notre Dame coach Muffet McGraw liked how hard her the Irish played before a crowd of 11,418, just the third sellout in Joyce Center history.
"I was really proud of our effort," McGraw said. "I felt we really battled. I thought we came out and we were a little nervous in the first half. We're just trying so hard with the crowd."
Tennessee's Shanna Zolman, the Lady Vols' top scorer with 17 points per game, was held to five on 1-of-7 shooting.
"I felt we did a nice job on Zolman, we did a pretty good job on Parker, then Hornbuckle steps up and has a great game," McGraw said. "They just have so many weapons. We tried to limit a couple of them."
Duffy struggled until late in the game. She shot 5-for-18 from the field and 3-for-10 from 3-point range, but scored 14 points in the second half.
"We talked about being aggressive and driving to the basket," Duffy said. "Both teams were in the one-and-one, and we figured we could get some free throws and try to get some points that way. I just tried to look for my shot. We ran a couple of plays to get me free."
Zolman said the Lady Vols let the pressure get to them when Notre Dame made its second-half run.
"I think we kind of took ourselves out of our offense," she said. "After they scored a couple points, we just started rushing and trying to force things and not playing together as a team. They did a great job of stepping the intensity up on defense, I do give them that, but we were taking shots that we didn't need to take."
The Lady Vols forced 15 first-half turnovers to take a 29-14 lead. The Irish (9-2) barely avoided their lowest-scoring half thanks to Courtney LaVere's 3-pointer with 1:09 left before the break. Notre Dame's all-time low of 12 was set in 1981.
LaVere had 10 points before fouling out. The Lady Vols improved to 17-0 all-time against the Irish.
"I just think Tennessee is one of the elite teams in the country," McGraw said. "They rebound better than any team we've ever seen. They just crushed us on the boards, and I think that was obviously the difference in the game."
Another difference might have been Tennessee's confidence level. Zolman said the Lady Vols expect to win every game.
"That's the mind-set we have going into every game," she said. "It's not cockiness, it's just a confidence that no matter who we play, we're going to win, no matter what the circumstances."
Wednesday, December 28, 2005
Tennessee Lady Volunteers/Temple Owls Recap
(1) Tennessee 75, (22) Temple 50
PHILADELPHIA -- Candace Parker is glad her pride was hurt more than her foot.
Parker overcame an ankle injury to score 16 points and Shanna Zolman added 14, leading top-ranked Tennessee to a 75-50 victory over No. 22 Temple on Wednesday night.
Tye'sha Fluker had 12 points, and every player scored for the Lady Vols (11-0).
Candice Dupree had 17 points and 11 rebounds, and Khadija Bowens scored 14 for Temple (8-3).
Tennessee survived an early scare when Parker left the game for nearly eight minutes with a sprained left ankle. But the injury wasn't serious and Parker laughed about the way she got injured.
"I got beat defensively," she said, before turning to coach Pat Summitt to try to explain her rare mistake. "I was sliding over and I stepped on Nicky Anosike's foot. I knew it wasn't broken. When I went back to the locker room, I knew I was fine."
Once Parker, the team's second-leading scorer, returned, the Lady Vols never looked back.
Tennessee began pulling away with a 21-6 run that closed out the first half and gave the Lady Vols a 31-17 lead. After Temple went ahead 11-10, Tennessee scored 11 straight points, including 3-pointers from Alex Fuller and Zolman.
"We were pleased we are able to get the tempo up at times," Summitt said. "You have to control the paint and we did that."
The Owls got within 44-30 in the second half after a layup by Bowens, but Anosike scored five straight points to spark a 16-4 run that put the game out of reach.
"There were too many instances in the game we weren't ourselves," Temple coach Dawn Staley said. "We didn't have enough fight. We had too many lapses to complete."
Tennessee already has beaten five ranked opponents, including four teams in the top 16. The Lady Vols have another tough challenge at No. 12 Notre Dame (9-1) on Saturday.
Temple has lost three of five after a 6-0 start.
It was Tennessee's second game since starting guard Sa'de Wiley-Gatewood left the team. Wiley-Gatewood, a sophomore, started eight of nine games and was the team's fourth-leading scorer.
In their previous meeting last November, Temple nearly became the second team to beat the Lady Vols at home since the AP poll started in 1976. The unranked Owls fell 52-48 to then-No. 1 Tennessee.
"We remembered that. They had the ball and every opportunity to beat us in the last seconds," Summitt said. "You want your team to respect every opponent regardless of record. Our team really respected this team."
Temple came in averaging 62.7 points, but shot just 18-for-54 in its worst offensive performance of the season.
"We attacked, but we couldn't get anything to fall," Staley said.
With the clock winding down and the game far out of reach, Temple fans urged Summitt to put Parker back in to dunk. Parker won the McDonald's high school dunk contest in 2004, but sat out last season as a freshman to recover from knee injuries.
"Candace makes everyone on the floor better," Summitt said. "She does a great job."
PHILADELPHIA -- Candace Parker is glad her pride was hurt more than her foot.
Parker overcame an ankle injury to score 16 points and Shanna Zolman added 14, leading top-ranked Tennessee to a 75-50 victory over No. 22 Temple on Wednesday night.
Tye'sha Fluker had 12 points, and every player scored for the Lady Vols (11-0).
Candice Dupree had 17 points and 11 rebounds, and Khadija Bowens scored 14 for Temple (8-3).
Tennessee survived an early scare when Parker left the game for nearly eight minutes with a sprained left ankle. But the injury wasn't serious and Parker laughed about the way she got injured.
"I got beat defensively," she said, before turning to coach Pat Summitt to try to explain her rare mistake. "I was sliding over and I stepped on Nicky Anosike's foot. I knew it wasn't broken. When I went back to the locker room, I knew I was fine."
Once Parker, the team's second-leading scorer, returned, the Lady Vols never looked back.
Tennessee began pulling away with a 21-6 run that closed out the first half and gave the Lady Vols a 31-17 lead. After Temple went ahead 11-10, Tennessee scored 11 straight points, including 3-pointers from Alex Fuller and Zolman.
"We were pleased we are able to get the tempo up at times," Summitt said. "You have to control the paint and we did that."
The Owls got within 44-30 in the second half after a layup by Bowens, but Anosike scored five straight points to spark a 16-4 run that put the game out of reach.
"There were too many instances in the game we weren't ourselves," Temple coach Dawn Staley said. "We didn't have enough fight. We had too many lapses to complete."
Tennessee already has beaten five ranked opponents, including four teams in the top 16. The Lady Vols have another tough challenge at No. 12 Notre Dame (9-1) on Saturday.
Temple has lost three of five after a 6-0 start.
It was Tennessee's second game since starting guard Sa'de Wiley-Gatewood left the team. Wiley-Gatewood, a sophomore, started eight of nine games and was the team's fourth-leading scorer.
In their previous meeting last November, Temple nearly became the second team to beat the Lady Vols at home since the AP poll started in 1976. The unranked Owls fell 52-48 to then-No. 1 Tennessee.
"We remembered that. They had the ball and every opportunity to beat us in the last seconds," Summitt said. "You want your team to respect every opponent regardless of record. Our team really respected this team."
Temple came in averaging 62.7 points, but shot just 18-for-54 in its worst offensive performance of the season.
"We attacked, but we couldn't get anything to fall," Staley said.
With the clock winding down and the game far out of reach, Temple fans urged Summitt to put Parker back in to dunk. Parker won the McDonald's high school dunk contest in 2004, but sat out last season as a freshman to recover from knee injuries.
"Candace makes everyone on the floor better," Summitt said. "She does a great job."
Lady Vols turn to Hornbuckle
Sophomore called meeting after Wiley-Gatewood left
PHILADELPHIA - Tennessee begins in earnest to assess life without Sa'de Wiley-Gatewood tonight.
Fittingly, the Lady Vols first real women's basketball test since their former starting point guard decided to transfer comes on the road against Temple.
Tipoff is at 7 o'clock at the Liacouras Center.
A team on the move is closing ranks and moving on. Top-ranked Tennessee (10-0) better do it quickly, too. After last week's reprieve against Princeton, a date with No. 22 Temple (8-2) signals a return to the familiar grind.
"It's not about what we don't have,'' UT coach Pat Summitt said. "It's what we do have. You ask some players to do more.''
