Only after A'dia Mathies beat No. 8 Tennessee did the Kentucky senior guard show some sentimentality over playing her final home game with the Wildcats.
She was typically reserved in thanking the sellout crowd at Memorial Coliseum, which witnessed Mathies at her cool and collected best during a second-half run that helped No. 10 Kentucky send her and fellow senior Brittany Henderson out as winners.
Mathies scored 13 of her 16 points in the second half, highlighted by back-to-back 3-pointers during Kentucky's 19-6 run, helping the Wildcats pull away from Tennessee for a 78-65 victory on Sunday.
Simmons led Tennessee with 17 points.
A depleted roster might have been a reason for regular-season champion Tennessee (23-6, 14-2). The Volunteers played without center Isabelle Harrison, who sustained a right knee injury Thursday and is considered week to week.
Point guard Ariel Massengale, who was also questionable with a knee injury, started and finished with five points. Bashaara Graves had 12 points, Cierra Burdick added 11 with 11 rebounds and Taber Spani also had 11 for Tennessee.
There was nothing on the line for the Lady Volunteers, who took care of their most important matter by clinching the SEC on Thursday. But they were concerned about the future of Harrison, who dressed but spent most of the game with an ice pack on her knee. She had already missed six games this season with a left knee injury requiring surgery.
Injuries have been an issue for Tennessee, which lost freshman guard Andraya Carter for the season with a torn labrum on her right shoulder while Burdick missed eight games with a broken bone in her right hand. Kamiko Williams also hurt her right leg in the first half Sunday but returned to play 26 minutes.
"It's just things that we've had to deal with," Tennessee coach Holly Warlick said of the injuries. "It's part of the game. People have to step up, and we didn't step up today."
Sunday, March 03, 2013
Friday, March 01, 2013
Legendary Coach Pat Summitt to Speak at Minnesota Alzheimer's Conference
Doctors call it an epidemic and in Minnesota almost 98,000 people are suffering from Alzheimer's Disease.
This weekend hundreds of people from across the country are coming to St. Paul to talk about dementia and there will be a special guest on hand to help. Pat Summitt will speak during a conference called "Meeting of the Minds" hosted by the Alzheimer's Association and Mayo Clinic.
Summitt is the winningest college basketball coach of all time, capturing 8 national titles during her 38 year career. In 2011, Summitt announced that doctors at Mayo clinic had diagnosed her with early onset Alzheimer's.
"What courage it takes to step outside of your box that you are used to being in and say, 'I am going through something and it's difficult and I'm going to need help but I'm also going to fight it,'" said Michelle Marciniak, who played for the Lady Vols under Summitt.
Marciniak remembers when her former coach started to change.
"Ok, now we just had a conversation, it was a very intense conversation, it was a great conversation, and then the next morning, she wouldn't remember it. For me, that was the trigger," Marciniak said.
Summitt is not alone. More than half of all Americans know someone with Alzheimer's. Every 68 seconds someone in America develops the disease.
"It's very difficult but it's also something that we're all trying to celebrate her while she's here and while we still have her," Marciniak said.
Dee and Chase Israelson live in Sacramento, California but come to Mayo Clinic several times a year for treatment. They will join more than 1,300 people at the conference Saturday.
"I don't think anyone could say when it started but it was noticeable enough that our adult children were saying, 'Hey something's wrong here,'" Chase Israelson said.
Dee Israelson does not have Alzheimer's but about a year ago she was diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment.
"I think it's important for me to plan somewhat for the future but at the same time not to get obsessed with it... If I'm obsessed with it, I'm more apt to go into depression, that would just make it worse," Dee Israelson said.
Summitt speaks at 8:30 Saturday morning at the St. Paul RiverCentre. The conference is sold out.
"If you are going through this with someone, you just have to love them. And you just have to be there. And you may be sitting in a room and it may be absolutely silent and that's ok," Marciniak said.
At the current rate, doctors believe as many as 16 million Americans will have Alzheimer's by 2025.
This weekend hundreds of people from across the country are coming to St. Paul to talk about dementia and there will be a special guest on hand to help. Pat Summitt will speak during a conference called "Meeting of the Minds" hosted by the Alzheimer's Association and Mayo Clinic.
Summitt is the winningest college basketball coach of all time, capturing 8 national titles during her 38 year career. In 2011, Summitt announced that doctors at Mayo clinic had diagnosed her with early onset Alzheimer's.
"What courage it takes to step outside of your box that you are used to being in and say, 'I am going through something and it's difficult and I'm going to need help but I'm also going to fight it,'" said Michelle Marciniak, who played for the Lady Vols under Summitt.
Marciniak remembers when her former coach started to change.
"Ok, now we just had a conversation, it was a very intense conversation, it was a great conversation, and then the next morning, she wouldn't remember it. For me, that was the trigger," Marciniak said.
Summitt is not alone. More than half of all Americans know someone with Alzheimer's. Every 68 seconds someone in America develops the disease.
"It's very difficult but it's also something that we're all trying to celebrate her while she's here and while we still have her," Marciniak said.
Dee and Chase Israelson live in Sacramento, California but come to Mayo Clinic several times a year for treatment. They will join more than 1,300 people at the conference Saturday.
"I don't think anyone could say when it started but it was noticeable enough that our adult children were saying, 'Hey something's wrong here,'" Chase Israelson said.
Dee Israelson does not have Alzheimer's but about a year ago she was diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment.
"I think it's important for me to plan somewhat for the future but at the same time not to get obsessed with it... If I'm obsessed with it, I'm more apt to go into depression, that would just make it worse," Dee Israelson said.
Summitt speaks at 8:30 Saturday morning at the St. Paul RiverCentre. The conference is sold out.
"If you are going through this with someone, you just have to love them. And you just have to be there. And you may be sitting in a room and it may be absolutely silent and that's ok," Marciniak said.
At the current rate, doctors believe as many as 16 million Americans will have Alzheimer's by 2025.
Thursday, February 28, 2013
(8) Tennessee 82, (13) Texas A&M 72
Forgive Tennessee coach Holly Warlick if she wasn't quite sure how to respond Thursday night.
"It was a little bit of disbelief," said Warlick after her eighth-ranked Lady Vols beat No. 13 Texas A&M 82-72 to clinch their 17th Southeastern Conference regular-season title.
This may seem like an annual tradition in Knoxville, but Warlick hadn't experienced it before as a head coach. She spent the last 27 years as an assistant on Pat Summitt's staffs before taking over the program this season.
"I guess I didn't know how to act. ... It's a little surreal to me right now."
The Lady Vols (23-5, 14-1) had already wrapped up a share of their 17th conference crown Sunday and with the win earned the No. 1 seed in the conference tournament that begins Wednesday in Duluth, Ga.
Warlick is the second SEC rookie women's coach to win a conference title, matching the 2005 accomplishment of former LSU coach Pokey Chatman.
Tennessee, a perennial conference favorite, wasn't expected to win the SEC title in the first year of the post-Summitt era.
Summitt, who led the Lady Vols to eight national titles in 38 seasons, stepped down last April after announcing in 2011 she had early-onset dementia. She remains on staff as head coach emeritus and is in the stands for virtually every home game, though she was out of town Thursday.
The Lady Vols also didn't return a single player who started an NCAA tournament game last year in their run to the regional finals. SEC coaches predicted Tennessee would finish fifth in the league and Tennessee was fourth in the preseason media poll.
"Holly deserves all the credit," Texas A&M coach Gary Blair said. "She's got the hardest job in America. Remember how many people tried to replace John Wooden? They're still trying to replace him. You've got the right person in Holly. She's doing a great job, because Pat Summitt is our John Wooden."
The Lady Vols outperformed preseason expectations by scoring in bunches and relying on a balanced attack. That formula worked again Thursday.
Kamiko Williams scored a career-high 18 points to lead five Lady Vols in double figures. Cierra Burdick added 15 points and 14 rebounds to help Tennessee outrebound Texas A&M 44-27. Meighan Simmons scored 17 points, Bashaara Graves had 14 and Isabelle Harrison added 10.
"We're finally proving to everybody that this is a team that means business," Burdick said. "We're here to win championships, and that's what we plan on doing."
This represented the final regular-season home game for Williams and Taber Spani, who exchanged high-fives with fans in the front row as the Lady Vols cut the nets to celebrate their title.
Both seniors were honored before the game with their families in a ceremony that included Spani's brother-in-law, 2012 Heisman Trophy finalist and former Kansas State quarterback Collin Klein. Williams responded by shooting 8 of 13 and pulling down seven rebounds to go along with her 18 points.
"I think it was her best game by far," Warlick said. "She had to play long minutes. She was tired, but she battled back. Any other game (earlier) in her career, she'd have been pulling her shirt to come out. She didn't do that today. She didn't want out."
The Lady Vols overcame injuries to point guard Ariel Massengale and center Isabelle Harrison, who both appeared to hurt their right knees in the second half. There was no immediate word on the extent of their injuries.
"Our team was pretty upset, especially right after Izzy (Harrison) went out, to have two of our players go down," Warlick said. "Some of them were crying or upset, but they held on, and that's the resilience of this team. They've been hit and knocked down, and they just keep getting back up."
Adrienne Pratcher scored 20 points, Kelsey Bone had 14, Courtney Williams 13 and Courtney Walker 12 for Texas A&M (21-8, 11-4). The Aggies lost for the third time in their past four games.
Tennessee and Texas A&M have spent the season battling for the SEC lead with No. 10 Kentucky, so it came as no surprise that Thursday's game went back and forth.
"It was as good of a basketball game as you're going to see in the SEC," Blair said.
"It was a little bit of disbelief," said Warlick after her eighth-ranked Lady Vols beat No. 13 Texas A&M 82-72 to clinch their 17th Southeastern Conference regular-season title.
This may seem like an annual tradition in Knoxville, but Warlick hadn't experienced it before as a head coach. She spent the last 27 years as an assistant on Pat Summitt's staffs before taking over the program this season.
"I guess I didn't know how to act. ... It's a little surreal to me right now."
The Lady Vols (23-5, 14-1) had already wrapped up a share of their 17th conference crown Sunday and with the win earned the No. 1 seed in the conference tournament that begins Wednesday in Duluth, Ga.
Warlick is the second SEC rookie women's coach to win a conference title, matching the 2005 accomplishment of former LSU coach Pokey Chatman.
Tennessee, a perennial conference favorite, wasn't expected to win the SEC title in the first year of the post-Summitt era.
Summitt, who led the Lady Vols to eight national titles in 38 seasons, stepped down last April after announcing in 2011 she had early-onset dementia. She remains on staff as head coach emeritus and is in the stands for virtually every home game, though she was out of town Thursday.
The Lady Vols also didn't return a single player who started an NCAA tournament game last year in their run to the regional finals. SEC coaches predicted Tennessee would finish fifth in the league and Tennessee was fourth in the preseason media poll.
"Holly deserves all the credit," Texas A&M coach Gary Blair said. "She's got the hardest job in America. Remember how many people tried to replace John Wooden? They're still trying to replace him. You've got the right person in Holly. She's doing a great job, because Pat Summitt is our John Wooden."
The Lady Vols outperformed preseason expectations by scoring in bunches and relying on a balanced attack. That formula worked again Thursday.
Kamiko Williams scored a career-high 18 points to lead five Lady Vols in double figures. Cierra Burdick added 15 points and 14 rebounds to help Tennessee outrebound Texas A&M 44-27. Meighan Simmons scored 17 points, Bashaara Graves had 14 and Isabelle Harrison added 10.
"We're finally proving to everybody that this is a team that means business," Burdick said. "We're here to win championships, and that's what we plan on doing."
This represented the final regular-season home game for Williams and Taber Spani, who exchanged high-fives with fans in the front row as the Lady Vols cut the nets to celebrate their title.
Both seniors were honored before the game with their families in a ceremony that included Spani's brother-in-law, 2012 Heisman Trophy finalist and former Kansas State quarterback Collin Klein. Williams responded by shooting 8 of 13 and pulling down seven rebounds to go along with her 18 points.
"I think it was her best game by far," Warlick said. "She had to play long minutes. She was tired, but she battled back. Any other game (earlier) in her career, she'd have been pulling her shirt to come out. She didn't do that today. She didn't want out."
The Lady Vols overcame injuries to point guard Ariel Massengale and center Isabelle Harrison, who both appeared to hurt their right knees in the second half. There was no immediate word on the extent of their injuries.
"Our team was pretty upset, especially right after Izzy (Harrison) went out, to have two of our players go down," Warlick said. "Some of them were crying or upset, but they held on, and that's the resilience of this team. They've been hit and knocked down, and they just keep getting back up."
Adrienne Pratcher scored 20 points, Kelsey Bone had 14, Courtney Williams 13 and Courtney Walker 12 for Texas A&M (21-8, 11-4). The Aggies lost for the third time in their past four games.
Tennessee and Texas A&M have spent the season battling for the SEC lead with No. 10 Kentucky, so it came as no surprise that Thursday's game went back and forth.
"It was as good of a basketball game as you're going to see in the SEC," Blair said.
Wednesday, February 27, 2013
Holdsclaw indicted on aggravated assault charge
Prosecutors say former WNBA player and Olympic gold medalist Chamique (shuh-MEE'-kwuh) Holdsclaw is being indicted in a November 2012 shooting in Atlanta.