Sophomore Alexis Hornbuckle has been handed a request list to rival Santa Claus'. Everything from handling the basketball and running the offense to being the lead defender will be shoehorned into her job description. At least, she's not being asked to play a new position. Hornbuckle has been playing point guard since last season and knows the territory.
It was Hornbuckle, not the seniors, who called a team meeting after Wiley-Gatewood's announcement last week to assess the fallout.
"Somebody you love and care for and tried to help suddenly up and leaves, that's a big blow to you,'' senior Shanna Zolman said. "You've lost a sister.''
In the process, the Lady Vols might have gained a stronger leader. Regarding Hornbuckle, Summitt said, "She likes being in a leadership role. Seldom do I have to say, 'turn the volume up.' ''
Instead, the coach more likely will turn to fellow starter Zolman or freshman Lindsey Moss and say, "Be ready." While finding a backup point guard is less daunting, it's no less important.
"It's not my favorite position,'' Zolman said. "I'm willing to do it. I'm going to have to do it to give Alexis a breather or if she gets into foul trouble.
Moss, meanwhile, has work to do before she'll be trusted with many meaningful playing minutes.
"I think sometimes she thinks she has to do something spectacular to stay on the floor,'' Summitt said. "Quite the opposite.''
Interestingly, the ripple effect from Wiley-Gatewood's departure will be felt more initially in the frontcourt. Candace Parker will start tonight's game at small forward. Summitt is having a hard time, though, letting go of the redshirt freshman's Tim Duncan-like performance at the other forward spot.
"She's been so efficient there,'' Summitt said.
Parker's biggest adjustment figures to be on offense. There are post-up options to ease the transition. Parker also can create scoring chances off the dribble and by being active.
Still, Summitt said that she might try a starting lineup with junior Sidney Spencer at small forward and Parker back inside next to Nicky Anosike.
"If we have a tight game, typically she'll be at that spot (power forward)," Summitt said of Parker.
Scoring-wise, 30 of the 72 points Wiley-Gatewood scored this season came on 3-pointers. She helped UT set a record pace with an average of seven treys per game.
At 30.3 percent, Wiley-Gatewood wasn't UT's most accurate sharpshooter, but her 33 trey attempts reflected a willingness to pull the trigger. She nailed three 3 pointers in a game last season. And not just any game either. The baskets helped Tennessee end a six-game losing streak against Connecticut, which pays a visit Jan. 7.
Some of Wiley-Gatewood's scoring might shift to the frontcourt. Or Spencer might expand on her 3-point effort. She's shooting a dazzling 55 percent behind the arc (better than her overall shooting percentage of 41.7) but is fourth in overall attempts with 20.
The Lady Vols have their options. The players are not lacking for versatility. Any questions at this crucial juncture concern their resolve.
"Individually, we have to set our goals higher,'' senior center Tye'sha Fluker said. "We have to bring it every game."
PHILADELPHIA - Tennessee begins in earnest to assess life without Sa'de Wiley-Gatewood tonight.
Fittingly, the Lady Vols first real women's basketball test since their former starting point guard decided to transfer comes on the road against Temple.
Tipoff is at 7 o'clock at the Liacouras Center.
A team on the move is closing ranks and moving on. Top-ranked Tennessee (10-0) better do it quickly, too. After last week's reprieve against Princeton, a date with No. 22 Temple (8-2) signals a return to the familiar grind.
"It's not about what we don't have,'' UT coach Pat Summitt said. "It's what we do have. You ask some players to do more.''
Sophomore Alexis Hornbuckle has been handed a request list to rival Santa Claus'. Everything from handling the basketball and running the offense to being the lead defender will be shoehorned into her job description. At least, she's not being asked to play a new position. Hornbuckle has been playing point guard since last season and knows the territory.
It was Hornbuckle, not the seniors, who called a team meeting after Wiley-Gatewood's announcement last week to assess the fallout.
"Somebody you love and care for and tried to help suddenly up and leaves, that's a big blow to you,'' senior Shanna Zolman said. "You've lost a sister.''
In the process, the Lady Vols might have gained a stronger leader. Regarding Hornbuckle, Summitt said, "She likes being in a leadership role. Seldom do I have to say, 'turn the volume up.' ''
Instead, the coach more likely will turn to fellow starter Zolman or freshman Lindsey Moss and say, "Be ready." While finding a backup point guard is less daunting, it's no less important.
"It's not my favorite position,'' Zolman said. "I'm willing to do it. I'm going to have to do it to give Alexis a breather or if she gets into foul trouble.
Moss, meanwhile, has work to do before she'll be trusted with many meaningful playing minutes.
"I think sometimes she thinks she has to do something spectacular to stay on the floor,'' Summitt said. "Quite the opposite.''
Interestingly, the ripple effect from Wiley-Gatewood's departure will be felt more initially in the frontcourt. Candace Parker will start tonight's game at small forward. Summitt is having a hard time, though, letting go of the redshirt freshman's Tim Duncan-like performance at the other forward spot.
"She's been so efficient there,'' Summitt said.
Parker's biggest adjustment figures to be on offense. There are post-up options to ease the transition. Parker also can create scoring chances off the dribble and by being active.
Still, Summitt said that she might try a starting lineup with junior Sidney Spencer at small forward and Parker back inside next to Nicky Anosike.
"If we have a tight game, typically she'll be at that spot (power forward)," Summitt said of Parker.
Scoring-wise, 30 of the 72 points Wiley-Gatewood scored this season came on 3-pointers. She helped UT set a record pace with an average of seven treys per game.
At 30.3 percent, Wiley-Gatewood wasn't UT's most accurate sharpshooter, but her 33 trey attempts reflected a willingness to pull the trigger. She nailed three 3 pointers in a game last season. And not just any game either. The baskets helped Tennessee end a six-game losing streak against Connecticut, which pays a visit Jan. 7.
Some of Wiley-Gatewood's scoring might shift to the frontcourt. Or Spencer might expand on her 3-point effort. She's shooting a dazzling 55 percent behind the arc (better than her overall shooting percentage of 41.7) but is fourth in overall attempts with 20.
The Lady Vols have their options. The players are not lacking for versatility. Any questions at this crucial juncture concern their resolve.
"Individually, we have to set our goals higher,'' senior center Tye'sha Fluker said. "We have to bring it every game."
Tuesday, December 27, 2005
Number One Lady Vols In Philadelphia To Face 22nd-Ranked Temple
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.
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.
Thursday, December 22, 2005
Loss of Wiley-Gatewood will change Lady Vols' look
KNOXVILLE -- Sometimes it's just not a fit.
Sophomore Sa'de Wiley-Gatewood's announcement this week that she will not continue her college career with the Tennessee Lady Vols shouldn't be a surprise when you consider the nature of the program and the caliber of players who are recruited to join it.
One of the toughest tasks Pat Summitt faces each year is how to mesh the egos of some of the nation's top high school players and develop a chemistry that will sustain the team throughout a very tough schedule and a postseason that nearly always concludes at a Final Four.
Tennessee has lost players before -- guard April McDivitt, forward Michelle Munoz and center Teresa Jeter come to mind immediately. Summitt has also dismissed a few. But the turnover in the program is barely noticeable compared to a lot of others, which is a credit to Summitt and her coaching staff as well as to veteran players who shepherd the newcomers.
Wiley-Gatewood, one of the Super Six signing class of a year ago, said she enjoyed Knoxville and liked her teammates but was unhappy with the style of play at Tennessee, which nearly always forces players who are used to taking over a game and carrying a team on their shoulders into supporting roles.
Upon her arrival at UT, Wiley-Gatewood discovered she had a small ligament tear in one knee. On advice of the team physician, she tried to rest and rehab it so she could play while teammates Candace Parker and Alex Fuller sat out with more severe knee problems. It didn't work and ultimately she had surgery to correct the tear.
Prior to the start of this season, she admitted having been frustrated by the loss of a year of eligibility. That was compounded this fall when she felt confined by the offense she ran. Simply put, she could not adjust to the lower profile required and said goodbye.
Ironically, her sudden departure will be noticeable because she had assumed such a prominent role in the offense so quickly.
The California product was a true point guard -- a rarity in the program since the days of Kellie Jolly. In running the offense, she brought a remarkable amount of energy to the floor, something Summitt has alluded to several times in the last couple of months. With her passing skills and floor vision, Wiley-Gatewood was also a player to build an offense around.