Fulton County District Attorney's spokeswoman Yvette Jones said Wednesday that a six-count indictment charges the 35-year-old with aggravated assault, criminal damage and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony.
Holdsclaw was arrested after an argument with Tulsa Shock player Jennifer Lacy, who told police she was Holdsclaw's ex-girlfriend. The two were also Atlanta Dream teammates in 2009. Police say Holdsclaw broke the windows to Lacy's car and shot at it. No one was injured.
After a late-November court appearance, Holdsclaw's attorney said he talked with Lacy and they were trying to resolve the case. The attorney said Wednesday he wasn't aware of the indictment.
Holdsclaw is out on bond.
Fulton County District Attorney's spokeswoman Yvette Jones said Wednesday that a six-count indictment charges the 35-year-old with aggravated assault, criminal damage and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony.
Holdsclaw was arrested after an argument with Tulsa Shock player Jennifer Lacy, who told police she was Holdsclaw's ex-girlfriend. The two were also Atlanta Dream teammates in 2009. Police say Holdsclaw broke the windows to Lacy's car and shot at it. No one was injured.
After a late-November court appearance, Holdsclaw's attorney said he talked with Lacy and they were trying to resolve the case. The attorney said Wednesday he wasn't aware of the indictment.
Holdsclaw is out on bond.
Sunday, February 24, 2013
(11) Tennessee 60, Arkansas 54
Meighan Simmons scored 18 points as No. 11 Tennessee rallied from an 11-point second-half deficit to defeat Arkansas 60-54 on Sunday.
The Lady Vols (22-5, 13-1 Southeastern Conference) extended their winning streak to five games and remained atop the conference standings. It also follows a shocking overtime win last season by the Lady Razorbacks, their first win in Knoxville.
Simmons, the SEC's leading scorer, had 11 points in the second half to lead Tennessee back from a 28-19 halftime deficit. Taber Spani added 14 points for the Lady Vols, while Bashaara Graves had 11.
Quistelle Williams led Arkansas (17-10, 5-9), which has lost seven of its nine games to ranked teams, with 15 points.
The Lady Vols (22-5, 13-1 Southeastern Conference) extended their winning streak to five games and remained atop the conference standings. It also follows a shocking overtime win last season by the Lady Razorbacks, their first win in Knoxville.
Simmons, the SEC's leading scorer, had 11 points in the second half to lead Tennessee back from a 28-19 halftime deficit. Taber Spani added 14 points for the Lady Vols, while Bashaara Graves had 11.
Quistelle Williams led Arkansas (17-10, 5-9), which has lost seven of its nine games to ranked teams, with 15 points.
Saturday, February 23, 2013
ESPN Announces Pat Summitt as Subject for "Nine for IX" Documentary
ESPN has revealed this year's upcoming documentaries for its "Nine for IX" initiative (a series of documentaries like the 30 for 30 series; the name comes from these films being focused on "captivating stories of women in sports told through the lens of female filmmaker").
ESPN has revealed that the subject for one of these documentaries will be former Tennessee Lady Vols coach Pat Summitt, in a documentary produced by Robin Roberts.
The summary as follows from the release:
Pat XO (Lisa Lax and Nancy Stern / Produced by Robin Roberts)
On April 18, 2012, Pat Summitt, the winningest coach in the history of the NCAA basketball, did the unimaginable and announced her resignation from the University of Tennessee. On the very same day, her son Tyler was named assistant coach of the Marquette’s women’s basketball team, his first job out of college. While the sports world reeled from the news of Pat’s early on-set Alzheimer’s, the coach and her son quietly set out to beat this challenge just as they had every other – with grace, humor and most of all, each other. Pat XO tells the remarkable story of Pat Summitt as it’s never been told before. This raw, authentic portrait takes the camera from the filmmaker’s hands and places it into those who know her best. With Tyler as the lead storyteller, moving recollections are shared by assistant coaches, players like Chamique Holdsclaw, Tamika Catchings and Michelle Marciniak, fellow coach Geno Auriemma, and such admirers as Peyton Manning and Kenny Chesney. The archival footage and statistical records woven into the film provide their own insights into a woman who cared about winning, but also about elevating her players and her university. If it’s possible to do justice to Pat Summitt, Pat XO does it.
The series is scheduled to premiere on July 2 on ESPN and the films will air over consecutive Tuesday evenings at 8pm ET.
I'm not sure if the order in which they will air has been announced yet.
ESPN Films and espnW Announce Nine for IX
ESPN has revealed that the subject for one of these documentaries will be former Tennessee Lady Vols coach Pat Summitt, in a documentary produced by Robin Roberts.
The summary as follows from the release:
Pat XO (Lisa Lax and Nancy Stern / Produced by Robin Roberts)
On April 18, 2012, Pat Summitt, the winningest coach in the history of the NCAA basketball, did the unimaginable and announced her resignation from the University of Tennessee. On the very same day, her son Tyler was named assistant coach of the Marquette’s women’s basketball team, his first job out of college. While the sports world reeled from the news of Pat’s early on-set Alzheimer’s, the coach and her son quietly set out to beat this challenge just as they had every other – with grace, humor and most of all, each other. Pat XO tells the remarkable story of Pat Summitt as it’s never been told before. This raw, authentic portrait takes the camera from the filmmaker’s hands and places it into those who know her best. With Tyler as the lead storyteller, moving recollections are shared by assistant coaches, players like Chamique Holdsclaw, Tamika Catchings and Michelle Marciniak, fellow coach Geno Auriemma, and such admirers as Peyton Manning and Kenny Chesney. The archival footage and statistical records woven into the film provide their own insights into a woman who cared about winning, but also about elevating her players and her university. If it’s possible to do justice to Pat Summitt, Pat XO does it.
The series is scheduled to premiere on July 2 on ESPN and the films will air over consecutive Tuesday evenings at 8pm ET.
I'm not sure if the order in which they will air has been announced yet.
ESPN Films and espnW Announce Nine for IX
Thursday, February 21, 2013
(11) Tennessee 83, Auburn 61
Meighan Simmons scored 24 points and Cierra Burdick had a double-double Thursday night as No. 11 Tennessee trounced Auburn 83-61 to remain in sole possession of first place in the Southeastern Conference.
Simmons had 11 points in the first 8 minutes and made three 3-pointers in a 67-second span early in the game. Burdick had 15 points and a career-high 13 rebounds for the Lady Volunteers (21-5, 12-1 Southeastern Conference). Taber Spani added 16 points and Bashaara Graves had 14 points.
Tyrese Tanner scored 20 points, Blanche Alverson added 15 points and Chadarryl Clay had 10 points for Auburn (14-12, 3-10), which lost for the ninth time in its last 10 games.