Without her, the Lady Vols will again look to Alexis Hornbuckle as the primary floor general, and Shanna Zolman, who has been free to focus on scoring and defense, will return to more ball-handling duties. That's basically how the offense was run last season, what Summitt called a point guard by committee approach.
The loss of Wiley-Gatewood also makes it more critical for Parker to continue her adjustment to playing the three position instead of inside.
One thing is certain. With one less potential starting guard, Summitt will now have to alter the rotations she has been using, and the chemistry of the team will no doubt be affected. Fortunately, this loss comes well before the opening of the SEC season and with time to regroup and bridge the gap.
Sophomore Sa'de Wiley-Gatewood's announcement this week that she will not continue her college career with the Tennessee Lady Vols shouldn't be a surprise when you consider the nature of the program and the caliber of players who are recruited to join it.
One of the toughest tasks Pat Summitt faces each year is how to mesh the egos of some of the nation's top high school players and develop a chemistry that will sustain the team throughout a very tough schedule and a postseason that nearly always concludes at a Final Four.
Tennessee has lost players before -- guard April McDivitt, forward Michelle Munoz and center Teresa Jeter come to mind immediately. Summitt has also dismissed a few. But the turnover in the program is barely noticeable compared to a lot of others, which is a credit to Summitt and her coaching staff as well as to veteran players who shepherd the newcomers.
Wiley-Gatewood, one of the Super Six signing class of a year ago, said she enjoyed Knoxville and liked her teammates but was unhappy with the style of play at Tennessee, which nearly always forces players who are used to taking over a game and carrying a team on their shoulders into supporting roles.
Upon her arrival at UT, Wiley-Gatewood discovered she had a small ligament tear in one knee. On advice of the team physician, she tried to rest and rehab it so she could play while teammates Candace Parker and Alex Fuller sat out with more severe knee problems. It didn't work and ultimately she had surgery to correct the tear.
Prior to the start of this season, she admitted having been frustrated by the loss of a year of eligibility. That was compounded this fall when she felt confined by the offense she ran. Simply put, she could not adjust to the lower profile required and said goodbye.
Ironically, her sudden departure will be noticeable because she had assumed such a prominent role in the offense so quickly.
The California product was a true point guard -- a rarity in the program since the days of Kellie Jolly. In running the offense, she brought a remarkable amount of energy to the floor, something Summitt has alluded to several times in the last couple of months. With her passing skills and floor vision, Wiley-Gatewood was also a player to build an offense around.
Without her, the Lady Vols will again look to Alexis Hornbuckle as the primary floor general, and Shanna Zolman, who has been free to focus on scoring and defense, will return to more ball-handling duties. That's basically how the offense was run last season, what Summitt called a point guard by committee approach.
The loss of Wiley-Gatewood also makes it more critical for Parker to continue her adjustment to playing the three position instead of inside.
One thing is certain. With one less potential starting guard, Summitt will now have to alter the rotations she has been using, and the chemistry of the team will no doubt be affected. Fortunately, this loss comes well before the opening of the SEC season and with time to regroup and bridge the gap.
Wednesday, December 21, 2005
Princeton Tigers/Tennessee Lady Volunteers Recap
(1) Tennessee 107, Princeton 39
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- Tennessee satisfied its toughest critic -- coach Pat Summitt.
Shanna Zolman scored 23 points and Tye'sha Fluker had 15 points and eight rebounds to lead No. 1 Tennessee to a 107-39 victory over Princeton.
The win came five days after a victory over Louisiana Tech that left Summitt critical of her team's performance.
"I think they talked about some things since the Louisiana Tech game," she said. "I was extremely disappointed with how we played (against Louisiana Tech), but I'm extremely proud tonight."
Tennessee (10-0) shot 59.7 percent from the floor, hit 11-of-15 shots from 3-point range and out-rebounded Princeton 52-22.
"We came out here and just stressed playing with a lot of energy and a lot of emotion, which made the game fun for 40 minutes," guard Alexis Hornbuckle said.
Princeton (6-4) shot 29.3 percent from the floor, 4-of-23 from 3-point range.
Hornbuckle and Dominique Redding had 12 points each and Sidney Spencer 11 for the Lady Vols. Candace Parker led the team with 10 rebounds.
Becky Brown scored 12 points on 6-of-7 shooting for Princeton in its first game against the Lady Vols.
"Tonight our main focus was to get back to playing Tennessee basketball, with rebounding, defense and playing with a lot of energy," Zolman said. "That's what we did."
It was Princeton coach Richard Barron's return to Knoxville, where he attended high school and where his parents still live.
Tennessee's victory came a day after starting guard Sa'de Wiley-Gatewood announced she was leaving the team. Wiley-Gatewood, a sophomore, started eight of nine games and was the team's fourth-leading scorer.
In her absence, Fluker started her fourth game at center and Hornbuckle started at guard. Hornbuckle and Wiley-Gatewood had shared the point guard job.
Tennessee started pulling away five minutes into the game. The Lady Vols led 12-8 with 16 minutes left in the half and went on a 12-0 run. Two free throws by Fluker gave the Lady Vols a 24-8 lead with 10:46 left in the half. Their lead grew to 20 when Parker scored a fast-break layup with 6:42 to play in the half.
Fluker's two foul shots with 1:07 left in the half gave the Lady Vols a 47-17 lead.
Tennessee opened the second half with a 13-2 run. Hornbuckle's drive and layup gave the Lady Vols a 60-21 lead with 16:24 to play.
"Obviously I'm very pleased with the intensity, the enthusiasm on the bench and everyone who got on the court," Summitt said. "We played well together."
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- Tennessee satisfied its toughest critic -- coach Pat Summitt.
Shanna Zolman scored 23 points and Tye'sha Fluker had 15 points and eight rebounds to lead No. 1 Tennessee to a 107-39 victory over Princeton.
The win came five days after a victory over Louisiana Tech that left Summitt critical of her team's performance.
"I think they talked about some things since the Louisiana Tech game," she said. "I was extremely disappointed with how we played (against Louisiana Tech), but I'm extremely proud tonight."
Tennessee (10-0) shot 59.7 percent from the floor, hit 11-of-15 shots from 3-point range and out-rebounded Princeton 52-22.
"We came out here and just stressed playing with a lot of energy and a lot of emotion, which made the game fun for 40 minutes," guard Alexis Hornbuckle said.
Princeton (6-4) shot 29.3 percent from the floor, 4-of-23 from 3-point range.
Hornbuckle and Dominique Redding had 12 points each and Sidney Spencer 11 for the Lady Vols. Candace Parker led the team with 10 rebounds.
Becky Brown scored 12 points on 6-of-7 shooting for Princeton in its first game against the Lady Vols.
"Tonight our main focus was to get back to playing Tennessee basketball, with rebounding, defense and playing with a lot of energy," Zolman said. "That's what we did."
It was Princeton coach Richard Barron's return to Knoxville, where he attended high school and where his parents still live.
Tennessee's victory came a day after starting guard Sa'de Wiley-Gatewood announced she was leaving the team. Wiley-Gatewood, a sophomore, started eight of nine games and was the team's fourth-leading scorer.
In her absence, Fluker started her fourth game at center and Hornbuckle started at guard. Hornbuckle and Wiley-Gatewood had shared the point guard job.
Tennessee started pulling away five minutes into the game. The Lady Vols led 12-8 with 16 minutes left in the half and went on a 12-0 run. Two free throws by Fluker gave the Lady Vols a 24-8 lead with 10:46 left in the half. Their lead grew to 20 when Parker scored a fast-break layup with 6:42 to play in the half.
Fluker's two foul shots with 1:07 left in the half gave the Lady Vols a 47-17 lead.
Tennessee opened the second half with a 13-2 run. Hornbuckle's drive and layup gave the Lady Vols a 60-21 lead with 16:24 to play.
"Obviously I'm very pleased with the intensity, the enthusiasm on the bench and everyone who got on the court," Summitt said. "We played well together."
Hitting the boards
Lady Vols show Princeton how to rebound in lopsided victory
While Tennessee got the message about rebounding, the Lady Vols didn't limit themselves to one statistical achievement Tuesday night.
A 107-39 women's basketball thrashing of Princeton before a crowd of 10,650 at Thompson-Boling Arena was a triumph on several fronts. Against the overmatched Tigers, No. 1 Tennessee (10-0) set season highs for not only rebounds (52) but also points, field goals (40) field goal percentage (59.7) 3-point field goal percentage (73.3) and assists (25).
The eight turnovers, on the other hand, were a season low.
"Aside from Texas,'' said UT coach Pat Summitt, referring to a 102-61 victory over the Longhorns earlier this month, "this was as much energy as we've had one through 10 (players).''
The Lady Vols showed no ill effects from being rebuked for their rebounding after last Thursday's win over Louisiana Tech or from the departure this week of teammate Sa'de Wiley-Gatewood, who plans to transfer.
Instead, they made a conscious effort to enjoy themselves and it showed in their performance.
"We worked hard in practice, but we were going out in games and not having as much energy or fun,'' said UT guard Shanna Zolman, who scored a game-high 23 points. "We were not playing to our potential. Our main focus was to get back to playing Tennessee basketball with defense, rebounding and a lot of energy.''
In the process, the Lady Vols didn't give Princeton (6-4) much chance for enjoyment. The Tigers' best highlight was a team-high 12 points from center Becky Brown, who is from Nashville. Brown said she had at least 30 family and friends in attendance. She estimated that her grandfather brought half of his East Tennessee hometown of Erwin.
The Brown fan club saw a lot of Becky but a lot more of the home team.
"I thought they came out with a real sense of purpose tonight,'' Tigers coach Richard Barron said of UT. "The worst thing to happen to us is for them to have a reason to play hard.''
The rebounding was the obvious point of emphasis. Offensive rebounding helped jumpstart the scoring and the overall effort eventually created plenty of transition chances.
With the Tigers scrambling back to defend the basket, the Lady Vols sharpshooters were able to take aim from the wings and shoot 11-for-15 on 3-pointers. Zolman was 5-for-6, hitting 5 treys in a game for the third time this season.
Tennessee was shooting so well that center Sybil Dosty beat the shot clock with a 10-footer off the dribble in the second half.
"I know Ty (Fluker) and I were on the court,'' said UT's Alexis Hornbuckle, describing their reaction to downtown Dosty's shot. "We jumped up.''
The Lady Vols also were feeling good about their efficiency. Three players -- Hornbuckle, Candace Parker and Lindsey Moss had at least five assists. Hornbuckle, who was calling more sets, had a team-high six.
"(Summitt) put a lot of confidence in me to run plays; she told me to mix up sets,'' Hornbuckle said. "Actually it made my job a little harder because I was having to think a little more. I think I've always had the freedom, I just haven't used it as well. I had to get a little smarter.''
Two of Parker's assists were highlight quality, particularly a pass she wrapped behind her head to a cutting Fluker for a layup.
In the process, Parker appeared to pass up at least one chance at a dunk highlight.
"No,'' said Parker, when asked afterward. "Well, maybe.''
Notebook: The Lady Vols did a running workout after the game in order to leave earlier today for Christmas break. ... UT's next game is Dec. 28 at Temple. ... Country star Kenny Chesney was a guest coach for the game.
While Tennessee got the message about rebounding, the Lady Vols didn't limit themselves to one statistical achievement Tuesday night.
A 107-39 women's basketball thrashing of Princeton before a crowd of 10,650 at Thompson-Boling Arena was a triumph on several fronts. Against the overmatched Tigers, No. 1 Tennessee (10-0) set season highs for not only rebounds (52) but also points, field goals (40) field goal percentage (59.7) 3-point field goal percentage (73.3) and assists (25).
The eight turnovers, on the other hand, were a season low.
"Aside from Texas,'' said UT coach Pat Summitt, referring to a 102-61 victory over the Longhorns earlier this month, "this was as much energy as we've had one through 10 (players).''
The Lady Vols showed no ill effects from being rebuked for their rebounding after last Thursday's win over Louisiana Tech or from the departure this week of teammate Sa'de Wiley-Gatewood, who plans to transfer.
Instead, they made a conscious effort to enjoy themselves and it showed in their performance.
"We worked hard in practice, but we were going out in games and not having as much energy or fun,'' said UT guard Shanna Zolman, who scored a game-high 23 points. "We were not playing to our potential. Our main focus was to get back to playing Tennessee basketball with defense, rebounding and a lot of energy.''
In the process, the Lady Vols didn't give Princeton (6-4) much chance for enjoyment. The Tigers' best highlight was a team-high 12 points from center Becky Brown, who is from Nashville. Brown said she had at least 30 family and friends in attendance. She estimated that her grandfather brought half of his East Tennessee hometown of Erwin.
The Brown fan club saw a lot of Becky but a lot more of the home team.
"I thought they came out with a real sense of purpose tonight,'' Tigers coach Richard Barron said of UT. "The worst thing to happen to us is for them to have a reason to play hard.''
The rebounding was the obvious point of emphasis. Offensive rebounding helped jumpstart the scoring and the overall effort eventually created plenty of transition chances.
With the Tigers scrambling back to defend the basket, the Lady Vols sharpshooters were able to take aim from the wings and shoot 11-for-15 on 3-pointers. Zolman was 5-for-6, hitting 5 treys in a game for the third time this season.
Tennessee was shooting so well that center Sybil Dosty beat the shot clock with a 10-footer off the dribble in the second half.
"I know Ty (Fluker) and I were on the court,'' said UT's Alexis Hornbuckle, describing their reaction to downtown Dosty's shot. "We jumped up.''
The Lady Vols also were feeling good about their efficiency. Three players -- Hornbuckle, Candace Parker and Lindsey Moss had at least five assists. Hornbuckle, who was calling more sets, had a team-high six.
"(Summitt) put a lot of confidence in me to run plays; she told me to mix up sets,'' Hornbuckle said. "Actually it made my job a little harder because I was having to think a little more. I think I've always had the freedom, I just haven't used it as well. I had to get a little smarter.''
Two of Parker's assists were highlight quality, particularly a pass she wrapped behind her head to a cutting Fluker for a layup.
In the process, Parker appeared to pass up at least one chance at a dunk highlight.
"No,'' said Parker, when asked afterward. "Well, maybe.''
Notebook: The Lady Vols did a running workout after the game in order to leave earlier today for Christmas break. ... UT's next game is Dec. 28 at Temple. ... Country star Kenny Chesney was a guest coach for the game.
Wiley-Gatewood stressed to limit
Point guard left UT looking for fresh start
Sa’de Wiley-Gatewood said Tuesday that basketball was just part of the reason why she’s transferring from the University of Tennessee.
"There were other factors that were stressing me out,’’ the sophomore women’s basketball point guard said. "I really can’t say. There’s a lot of stuff going on off the court and on the court. It’s a lot of stuff people don’t know about.’’
Wiley-Gatewood would not comment specifically on the non-basketball issues, other than to say she was stressed out to the point of being sick and needed a fresh start.
She was ill during last Thursday’s game against Louisiana Tech and missed two subsequent practices before telling UT coach Pat Summitt of her decision after a team dinner on Sunday night.
The Lady Vols played their first game without Wiley-Gatewood on Tuesday night against Princeton.
Wiley-Gatewood, who said she planned to attend Tuesday’s game, was more specific about feeling out of place as a player at Tennessee.
"Pat has her ways,’’ she said. "I’m a point guard that likes to penetrate.
"I didn’t fit the program. It wasn’t a good fit for me."
Wiley-Gatewood, who was sharing point-guard responsibilities with classmate Alexis Hornbuckle, started eight of nine games and was the team’s fourth-leading scorer, averaging eight points per game. But she had only 12 assists.
Wiley-Gatewood said that she’s started to compile a list of schools where she might transfer. Two schools already under consideration are Oklahoma and North Carolina. Wiley-Gatewood has to sit out a calendar year from the time she enrolls at a new school before becoming eligible.
Sa’de Wiley-Gatewood said Tuesday that basketball was just part of the reason why she’s transferring from the University of Tennessee.
"There were other factors that were stressing me out,’’ the sophomore women’s basketball point guard said. "I really can’t say. There’s a lot of stuff going on off the court and on the court. It’s a lot of stuff people don’t know about.’’
Wiley-Gatewood would not comment specifically on the non-basketball issues, other than to say she was stressed out to the point of being sick and needed a fresh start.
She was ill during last Thursday’s game against Louisiana Tech and missed two subsequent practices before telling UT coach Pat Summitt of her decision after a team dinner on Sunday night.