Tennessee went 6 of 7 from 3-point range in the first 7 minutes of the game and eventually owned a 33-7 lead. Auburn never threatened the rest of the way.
Simmons had 11 points in the first 8 minutes and made three 3-pointers in a 67-second span early in the game. Burdick had 15 points and a career-high 13 rebounds for the Lady Volunteers (21-5, 12-1 Southeastern Conference). Taber Spani added 16 points and Bashaara Graves had 14 points.
Tyrese Tanner scored 20 points, Blanche Alverson added 15 points and Chadarryl Clay had 10 points for Auburn (14-12, 3-10), which lost for the ninth time in its last 10 games.
Tennessee went 6 of 7 from 3-point range in the first 7 minutes of the game and eventually owned a 33-7 lead. Auburn never threatened the rest of the way.
Sunday, February 17, 2013
(12) Tennessee 83, Vandy 64
Meighan Simmons scored 17 points and was one of five Tennessee players to reach double figures Sunday as the 12th-ranked Lady Volunteers defeated Vanderbilt 83-64 to clinch their 37th consecutive 20-win season.
Tennessee (20-5, 11-1 Southeastern Conference) hasn't failed to win at least 20 games since going 16-11 in 1975-76. This latest victory gave Tennessee a half-game lead in the SEC standings over No. 11 Texas A&M (20-5, 10-1), which hosts No. 9 Kentucky (22-3, 10-2) on Monday.
The Lady Vols have never lost at home to Vanderbilt in 28 contests. Tennessee leads the all-time series with Vanderbilt 62-8.
Ariel Massengale scored 14 points, Bashaara Graves had 13 points and Jasmine Jones and Taber Spani each added 12 points for Tennessee.
Jasmine Lister matched a career high with 24 points for Vanderbilt (16-9, 6-6), while Morgan Batey and Heather Bowe each added 10 points.
Tennessee (20-5, 11-1 Southeastern Conference) hasn't failed to win at least 20 games since going 16-11 in 1975-76. This latest victory gave Tennessee a half-game lead in the SEC standings over No. 11 Texas A&M (20-5, 10-1), which hosts No. 9 Kentucky (22-3, 10-2) on Monday.
The Lady Vols have never lost at home to Vanderbilt in 28 contests. Tennessee leads the all-time series with Vanderbilt 62-8.
Ariel Massengale scored 14 points, Bashaara Graves had 13 points and Jasmine Jones and Taber Spani each added 12 points for Tennessee.
Jasmine Lister matched a career high with 24 points for Vanderbilt (16-9, 6-6), while Morgan Batey and Heather Bowe each added 10 points.
Tuesday, February 12, 2013
Pat Summitt given New York Athletic Club Legends Award
University of Tennessee women’s head coach emeritus Pat Summitt was given the New York Athletic Club Winged Foot Legends’ Award on Tuesday.
“We are privileged that Coach Summitt has accepted our Legends’ Award,” James W. O’Brien, Chairman of the Winged Foot Award Committee, said in a news release. “If there is any coach who merits the title ‘legend,’ it is certainly she.”
“To be the recipient of the NYAC’s Winged Foot Legends’ Award is quite humbling,” Summitt said. “I find myself in the company of six very distinguished gentlemen, several of whom I consider dear friends, and who have certainly made their mark on the game of basketball.
"Over the years, I have learned that you win in life with people. Life is much about relationships, and throughout my playing and coaching careers, I was blessed to be surrounded by incredibly talented student-athletes, coaches, staff members and the University of Tennessee Knoxville and Martin campuses that supported me. It has been an amazing journey and to receive this award from the NYAC is a very special honor for me.”
Other recipients are Dean Smith, John Wooden, Lou Carnesecca, Al Maguire, Ray Lumpp and Bob Knight.
“We are privileged that Coach Summitt has accepted our Legends’ Award,” James W. O’Brien, Chairman of the Winged Foot Award Committee, said in a news release. “If there is any coach who merits the title ‘legend,’ it is certainly she.”
“To be the recipient of the NYAC’s Winged Foot Legends’ Award is quite humbling,” Summitt said. “I find myself in the company of six very distinguished gentlemen, several of whom I consider dear friends, and who have certainly made their mark on the game of basketball.
"Over the years, I have learned that you win in life with people. Life is much about relationships, and throughout my playing and coaching careers, I was blessed to be surrounded by incredibly talented student-athletes, coaches, staff members and the University of Tennessee Knoxville and Martin campuses that supported me. It has been an amazing journey and to receive this award from the NYAC is a very special honor for me.”
Other recipients are Dean Smith, John Wooden, Lou Carnesecca, Al Maguire, Ray Lumpp and Bob Knight.
Sunday, February 10, 2013
(12) Tennessee 97, Ole Miss 68
Meighan Simmons scored 24 points and four of her teammates also reached double figures Sunday as No. 12 Tennessee rolled to a 97-68 victory over Mississippi.
The Lady Vols shot 59.4 percent (38 of 64) and beat the Rebels for the 24th consecutive time. Ole Miss (8-15, 1-9 Southeastern Conference) hasn't beaten Tennessee since a 78-72 victory on Feb. 4, 1996.
Bashaara Graves had 19 points and 11 rebounds for Tennessee (19-5, 10-1). Taber Spani and Nia Moore each added 12 points, while Kamiko Williams had 11 points. Spani hadn't scored and Moore hadn't played at all in Tennessee's last game, a 64-62 victory at LSU on Thursday. Moore's 12 points represented a career high for the freshman center.
Diara Moore scored 16 points, Gracie Frizzell had 12 points and Danielle McCray added 11 points for Mississippi, which lost for the ninth time in its last 10 games.
The Lady Vols shot 59.4 percent (38 of 64) and beat the Rebels for the 24th consecutive time. Ole Miss (8-15, 1-9 Southeastern Conference) hasn't beaten Tennessee since a 78-72 victory on Feb. 4, 1996.
Bashaara Graves had 19 points and 11 rebounds for Tennessee (19-5, 10-1). Taber Spani and Nia Moore each added 12 points, while Kamiko Williams had 11 points. Spani hadn't scored and Moore hadn't played at all in Tennessee's last game, a 64-62 victory at LSU on Thursday. Moore's 12 points represented a career high for the freshman center.
Diara Moore scored 16 points, Gracie Frizzell had 12 points and Danielle McCray added 11 points for Mississippi, which lost for the ninth time in its last 10 games.
Friday, February 08, 2013
No. 12 Tennessee 64, LSU 62
Bashaara Graves made a late steal and soon after scored inside with a second left to help No. 12 Tennessee narrowly avert a second-straight upset with a 64-62 victory over LSU on Thursday night.