The Lady Vols played their first game without Wiley-Gatewood on Tuesday night against Princeton.
Wiley-Gatewood, who said she planned to attend Tuesday’s game, was more specific about feeling out of place as a player at Tennessee.
"Pat has her ways,’’ she said. "I’m a point guard that likes to penetrate.
"I didn’t fit the program. It wasn’t a good fit for me."
Wiley-Gatewood, who was sharing point-guard responsibilities with classmate Alexis Hornbuckle, started eight of nine games and was the team’s fourth-leading scorer, averaging eight points per game. But she had only 12 assists.
Wiley-Gatewood said that she’s started to compile a list of schools where she might transfer. Two schools already under consideration are Oklahoma and North Carolina. Wiley-Gatewood has to sit out a calendar year from the time she enrolls at a new school before becoming eligible.
Monday, December 19, 2005
Lady Vols' starter Wiley-Gatewood leaving school
KNOXVILLE – Lady Vols Coach Pat Summitt announced today that sophomore point guard Sa’de Wiley-Gatewood will transfer from Tennessee effective immediately.
Wiley-Gatewood, a 5-foot-9 point guard from Pomona, Calif., was the team’s fourth-leading scorer at 8.0 points per game and had started eight of nine games this season for the top-ranked Lady Vols (9-0).
“Sa’de didn’t feel like she could play her game here,” Summitt said in a release. “We hate to see her leave the Lady Vol family, program and university. I hope she can find great success with her basketball career, academics and life.”
Wiley-Gatewood's future plans, to include where she might transfer to, were not immediately known.
She played in 13 games as a freshman last season until finally having surgery on her left knee, which had suffered from patella tendonitis all season.
“I want to thank everyone at Tennessee – my coaches and teammates, the athletic and academic departments, the fans and the boosters – I really appreciate all of their support,” Wiley-Gatewood said in the release. “The Lady Vol fans were great to me.
“I also want to thank Pat for helping me to improve as a player and to grow as a person. I love my teammates and appreciate their support while I was going through this.”
Wiley-Gatewood left the court due to illness during the second half of Tennessee’s 83-59 victory over Louisiana Tech on Thursday. She practiced briefly on Friday before being sent home to rest and did not participate in Saturday’s practice.
The Lady Vols next play tomorrow night, at home against Princeton.
Wiley-Gatewood, a 5-foot-9 point guard from Pomona, Calif., was the team’s fourth-leading scorer at 8.0 points per game and had started eight of nine games this season for the top-ranked Lady Vols (9-0).
“Sa’de didn’t feel like she could play her game here,” Summitt said in a release. “We hate to see her leave the Lady Vol family, program and university. I hope she can find great success with her basketball career, academics and life.”
Wiley-Gatewood's future plans, to include where she might transfer to, were not immediately known.
She played in 13 games as a freshman last season until finally having surgery on her left knee, which had suffered from patella tendonitis all season.
“I want to thank everyone at Tennessee – my coaches and teammates, the athletic and academic departments, the fans and the boosters – I really appreciate all of their support,” Wiley-Gatewood said in the release. “The Lady Vol fans were great to me.
“I also want to thank Pat for helping me to improve as a player and to grow as a person. I love my teammates and appreciate their support while I was going through this.”
Wiley-Gatewood left the court due to illness during the second half of Tennessee’s 83-59 victory over Louisiana Tech on Thursday. She practiced briefly on Friday before being sent home to rest and did not participate in Saturday’s practice.
The Lady Vols next play tomorrow night, at home against Princeton.
Friday, December 16, 2005
Louisiana Tech Lady Techsters/Tennessee Lady Volunteers Recap
(1) Tennessee 83, Louisiana Tech 59
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- Top-ranked Tennessee wasn't good enough to please Pat Summitt.
The Lady Vols were, however, much better than Louisiana Tech.
Shanna Zolman scored 21 points and Candace Parker had 18 points Thursday night to lead the Lady Vols to an 83-59 victory over Louisiana Tech and improve to 9-0 for the first time since the 2001-02 season.
"Obviously it was a win, but I didn't see a lot of things that were favorable out there tonight," Summitt said. "Our bench play was poor in the first half."
The Lady Vols took advantage of 22 turnovers by the Lady Techsters (5-3). Nicky Anosike added 12 points on 5-of-7 shooting for Tennessee. Zolman was 5-of-7 from 3-point range.
It was Tennessee's fifth straight victory in the series.
Aarica Ray-Boyd scored 15 points for Louisiana Tech. Tasha Williams had 13 and Shan Moore 10.
Tennessee shot 46.6 percent from the floor and Louisiana Tech shot 38.5 percent -- but hit 53.8 percent in the second half.
"She's really upset with (me) defensively and just how we performed defensively as a team," Zolman said of her demanding coach.
The Lady Techsters didn't arrive in Knoxville until Thursday afternoon despite leaving Ruston, La., on Wednesday morning. They were scheduled to arrive in Knoxville on Wednesday afternoon, but inclement weather forced their flight to be canceled and they traveled by bus.
It was a tight game for the first 13 minutes. Parker's layup with 14:15 left in the half gave the Lady Vols a 12-10 lead, and they never trailed again.
With seven minutes left in the half, Tennessee led 17-14 when they started a 13-0 run. Zolman's 3-pointer gave the Lady Vols a 30-14 lead with 3:30 left in the half.
The Lady Vols outscored Louisiana Tech 23-6 in the last seven minutes of the half and had a 40-20 halftime lead.
Louisiana Tech shot 23.1 percent from the floor in the first half -- hitting 6-of-26 shots -- and committed 15 turnovers. Tennessee shot 50 percent and made nine turnovers in the first half.
"Tennessee is a great team," Louisiana Tech coach Chris Long said. "They're No. 1 for a reason and they make you pay for your mistakes. We went through a stretch and didn't score, and a lot of it had to do with turnovers."
Zolman had 16 points at halftime on 5-of-10 shooting and was 4-of-6 from 3-point range. Parker scored 13 in the first half on 4-of-5 shooting and made all four of her foul shots.
"I think having Candace and Shanna and their ability to score inside and outside, that's tough," Summitt said. "Obviously they've given us a lot of stability offensively."
Tennessee built the lead to 25 early in the second half. The Lady Techsters rallied briefly with an 8-0 run, cutting it to 49-32 on Eboni Mangum's layup with 15:30 to play.
The Lady Vols were back up by 25 with just less than 10 minutes left and never threatened.
Tennessee's 40-35 advantage in rebounding wasn't enough to satisfy Summitt.
"If this team doesn't understand that is has to rebound, then someone is going to drill them and they'll figure it out," Summitt said.
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- Top-ranked Tennessee wasn't good enough to please Pat Summitt.
The Lady Vols were, however, much better than Louisiana Tech.
Shanna Zolman scored 21 points and Candace Parker had 18 points Thursday night to lead the Lady Vols to an 83-59 victory over Louisiana Tech and improve to 9-0 for the first time since the 2001-02 season.
"Obviously it was a win, but I didn't see a lot of things that were favorable out there tonight," Summitt said. "Our bench play was poor in the first half."
The Lady Vols took advantage of 22 turnovers by the Lady Techsters (5-3). Nicky Anosike added 12 points on 5-of-7 shooting for Tennessee. Zolman was 5-of-7 from 3-point range.
It was Tennessee's fifth straight victory in the series.
Aarica Ray-Boyd scored 15 points for Louisiana Tech. Tasha Williams had 13 and Shan Moore 10.
Tennessee shot 46.6 percent from the floor and Louisiana Tech shot 38.5 percent -- but hit 53.8 percent in the second half.
"She's really upset with (me) defensively and just how we performed defensively as a team," Zolman said of her demanding coach.
The Lady Techsters didn't arrive in Knoxville until Thursday afternoon despite leaving Ruston, La., on Wednesday morning. They were scheduled to arrive in Knoxville on Wednesday afternoon, but inclement weather forced their flight to be canceled and they traveled by bus.
It was a tight game for the first 13 minutes. Parker's layup with 14:15 left in the half gave the Lady Vols a 12-10 lead, and they never trailed again.
With seven minutes left in the half, Tennessee led 17-14 when they started a 13-0 run. Zolman's 3-pointer gave the Lady Vols a 30-14 lead with 3:30 left in the half.