Coming off a stunning 80-63 loss at Missouri, Tennessee (18-5, 9-1 Southeastern Conference) trailed 62-59 after Theresa Plaisance's baseline jumper put LSU (13-10, 4-6) in position to give coach Nikki Caldwell her first victory over her alma mater in four tries.
Then Graves, a 6-foot-2 freshman who has quickly established herself as one of Tennessee's go-to players, rescued the Lady Vols.
First Graves scored inside in transition to make it 62-61 with 15 seconds left. Tennessee then fouled Plaisance, who uncharacteristically missed the front end of one-and-one free throws.
Tennessee's Cierra Burdick tied it by making one of two free throws with 7 seconds left, then Graves stole the ball as LSU's Bianca Lutley tried to corral an inbound pass. Graves' initial shot was blocked by Plaisance, but Tennessee got her the ball again underneath and her next shot rolled in as she fell backward and teammates started to pile on her in celebration before realizing they still had to defend LSU's final inbound pass. The Lady Vols' lapse allowed Adrienne Webb to get off a desperation shot from just a few feet outside the 3-point line, but it fell short, allowing the Lady Vols to carry on with their celebration as the stunned LSU crowd groaned.
Graves finished with 17 points, a performance made even more impressive by the fact that LSU did not have to defend Tennessee's 6-3 front court player Isabelle Harrison, who averages 10 points and 8.3 rebounds, but missed her third straight game with a knee injury. Meighan Simmons led Tennessee with 18 points and Burdick, in only her third game back from a broken hand, narrowly missed a double-double with nine points and nine rebounds.
The finish was a cruel one for Plaisance, who nearly led the Lady Tigers to a thrilling upset with 20 points and nine rebounds.
Lutley had 13 points and Danielle Ballard 10 for LSU, which has lost two straight and three of four. The lead changed 14 times, there were five ties and neither team led by more than 3 in the second half. Early on, however, it hardly looked to be a thriller.
The Lady Vols raced to a 9-0 lead while LSU missed its first eight shots.
Plaisance finally got LSU on the board with a basket inside, but Tennessee's lead grew as large as 11 when Simmons' jumper made it 13-2.
It looked like the Lady Vols would have an easy night when suddenly the game turned on its head. Web and Lutley hit consecutive 3s and Kenny added a baseline jumper, sparking a stunning 20-5 LSU run.
Plaisance added a three-point play on a strong inside basket as she was fouled by Burdick, and Ballard's jumper gave the Lady Tigers their first lead at 17-16 with 8:39 left in the opening half.
The rest of the half was close thereafter, with Burdick's bucket in the paint giving the Lady Vols a 28-26 lead going into the locker room.
Coming off a stunning 80-63 loss at Missouri, Tennessee (18-5, 9-1 Southeastern Conference) trailed 62-59 after Theresa Plaisance's baseline jumper put LSU (13-10, 4-6) in position to give coach Nikki Caldwell her first victory over her alma mater in four tries.
Then Graves, a 6-foot-2 freshman who has quickly established herself as one of Tennessee's go-to players, rescued the Lady Vols.
First Graves scored inside in transition to make it 62-61 with 15 seconds left. Tennessee then fouled Plaisance, who uncharacteristically missed the front end of one-and-one free throws.
Tennessee's Cierra Burdick tied it by making one of two free throws with 7 seconds left, then Graves stole the ball as LSU's Bianca Lutley tried to corral an inbound pass. Graves' initial shot was blocked by Plaisance, but Tennessee got her the ball again underneath and her next shot rolled in as she fell backward and teammates started to pile on her in celebration before realizing they still had to defend LSU's final inbound pass. The Lady Vols' lapse allowed Adrienne Webb to get off a desperation shot from just a few feet outside the 3-point line, but it fell short, allowing the Lady Vols to carry on with their celebration as the stunned LSU crowd groaned.
Graves finished with 17 points, a performance made even more impressive by the fact that LSU did not have to defend Tennessee's 6-3 front court player Isabelle Harrison, who averages 10 points and 8.3 rebounds, but missed her third straight game with a knee injury. Meighan Simmons led Tennessee with 18 points and Burdick, in only her third game back from a broken hand, narrowly missed a double-double with nine points and nine rebounds.
The finish was a cruel one for Plaisance, who nearly led the Lady Tigers to a thrilling upset with 20 points and nine rebounds.
Lutley had 13 points and Danielle Ballard 10 for LSU, which has lost two straight and three of four. The lead changed 14 times, there were five ties and neither team led by more than 3 in the second half. Early on, however, it hardly looked to be a thriller.
The Lady Vols raced to a 9-0 lead while LSU missed its first eight shots.
Plaisance finally got LSU on the board with a basket inside, but Tennessee's lead grew as large as 11 when Simmons' jumper made it 13-2.
It looked like the Lady Vols would have an easy night when suddenly the game turned on its head. Web and Lutley hit consecutive 3s and Kenny added a baseline jumper, sparking a stunning 20-5 LSU run.
Plaisance added a three-point play on a strong inside basket as she was fouled by Burdick, and Ballard's jumper gave the Lady Tigers their first lead at 17-16 with 8:39 left in the opening half.
The rest of the half was close thereafter, with Burdick's bucket in the paint giving the Lady Vols a 28-26 lead going into the locker room.
Thursday, February 07, 2013
Tyler Summitt talks about leaving home at a difficult time
On April 19, 2012, Pat Summitt announced she was stepping down as the head coach of the Lady Vols.
On that same day, her son Tyler announced he was leaving the only home he ever knew in Knoxville, to come to Marquette and be an assistant for the women's basketball team.
While he says the decision was hard, he knew he had to go.
"It was a crazy day for her to step down and for me to accept the job in the same day. But as far as the decision going for me to move 11 hours away, it wasn't as tough as you would think, because my mom has such a great support system around her. She's got my fiancee AnDe, she's got all her friends, she's got the Tennessee Lady Vols family. There's just so much loyalty that I felt comfortable leaving."
Tyler admits it's tough being away, but says he knew he'd get kicked out sooner or later.
"I think with my goals, and my aspirations to be at a major D-1 program, I'm kind of like my mom. I'm kind of a go-getter, so I just saw the opportunity, and I took it. She was going to kick me out eventually."
"I definitely miss my parents. I miss my fiancee. But that's just part of it. I know they're proud of me. And I'm happy to make them proud."
His mom has been to three of Tyler's games this season, including the "We Back Pat" game against Toledo. And like all moms, she still offers her words of wisdom.
"Absolutely. I'll talk to my mom. I'll talk to my dad, and also my mom's Olympics coach Billie Moore, because that was really my mom's main mentor and my mentor now. Billie and I watch every film together. So between my mom and Billie I get some great advice on basketball."