The Lady Vols outscored Louisiana Tech 23-6 in the last seven minutes of the half and had a 40-20 halftime lead.
Louisiana Tech shot 23.1 percent from the floor in the first half -- hitting 6-of-26 shots -- and committed 15 turnovers. Tennessee shot 50 percent and made nine turnovers in the first half.
"Tennessee is a great team," Louisiana Tech coach Chris Long said. "They're No. 1 for a reason and they make you pay for your mistakes. We went through a stretch and didn't score, and a lot of it had to do with turnovers."
Zolman had 16 points at halftime on 5-of-10 shooting and was 4-of-6 from 3-point range. Parker scored 13 in the first half on 4-of-5 shooting and made all four of her foul shots.
"I think having Candace and Shanna and their ability to score inside and outside, that's tough," Summitt said. "Obviously they've given us a lot of stability offensively."
Tennessee built the lead to 25 early in the second half. The Lady Techsters rallied briefly with an 8-0 run, cutting it to 49-32 on Eboni Mangum's layup with 15:30 to play.
The Lady Vols were back up by 25 with just less than 10 minutes left and never threatened.
Tennessee's 40-35 advantage in rebounding wasn't enough to satisfy Summitt.
"If this team doesn't understand that is has to rebound, then someone is going to drill them and they'll figure it out," Summitt said.
Tuesday, December 13, 2005
Lady Vols increase lead in polls
Tennessee’s support as the No. 1 team in women’s basketball is growing.
The Lady Vols (8-0) led The Associated Press poll by an even-wider margin over No. 2 Duke, receiving 31 of 45 first-place votes from a national media panel and finishing with 1,109 points.
Duke (7-0) had 12 first-place votes and trailed Tennessee by 21 points. A week ago, Tennessee had a 26-18 edge in first-place votes and a 13-point lead.
LSU (4-0), which will play Tennessee in Knoxville on Feb. 9, remained third with two first-place votes and 1,014 points.
Sellout: Tennessee has helped Notre Dame achieve the earliest sellout in program history in the 11,418-seat Joyce Center when the teams play Jan. 31. The sellout will be the third in Notre Dame history. The other two, versus Connecticut and a senior night game against Georgetown, came during the school’s national championship season of 2000-01.
Fuller Update: Tennessee redshirt freshman forward Alex Fuller returned to practice after being sidelined since last week while recovering from a strained right hip flexor. Regarding Fuller, UT coach Pat Summitt told Lady Vols athletic trainer Jenny Moshak: "If she limps, she’s out of practice.’’ That wasn’t the case on Monday. "She looked good,’’ Summitt said. "She has spring in her legs now."
The Lady Vols (8-0) led The Associated Press poll by an even-wider margin over No. 2 Duke, receiving 31 of 45 first-place votes from a national media panel and finishing with 1,109 points.
Duke (7-0) had 12 first-place votes and trailed Tennessee by 21 points. A week ago, Tennessee had a 26-18 edge in first-place votes and a 13-point lead.
LSU (4-0), which will play Tennessee in Knoxville on Feb. 9, remained third with two first-place votes and 1,014 points.
Sellout: Tennessee has helped Notre Dame achieve the earliest sellout in program history in the 11,418-seat Joyce Center when the teams play Jan. 31. The sellout will be the third in Notre Dame history. The other two, versus Connecticut and a senior night game against Georgetown, came during the school’s national championship season of 2000-01.
Fuller Update: Tennessee redshirt freshman forward Alex Fuller returned to practice after being sidelined since last week while recovering from a strained right hip flexor. Regarding Fuller, UT coach Pat Summitt told Lady Vols athletic trainer Jenny Moshak: "If she limps, she’s out of practice.’’ That wasn’t the case on Monday. "She looked good,’’ Summitt said. "She has spring in her legs now."
Summitt not pleased with work in the post
Lady Vols’ three centers still lacking production
KNOXVILLE — Lady Vols Coach Pat Summitt called Tennessee’s post play “unacceptable” after the season opener against Stetson.
More than three weeks later, it’s only slightly more tolerable.
While Candace Parker, Shanna Zolman and Alexis Hornbuckle have led the Lady Vols to an 8-0 start and the No. 1 spot in the Associated Press and coaches’ polls, there still are a few post players who aren’t happy with their early season performances.
In Summitt’s mind, the other players need to do everything they can to make them happy.
“I’ve always believed if you don’t get post players the ball, they’re not going to do other things for you,” Summitt said. “If you don’t get the ball inside, and they don’t get touches and they don’t get the ball, they’re going to stand and watch. And some of them pout.
“Then they come out and somebody else gets to go in and stand and watch. That’s pretty much the gist of it.”
Tennessee has knocked off four ranked opponents in its first eight games, but the primary post players have had only minor roles.
Parker and the starting guards have helped the Lady Vols win by an average margin of 25.3 points.
Progress has been made in recent games, although not enough to say the problem has been addressed. Tye’sha Fluker, Nicky Anosike and Sybil Dosty — the three natural centers on the team — have combined to score less than 15 points per game.
Anosike’s 15-point performance in the Nov. 25 win over Gonzaga has been the Lady Vols’ only double-digit scoring effort this season from a center.
“I think teams are doing a good job of trying to take us away,” said Fluker, a 6-foot-5 senior who has started twice in the last seven games.
“But we’re working on it in practice as far as getting open and the guards getting it to us. It’s just a matter of time before it’s going to open up for us.”
Many of Tennessee’s inside deficiencies have been overshadowed by a strong start from Parker, a 6-foot-3 redshirt freshman. After the Nov. 20 season opener, Summitt abandoned a lineup that featured both Anosike and Fluker in favor of a three-guard lineup that put Parker at power forward.
The results have been better since the switch. The Lady Vols, who play host to Louisiana Tech on Thursday, are even dominating the boards — mostly because of Parker’s team-high 9.8 rebounds per game.
If they expect to be celebrating their first national championship in eight years, though, Summitt said the Lady Vols need more improvement across the board from their biggest players.
“(Earlier in the season) I don’t think they got involved,” Summitt said. “We quick-shot the ball a lot. We didn’t really establish the inside game, and now we want to do that.”
In particular, Summitt said she expects big things from Fluker, who ranks seventh on the team in scoring (5.9 ppg) and fifth in rebounds (3.4), and Anosike, who has emerged as the usual starter at center.
But Fluker pointed to UT’s win this past Wednesday at George Washington as a sign of better things to come. With the rest of the team struggling on offense, Anosike scored eight points and pulled down a team-high eight rebounds to help the Lady Vols to a 59-43 win.
“It’s just a matter of working on it in practice and transferring it over to the game,” Fluker said. “We’re going to transfer it over to the game and there won’t be anything to talk about, really.”
KNOXVILLE — Lady Vols Coach Pat Summitt called Tennessee’s post play “unacceptable” after the season opener against Stetson.
More than three weeks later, it’s only slightly more tolerable.
While Candace Parker, Shanna Zolman and Alexis Hornbuckle have led the Lady Vols to an 8-0 start and the No. 1 spot in the Associated Press and coaches’ polls, there still are a few post players who aren’t happy with their early season performances.
In Summitt’s mind, the other players need to do everything they can to make them happy.
“I’ve always believed if you don’t get post players the ball, they’re not going to do other things for you,” Summitt said. “If you don’t get the ball inside, and they don’t get touches and they don’t get the ball, they’re going to stand and watch. And some of them pout.
“Then they come out and somebody else gets to go in and stand and watch. That’s pretty much the gist of it.”
Tennessee has knocked off four ranked opponents in its first eight games, but the primary post players have had only minor roles.
Parker and the starting guards have helped the Lady Vols win by an average margin of 25.3 points.
Progress has been made in recent games, although not enough to say the problem has been addressed. Tye’sha Fluker, Nicky Anosike and Sybil Dosty — the three natural centers on the team — have combined to score less than 15 points per game.
Anosike’s 15-point performance in the Nov. 25 win over Gonzaga has been the Lady Vols’ only double-digit scoring effort this season from a center.
“I think teams are doing a good job of trying to take us away,” said Fluker, a 6-foot-5 senior who has started twice in the last seven games.
“But we’re working on it in practice as far as getting open and the guards getting it to us. It’s just a matter of time before it’s going to open up for us.”