Pat Summitt's coaching advice could fill a library, but Tyler says the most important lesson, boils down to one word.
"Accountability. If you don't have accountability, you don't have anything. It's not what offense you run, what defense you run, what you system is. If you don't hold people accountable every single day, and you let them take short cuts. It doesn't matter what you do."
On that same day, her son Tyler announced he was leaving the only home he ever knew in Knoxville, to come to Marquette and be an assistant for the women's basketball team.
While he says the decision was hard, he knew he had to go.
"It was a crazy day for her to step down and for me to accept the job in the same day. But as far as the decision going for me to move 11 hours away, it wasn't as tough as you would think, because my mom has such a great support system around her. She's got my fiancee AnDe, she's got all her friends, she's got the Tennessee Lady Vols family. There's just so much loyalty that I felt comfortable leaving."
Tyler admits it's tough being away, but says he knew he'd get kicked out sooner or later.
"I think with my goals, and my aspirations to be at a major D-1 program, I'm kind of like my mom. I'm kind of a go-getter, so I just saw the opportunity, and I took it. She was going to kick me out eventually."
"I definitely miss my parents. I miss my fiancee. But that's just part of it. I know they're proud of me. And I'm happy to make them proud."
His mom has been to three of Tyler's games this season, including the "We Back Pat" game against Toledo. And like all moms, she still offers her words of wisdom.
"Absolutely. I'll talk to my mom. I'll talk to my dad, and also my mom's Olympics coach Billie Moore, because that was really my mom's main mentor and my mentor now. Billie and I watch every film together. So between my mom and Billie I get some great advice on basketball."
Pat Summitt's coaching advice could fill a library, but Tyler says the most important lesson, boils down to one word.
"Accountability. If you don't have accountability, you don't have anything. It's not what offense you run, what defense you run, what you system is. If you don't hold people accountable every single day, and you let them take short cuts. It doesn't matter what you do."
Wednesday, February 06, 2013
Injuries continue to hinder No. 12 Lady Vols
Tennessee's Holly Warlick has been of the Lady Vols' staff for more than 27 years and the first-year head coach says she has never encountered an injury situation quite like the one her team currently faces.
Senior guard Kamiko Williams sprained her right ankle and Jasmine Jones hurt her right knee Sunday, leaving the Lady Vols with only seven healthy players by the end of their 80-63 loss at Missouri. Jones returned to practice Tuesday, but Williams remains unlikely to play Thursday at LSU (13-8, 4-4 SEC).
The 12th-ranked Lady Vols (17-5, 8-1) lost freshman guard Andraya Carter to season-ending shoulder surgery in December. Sophomore center Isabelle Harrison underwent surgery on her left knee Friday, leaving her status for the rest of the season uncertain.
Senior guard Kamiko Williams sprained her right ankle and Jasmine Jones hurt her right knee Sunday, leaving the Lady Vols with only seven healthy players by the end of their 80-63 loss at Missouri. Jones returned to practice Tuesday, but Williams remains unlikely to play Thursday at LSU (13-8, 4-4 SEC).
The 12th-ranked Lady Vols (17-5, 8-1) lost freshman guard Andraya Carter to season-ending shoulder surgery in December. Sophomore center Isabelle Harrison underwent surgery on her left knee Friday, leaving her status for the rest of the season uncertain.
Sunday, February 03, 2013
Missouri women upset No. 9 Tennessee 80-63
Kamiko Williams scored 14 points to lead the Lady Vols (17-5, 8-1 SEC) before leaving with 16:59 left with an ankle injury. Tennessee has lost two of three and had its 12-game winning streak in the SEC snapped.
Williams scored all of her points and grabbed six rebounds in the first half, helping the Lady Vols keep up with Missouri's six 3's. She fell to the floor after clutching her leg three minutes into the second half after attempting to grab a defensive rebound and remained there for a few minutes before being helped off the court. She sat on the bench for the final 10 minutes after a brief visit to the locker room.
Missouri took advantage, outscoring the Lady Vols 41-22 with Williams off the floor.
''I thought she was getting inside their defense, I thought she was getting good looks,'' coach Holly Warlick said. ''Her rebounding brought us energy on the defensive end. When she went out, nobody picked up the slack.''
Williams started for the second consecutive game in place of injured center Isabelle Harrison, who averaged 10.0 points per game before injuring her left knee and undergoing surgery Friday.
The team also lost reserve forward Jasmine Jones late in the game to a knee injury after only having nine available players to start the day. Warlick said after the game there was no update on the status of either Williams or Jones.
''I don't care if we play six people, seven people, five people,'' Taber Spani said. ''It doesn't matter.''
Simmons scored 13 points and Spani added 12 for Tennessee, which beat the Tigers 84-39 on Jan. 10 in Knoxville. Spani said she played in front of about 60 family and friends in her first game back in Missouri since growing up in the Kansas City area.
''I was extremely excited,'' Spani said. ''Obviously, it was the perfect time for MU to come into the league. I had a lot of family and friends come over from Kansas City. It's always fun to play in front of your hometown. I just wish we had put on a better performance.''
Williams scored all of her points and grabbed six rebounds in the first half, helping the Lady Vols keep up with Missouri's six 3's. She fell to the floor after clutching her leg three minutes into the second half after attempting to grab a defensive rebound and remained there for a few minutes before being helped off the court. She sat on the bench for the final 10 minutes after a brief visit to the locker room.
Missouri took advantage, outscoring the Lady Vols 41-22 with Williams off the floor.
''I thought she was getting inside their defense, I thought she was getting good looks,'' coach Holly Warlick said. ''Her rebounding brought us energy on the defensive end. When she went out, nobody picked up the slack.''
Williams started for the second consecutive game in place of injured center Isabelle Harrison, who averaged 10.0 points per game before injuring her left knee and undergoing surgery Friday.
The team also lost reserve forward Jasmine Jones late in the game to a knee injury after only having nine available players to start the day. Warlick said after the game there was no update on the status of either Williams or Jones.
''I don't care if we play six people, seven people, five people,'' Taber Spani said. ''It doesn't matter.''
Simmons scored 13 points and Spani added 12 for Tennessee, which beat the Tigers 84-39 on Jan. 10 in Knoxville. Spani said she played in front of about 60 family and friends in her first game back in Missouri since growing up in the Kansas City area.
''I was extremely excited,'' Spani said. ''Obviously, it was the perfect time for MU to come into the league. I had a lot of family and friends come over from Kansas City. It's always fun to play in front of your hometown. I just wish we had put on a better performance.''
Thursday, January 31, 2013
No. 9 Lady Vols 88, Mississippi State 45
Kamiko Williams made the most of a rare opportunity.
Williams made her first start of the season Thursday night in place of injured center Isabelle Harrison and produced 10 points, 13 rebounds, six assists and six steals as No. 9 Tennessee breezed to an 88-45 victory over Mississippi State.
Williams delivered her second double-double and produced career highs in rebounds, assists and steals. The 5-foot-11 senior guard now wants to start producing those totals on a more consistent basis.
''Now that Isabelle's out, it's going to have to happen,'' Williams said. ''We all have to step up. This game, I tried to focus on defense and rebounding. Everything else just played out for us.''
Harrison will undergo surgery Friday after re-injuring her left knee Monday in a 77-67 loss to No. 2 Notre Dame. The 6-foot-3 sophomore averages 10.0 points, 8.3 rebounds and 2.1 blocks per game. The Lady Vols don't know whether she can return this season.
''I hope she is back, but I think until they go and figure out what's going on with her knee, I don't know,'' Tennessee coach Holly Warlick said. ''I guess it's 50-50. That's me guessing.''
Tennessee (17-4, 8-0 SEC) didn't need Harrison against Mississippi State (9-12, 1-7), which has never beaten the Lady Vols in 34 attempts. The Lady Vols won for the ninth time in their last 10 games by dominating the overmatched Bulldogs, who had snapped a six-game losing streak Sunday with a 72-57 victory over Mississippi.
Meighan Simmons scored 21 points, Taber Spani added 15 points and Bashaara Graves had 10 points as the Lady Vols led from start to finish. Martha Alwal led Mississippi State with 16 points and nine rebounds.
The one-sided nature of the game allowed the injury-riddled Lady Vols to play everyone. Sophomore forward Cierra Burdick returned to action Thursday after missing eight games with a broken right hand, but the Lady Vols still have only nine healthy players.
All nine of Tennessee's available players entered the game before halftime Thursday and scored at least four points. Tennessee typically has used a seven-player rotation against SEC competition. Burdick, normally a starter, had four points and five rebounds off the bench.
''When basketball is your life since you were five years old and it gets taken away from you for a month, when you get to come back, all you can do is smile,'' Burdick said. ''I was so energized on the bench trying to be positive for my teammates, but there's nothing like stepping in between those lines and having the ball in your hand.''
Williams got the Lady Vols off to a fast start by collecting six points, eight rebounds and four assists in the first half. Warlick had said Wednesday she planned to have freshman forward Jasmine Jones start in place of Harrison, but Williams got the nod instead. Williams had made six previous starts in her career, though they all came in her freshman and sophomore seasons. Warlick said Jones, a freshman, feels more comfortable coming off the bench.
Williams learned she would start about a half-hour before the opening tip.
''It's one of (Williams'') best games since she's been here,'' Warlick said. ''That's our expectation for her.''
Tennessee already led 25-10 by the time Burdick took the floor to a standing ovation with 6:53 left in the half. Reserve guard Jasmine Phillips made a rare first-half appearance and scored eight points, doubling her previous career high.
Freshman center Nia Moore had played in only one of Tennessee's last five games before this one, but she scored eight points in 12 minutes off the bench Thursday. Harrison's injury puts pressure on Burdick, Moore and Jones to help starting forward Bashaara Graves handle the post duties.
''We need to have Izzy's back,'' Burdick said. ''We're so big on being a family, and when one of our family members goes down, it's important for us to have each other's back. Nia and I were just trying to get back in the groove of things and step up for Izzy.''
Tennessee's defense suffocated a Mississippi State team that ranks last in the SEC in turnover margin and assist-turnover ratio. The Bulldogs shot just 21.2 percent (7 of 33) in the first half and 31.6 percent (18 of 57) overall while committing 26 turnovers.
Mississippi State starting guards Katia May and Kendra Grant went a combined 6 of 32.
''They obviously didn't have a hangover from Monday because they came out and really took the fight to us, especially in transition offense,'' Mississippi State coach Vic Schaefer said. ''They beat us up and down the floor from the tip. Holly's doing a great job, her and her staff are doing a great job. I know right now she's band-aiding it and holding it together with some injuries. That's an awfully hard thing to do, and they're doing a great job.''
Williams made her first start of the season Thursday night in place of injured center Isabelle Harrison and produced 10 points, 13 rebounds, six assists and six steals as No. 9 Tennessee breezed to an 88-45 victory over Mississippi State.
Williams delivered her second double-double and produced career highs in rebounds, assists and steals. The 5-foot-11 senior guard now wants to start producing those totals on a more consistent basis.
''Now that Isabelle's out, it's going to have to happen,'' Williams said. ''We all have to step up. This game, I tried to focus on defense and rebounding. Everything else just played out for us.''
Harrison will undergo surgery Friday after re-injuring her left knee Monday in a 77-67 loss to No. 2 Notre Dame. The 6-foot-3 sophomore averages 10.0 points, 8.3 rebounds and 2.1 blocks per game. The Lady Vols don't know whether she can return this season.
''I hope she is back, but I think until they go and figure out what's going on with her knee, I don't know,'' Tennessee coach Holly Warlick said. ''I guess it's 50-50. That's me guessing.''
Tennessee (17-4, 8-0 SEC) didn't need Harrison against Mississippi State (9-12, 1-7), which has never beaten the Lady Vols in 34 attempts. The Lady Vols won for the ninth time in their last 10 games by dominating the overmatched Bulldogs, who had snapped a six-game losing streak Sunday with a 72-57 victory over Mississippi.
Meighan Simmons scored 21 points, Taber Spani added 15 points and Bashaara Graves had 10 points as the Lady Vols led from start to finish. Martha Alwal led Mississippi State with 16 points and nine rebounds.
The one-sided nature of the game allowed the injury-riddled Lady Vols to play everyone. Sophomore forward Cierra Burdick returned to action Thursday after missing eight games with a broken right hand, but the Lady Vols still have only nine healthy players.
All nine of Tennessee's available players entered the game before halftime Thursday and scored at least four points. Tennessee typically has used a seven-player rotation against SEC competition. Burdick, normally a starter, had four points and five rebounds off the bench.
''When basketball is your life since you were five years old and it gets taken away from you for a month, when you get to come back, all you can do is smile,'' Burdick said. ''I was so energized on the bench trying to be positive for my teammates, but there's nothing like stepping in between those lines and having the ball in your hand.''
Williams got the Lady Vols off to a fast start by collecting six points, eight rebounds and four assists in the first half. Warlick had said Wednesday she planned to have freshman forward Jasmine Jones start in place of Harrison, but Williams got the nod instead. Williams had made six previous starts in her career, though they all came in her freshman and sophomore seasons. Warlick said Jones, a freshman, feels more comfortable coming off the bench.
Williams learned she would start about a half-hour before the opening tip.