Many of Tennessee’s inside deficiencies have been overshadowed by a strong start from Parker, a 6-foot-3 redshirt freshman. After the Nov. 20 season opener, Summitt abandoned a lineup that featured both Anosike and Fluker in favor of a three-guard lineup that put Parker at power forward.
The results have been better since the switch. The Lady Vols, who play host to Louisiana Tech on Thursday, are even dominating the boards — mostly because of Parker’s team-high 9.8 rebounds per game.
If they expect to be celebrating their first national championship in eight years, though, Summitt said the Lady Vols need more improvement across the board from their biggest players.
“(Earlier in the season) I don’t think they got involved,” Summitt said. “We quick-shot the ball a lot. We didn’t really establish the inside game, and now we want to do that.”
In particular, Summitt said she expects big things from Fluker, who ranks seventh on the team in scoring (5.9 ppg) and fifth in rebounds (3.4), and Anosike, who has emerged as the usual starter at center.
But Fluker pointed to UT’s win this past Wednesday at George Washington as a sign of better things to come. With the rest of the team struggling on offense, Anosike scored eight points and pulled down a team-high eight rebounds to help the Lady Vols to a 59-43 win.
“It’s just a matter of working on it in practice and transferring it over to the game,” Fluker said. “We’re going to transfer it over to the game and there won’t be anything to talk about, really.”
Friday, December 09, 2005
Mystics and Pat Summitt part ways
Washington Mystics Chief Operating Officer Curtis Symonds announced today that Pat Summitt will not return to the Mystics as the Player Personnel Consultant.
"Coach Summitt will no longer serve as the Mystics' Player Personnel Consultant," said Symonds. "She helped us build a strong system and we thank her for her guidance over the past several years."
Symonds added, "Going forward, with Linda Hargrove entering her second season as General Manager, we feel that the Mystics are in good hands and will continue to recruit and develop strong talent for the team. We look forward to the possibilities that await us in 2006."
Summitt joined the Mystics basketball operations staff in 2002. She was instrumental in helping Washington draft notable players such as All-star Alana Beard, 2005 Rookie of the Year, Temeka Johnson and Connecticut Sun 2005 WNBA finalist Ashja Jones.
"Management wanted to go into a different direction; Linda (Hargrove) is General Manager. I enjoyed my years with the organization and wish the Mystics the very best", said Summitt.
Summitt became the winningest coach in college basketball when she recorded her 880th win on March 22, 2005. She has won 24 SEC tournaments and six NCAA titles (1987, 1989, 1991, 1996, 1997 and 1998).
"Coach Summitt will no longer serve as the Mystics' Player Personnel Consultant," said Symonds. "She helped us build a strong system and we thank her for her guidance over the past several years."
Symonds added, "Going forward, with Linda Hargrove entering her second season as General Manager, we feel that the Mystics are in good hands and will continue to recruit and develop strong talent for the team. We look forward to the possibilities that await us in 2006."
Summitt joined the Mystics basketball operations staff in 2002. She was instrumental in helping Washington draft notable players such as All-star Alana Beard, 2005 Rookie of the Year, Temeka Johnson and Connecticut Sun 2005 WNBA finalist Ashja Jones.
"Management wanted to go into a different direction; Linda (Hargrove) is General Manager. I enjoyed my years with the organization and wish the Mystics the very best", said Summitt.
Summitt became the winningest coach in college basketball when she recorded her 880th win on March 22, 2005. She has won 24 SEC tournaments and six NCAA titles (1987, 1989, 1991, 1996, 1997 and 1998).
Wednesday, December 07, 2005
Tennessee Lady Volunteers/George Washington Colonials Recap
(1) Tennessee 59, Geo. Washington 43
WASHINGTON -- Candace Parker and the rest of No. 1 Tennessee thought they played poorly in the first half. Focusing on rebounding and defense, they went out and did something about it.
Parker had 14 points and eight rebounds, and Tennessee held George Washington scoreless for 8 1/2 minutes after halftime en route to a 59-43 victory Wednesday night.
"At halftime, we were disappointed by how we were playing," Parker said. "Every game, there's somebody new watching us for the first time, and we're letting them down if we don't show them what Tennessee's about and how we're supposed to play. Because we may never get that opportunity to show that one person that again."
She tore a ligament in her left index finger in a victory at Stanford on Sunday and played with that finger taped to her middle finger, but said it didn't hamper her.
Shanna Zolman added 12 points for the Lady Vols (8-0), who were closing a five-game road trip in which they will have logged more than 13,000 miles by the time they return home.
Jessica Simmonds led George Washington (2-3) with 13 points, but Kimberly Beck was held to five points one game after scoring a career-high 20 against Villanova.
"We hung with them a majority of the time," Beck said. "We know we can play with anybody in the country now. We just proved that."
Before the game, there was little reason to think it would be as close as it was. The Lady Vols came in having outscored opponents by an average of 26.7 points this season and without a loss to an unranked opponent in 3 1/2 years. Tennessee moved atop the AP rankings this week for the first time since early last season, when it reached the Final Four.
The Colonials, meanwhile, never had lost by fewer than 14 points in five previous games against Tennessee, and were 0-3 against No. 1 teams.
But the Lady Vols were shaky for stretches, committing 23 turnovers in the game and shooting just 43 percent in the first half. That helped George Washington make a game of it, leading for most of the first 10 minutes, then staying within range into the second half.
"We started out lackadaisical," Zolman said. "The lack of intensity that we showed turned up in the turnovers that we had. They pressured us a lot coming out of their zone. They did a good job switching up and keeping us on our toes."
Trailing 40-35, GW had a chance to cut its deficit to three, but Simmonds -- a 29 percent free throw shooter -- missed both attempts from the line.
Six minutes into the second half, Jazmine Adair's baseline jumper drew the Colonials to 42-37. That's when Tennessee turned up its defense, forcing poor shots, air balls, shot-clock violations and steals.
By the time GW scored again, on Simmonds' jumper with 5 1/2 minutes left, Tennessee had a double-digit edge it wouldn't relinquish.
"Tonight was a great game for 30, 35 minutes," GW coach Joe McKeown said. "Tennessee makes you have to make plays every possession. That's what happens when you play a team like that -- they find your weaknesses."
The Lady Vols held George Washington to 22 percent shooting in the second half and finished the game with 12 steals, five by Alexis Hornbuckle. Tennessee outrebounded GW 39-27, and had 18 second-chance points to the Colonials' two.
"That's significant," Tennessee coach Pat Summitt said. "We've been really trying to get this team to pound the glass. We haven't been relentless on the boards -- a trademark of ours for years -- but I think this team is starting to commit to rebounding."
Tennessee missed its first four shots -- three by Parker -- and had three early turnovers, allowing the hosts to score the game's first five points.
The Lady Vols didn't take their first lead until more than 9 1/2 minutes had elapsed, on Sidney Spencer's jumper near the foul line that made it 15-14. It was the longest Tennessee had played this season without being ahead.
WASHINGTON -- Candace Parker and the rest of No. 1 Tennessee thought they played poorly in the first half. Focusing on rebounding and defense, they went out and did something about it.
Parker had 14 points and eight rebounds, and Tennessee held George Washington scoreless for 8 1/2 minutes after halftime en route to a 59-43 victory Wednesday night.
"At halftime, we were disappointed by how we were playing," Parker said. "Every game, there's somebody new watching us for the first time, and we're letting them down if we don't show them what Tennessee's about and how we're supposed to play. Because we may never get that opportunity to show that one person that again."
She tore a ligament in her left index finger in a victory at Stanford on Sunday and played with that finger taped to her middle finger, but said it didn't hamper her.
Shanna Zolman added 12 points for the Lady Vols (8-0), who were closing a five-game road trip in which they will have logged more than 13,000 miles by the time they return home.
Jessica Simmonds led George Washington (2-3) with 13 points, but Kimberly Beck was held to five points one game after scoring a career-high 20 against Villanova.
"We hung with them a majority of the time," Beck said. "We know we can play with anybody in the country now. We just proved that."
Before the game, there was little reason to think it would be as close as it was. The Lady Vols came in having outscored opponents by an average of 26.7 points this season and without a loss to an unranked opponent in 3 1/2 years. Tennessee moved atop the AP rankings this week for the first time since early last season, when it reached the Final Four.
The Colonials, meanwhile, never had lost by fewer than 14 points in five previous games against Tennessee, and were 0-3 against No. 1 teams.
But the Lady Vols were shaky for stretches, committing 23 turnovers in the game and shooting just 43 percent in the first half. That helped George Washington make a game of it, leading for most of the first 10 minutes, then staying within range into the second half.
"We started out lackadaisical," Zolman said. "The lack of intensity that we showed turned up in the turnovers that we had. They pressured us a lot coming out of their zone. They did a good job switching up and keeping us on our toes."
Trailing 40-35, GW had a chance to cut its deficit to three, but Simmonds -- a 29 percent free throw shooter -- missed both attempts from the line.
Six minutes into the second half, Jazmine Adair's baseline jumper drew the Colonials to 42-37. That's when Tennessee turned up its defense, forcing poor shots, air balls, shot-clock violations and steals.
By the time GW scored again, on Simmonds' jumper with 5 1/2 minutes left, Tennessee had a double-digit edge it wouldn't relinquish.
"Tonight was a great game for 30, 35 minutes," GW coach Joe McKeown said. "Tennessee makes you have to make plays every possession. That's what happens when you play a team like that -- they find your weaknesses."
The Lady Vols held George Washington to 22 percent shooting in the second half and finished the game with 12 steals, five by Alexis Hornbuckle. Tennessee outrebounded GW 39-27, and had 18 second-chance points to the Colonials' two.
"That's significant," Tennessee coach Pat Summitt said. "We've been really trying to get this team to pound the glass. We haven't been relentless on the boards -- a trademark of ours for years -- but I think this team is starting to commit to rebounding."
Tennessee missed its first four shots -- three by Parker -- and had three early turnovers, allowing the hosts to score the game's first five points.
The Lady Vols didn't take their first lead until more than 9 1/2 minutes had elapsed, on Sidney Spencer's jumper near the foul line that made it 15-14. It was the longest Tennessee had played this season without being ahead.
Monday, December 05, 2005
Lady Vols Replace Duke Atop AP Poll
Two more victories over ranked teams finally did it for Tennessee. The Lady Vols are back at No. 1 in The AP women's basketball poll.
Tennessee replaced Duke at the top of the poll on Monday, the 97th time a Pat Summitt team has led the rankings. Connecticut and coach Geno Auriemma have 94 appearances at No. 1.
Another longtime power, Texas Tech, dropped out after its fourth loss in five games, ending the school's string of consecutive appearances in the poll at 248. North Carolina State returned at No. 25 after being out for two weeks.
Tennessee (7-0) had run a close second to Duke (6-0) in the first three polls this season, but the Lady Vols' two victories this past week pushed them past the Blue Devils. First, they overwhelmed then-No. 16 Texas 102-61 in Knoxville. Then they flew to the West Coast and beat then-No. 12 Stanford 74-67 three days later.
Tennessee received 28 of 46 first-place votes from a national media panel and had 1,128 points. Duke was a strong No. 2 with 16 first-place votes and 1,115 points. LSU (4-0) was third with two first-place votes and 1,042 points.
Duke led by seven points last week even though Tennessee had a 22-21 edge in first-place votes.
Carl Adamec of the Manchester, Conn., Journal Inquirer had been voting Duke No. 1, but changed his mind after what Tennessee did to Texas. The Lady Vols jumped to a 17-0 lead and never gave the Longhorns a chance.
Duke also played Texas, winning 84-70 in Austin in its only game last week.
"They've just been so impressive," Adamec said of the Lady Vols. "To do what they've done, obviously they're the best team. That's not to take anything away from Duke. They're terrific, too. But the Texas game, seeing that on national TV was a eye-opener."
Tennessee also has defeated No. 9 Maryland and No. 13 Michigan State this season. Michigan State was ranked ninth when it lost to the Lady Vols 83-55 in the Virgin Islands.
It has been a full year since Tennessee last held the No. 1 ranking. The Lady Vols led the first three polls last season, fell as low as 10th in early January and finished third.
Tennessee is on a run of 362 consecutive appearances in the poll. The Lady Vols have been unranked only 14 times in 503 polls.
Starting with LSU, there were no changes through No. 9. Ohio State was fourth and Baylor fifth, followed by Rutgers, North Carolina, Connecticut and Maryland. Notre Dame moved up one spot to 10th.
Stanford, which beat Pacific 109-58 in its other game last week, climbed one place into a tie for 11th with DePaul, which moved up three spots. Michigan State held at No. 13 and was followed by Minnesota, Arizona State, Oklahoma, Georgia, New Mexico, Texas and Temple.
Vanderbilt, UCLA, Utah, Purdue and North Carolina State held the final five places.
Oklahoma made the biggest jump within the poll, moving up four places to 16th after beating TCU and Oral Roberts. Minnesota fell four places to 14th after splitting a pair of games — a 62-44 loss at New Mexico and a 78-70 win over Nebraska. Texas slipped three spots to 19th.
Texas Tech (2-5) ended a three-game losing streak with a 63-53 victory over Sacramento State, then lost at Penn State 78-72 in two overtimes. The Lady Raiders are unranked for the first time since Jan. 12, 1992.
North Carolina State (5-2), which started the season at No. 21, dropped out after an early loss to Saint Joseph's. The Wolfpack have won three of four since then, including a victory over Vanderbilt.
Tennessee replaced Duke at the top of the poll on Monday, the 97th time a Pat Summitt team has led the rankings. Connecticut and coach Geno Auriemma have 94 appearances at No. 1.
Another longtime power, Texas Tech, dropped out after its fourth loss in five games, ending the school's string of consecutive appearances in the poll at 248. North Carolina State returned at No. 25 after being out for two weeks.
Tennessee (7-0) had run a close second to Duke (6-0) in the first three polls this season, but the Lady Vols' two victories this past week pushed them past the Blue Devils. First, they overwhelmed then-No. 16 Texas 102-61 in Knoxville. Then they flew to the West Coast and beat then-No. 12 Stanford 74-67 three days later.
Tennessee received 28 of 46 first-place votes from a national media panel and had 1,128 points. Duke was a strong No. 2 with 16 first-place votes and 1,115 points. LSU (4-0) was third with two first-place votes and 1,042 points.
Duke led by seven points last week even though Tennessee had a 22-21 edge in first-place votes.
Carl Adamec of the Manchester, Conn., Journal Inquirer had been voting Duke No. 1, but changed his mind after what Tennessee did to Texas. The Lady Vols jumped to a 17-0 lead and never gave the Longhorns a chance.
Duke also played Texas, winning 84-70 in Austin in its only game last week.
"They've just been so impressive," Adamec said of the Lady Vols. "To do what they've done, obviously they're the best team. That's not to take anything away from Duke. They're terrific, too. But the Texas game, seeing that on national TV was a eye-opener."
Tennessee also has defeated No. 9 Maryland and No. 13 Michigan State this season. Michigan State was ranked ninth when it lost to the Lady Vols 83-55 in the Virgin Islands.
It has been a full year since Tennessee last held the No. 1 ranking. The Lady Vols led the first three polls last season, fell as low as 10th in early January and finished third.
Tennessee is on a run of 362 consecutive appearances in the poll. The Lady Vols have been unranked only 14 times in 503 polls.
Starting with LSU, there were no changes through No. 9. Ohio State was fourth and Baylor fifth, followed by Rutgers, North Carolina, Connecticut and Maryland. Notre Dame moved up one spot to 10th.
Stanford, which beat Pacific 109-58 in its other game last week, climbed one place into a tie for 11th with DePaul, which moved up three spots. Michigan State held at No. 13 and was followed by Minnesota, Arizona State, Oklahoma, Georgia, New Mexico, Texas and Temple.
Vanderbilt, UCLA, Utah, Purdue and North Carolina State held the final five places.
Oklahoma made the biggest jump within the poll, moving up four places to 16th after beating TCU and Oral Roberts. Minnesota fell four places to 14th after splitting a pair of games — a 62-44 loss at New Mexico and a 78-70 win over Nebraska. Texas slipped three spots to 19th.
Texas Tech (2-5) ended a three-game losing streak with a 63-53 victory over Sacramento State, then lost at Penn State 78-72 in two overtimes. The Lady Raiders are unranked for the first time since Jan. 12, 1992.
North Carolina State (5-2), which started the season at No. 21, dropped out after an early loss to Saint Joseph's. The Wolfpack have won three of four since then, including a victory over Vanderbilt.
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