''It's one of (Williams'') best games since she's been here,'' Warlick said. ''That's our expectation for her.''
Tennessee already led 25-10 by the time Burdick took the floor to a standing ovation with 6:53 left in the half. Reserve guard Jasmine Phillips made a rare first-half appearance and scored eight points, doubling her previous career high.
Freshman center Nia Moore had played in only one of Tennessee's last five games before this one, but she scored eight points in 12 minutes off the bench Thursday. Harrison's injury puts pressure on Burdick, Moore and Jones to help starting forward Bashaara Graves handle the post duties.
''We need to have Izzy's back,'' Burdick said. ''We're so big on being a family, and when one of our family members goes down, it's important for us to have each other's back. Nia and I were just trying to get back in the groove of things and step up for Izzy.''
Tennessee's defense suffocated a Mississippi State team that ranks last in the SEC in turnover margin and assist-turnover ratio. The Bulldogs shot just 21.2 percent (7 of 33) in the first half and 31.6 percent (18 of 57) overall while committing 26 turnovers.
Mississippi State starting guards Katia May and Kendra Grant went a combined 6 of 32.
''They obviously didn't have a hangover from Monday because they came out and really took the fight to us, especially in transition offense,'' Mississippi State coach Vic Schaefer said. ''They beat us up and down the floor from the tip. Holly's doing a great job, her and her staff are doing a great job. I know right now she's band-aiding it and holding it together with some injuries. That's an awfully hard thing to do, and they're doing a great job.''
Tamika Catchings speaks to team
Catchings' post-game talk impacts players
Tamika Catchings sat in Tennessee's locker room after Monday night's loss to Notre Dame with a choice to make.
Should the former Lady Vols All-American remain silent or should she stand up and speak her mind? She chose the latter.
"I didn't plan it," she said. "I started talking. I don't remember verbatim what I said."
She said enough to make a strong impression. Two Lady Vols referenced the impact as the team prepared to face SEC women's basketball rival Mississippi State.
"We needed to not only be challenged but also be encouraged and she did both," senior Taber Spani said.
Under the circumstances, rallying the troops is advisable. With her impromptu talk, Catchings got that process rolling. She arrived in time to watch the team's shooting practice Monday and made a talking point of its uneven quality.
"You look at the game," she said. "It was kind of the same thing."
Both Spani and point guard Ariel Massengale mentioned the observation.
"It's not a physical thing, it's more of a mental thing," Spani said. "... Being able to tune in mentally and not have any lapses is going to be huge."
Catchings also left them with reason for optimism.
"I was impressed from the standpoint of what they can be," she said. "But from the outside looking in, sometimes you see more potential than they see."
Warlick was grateful that the players heard from someone other than the coaches, especially a player of Catchings' stature.
"Sometimes, they may think a coach, we're just harping on and on and on," Warlick said. "But to hear it from a former Lady Vol and their peers, I think it has a lot of meaning."
Tamika Catchings sat in Tennessee's locker room after Monday night's loss to Notre Dame with a choice to make.
Should the former Lady Vols All-American remain silent or should she stand up and speak her mind? She chose the latter.
"I didn't plan it," she said. "I started talking. I don't remember verbatim what I said."
She said enough to make a strong impression. Two Lady Vols referenced the impact as the team prepared to face SEC women's basketball rival Mississippi State.
"We needed to not only be challenged but also be encouraged and she did both," senior Taber Spani said.
Under the circumstances, rallying the troops is advisable. With her impromptu talk, Catchings got that process rolling. She arrived in time to watch the team's shooting practice Monday and made a talking point of its uneven quality.
"You look at the game," she said. "It was kind of the same thing."
Both Spani and point guard Ariel Massengale mentioned the observation.
"It's not a physical thing, it's more of a mental thing," Spani said. "... Being able to tune in mentally and not have any lapses is going to be huge."
Catchings also left them with reason for optimism.
"I was impressed from the standpoint of what they can be," she said. "But from the outside looking in, sometimes you see more potential than they see."
Warlick was grateful that the players heard from someone other than the coaches, especially a player of Catchings' stature.
"Sometimes, they may think a coach, we're just harping on and on and on," Warlick said. "But to hear it from a former Lady Vol and their peers, I think it has a lot of meaning."
Isabelle Harrison to have L knee surgery
Isabelle Harrison was helped to the locker room after going down with 5:07 left in the first half of Monday's 77-67 loss. She had been diagnosed beforehand with a lateral meniscus injury to the knee but was cleared to play.
On Wednesday, UT announced it was determined that Harrison will need knee surgery after a visit to Dr. Greg Mathien.
According to UT assistant director of sports medicine Jenny Moshak, the procedure will take place Friday. No timetable was announced on how long Harrison will be out.
Harrison entered the arena Wednesday on crutches. While the team worked out, she was lying on the trainer's table receiving treatment with the knee packed in ice.
On Wednesday, UT announced it was determined that Harrison will need knee surgery after a visit to Dr. Greg Mathien.
According to UT assistant director of sports medicine Jenny Moshak, the procedure will take place Friday. No timetable was announced on how long Harrison will be out.
Harrison entered the arena Wednesday on crutches. While the team worked out, she was lying on the trainer's table receiving treatment with the knee packed in ice.
Monday, January 28, 2013
No. 2 Notre Dame defeats No. 9 Lady Vols 77-67
Skylar Diggins scored a career-high 33 points and No. 2 Notre Dame built a 19-point lead in the second half before withstanding a late Tennessee rally in a 77-67 victory Monday night over the ninth-ranked Lady Vols.
Notre Dame (19-1) won its 14th straight game and snapped the Lady Vols' nine-game winning streak. Notre Dame also became the first school ever to defeat both Connecticut and Tennessee in three consecutive seasons. The Irish won 73-72 at Connecticut on Jan. 5.
Before the game, Tennessee hung a banner at Thompson-Boling Arena in honor of former Lady Vols coach Pat Summitt, whose 1,098-208 record in 38 seasons gives her the most career wins of any Division I men's or women's basketball coach ever.
Summitt, who led Tennessee to eight national titles and 18 Final Four appearances, already had the playing court named after her. The Hall of Fame coach stepped down in April after announcing in 2011 that she has early-onset dementia, Alzheimer's type. She remains on Tennessee's staff as head coach emeritus, attends just about every practice and sits in the stands for all home games. Former Lady Vol greats Chamique Holdsclaw, Tamika Catchings and Candace Parker attended Monday's game.
Tennessee (16-4) used the emotion of that pregame ceremony to take an early 7-2 lead, but the Irish answered with a 12-2 run of their own. Diggins scored 11 points in the first 10 minutes of the game to help the Irish build an eight-point lead.
Notre Dame had chances to build an even bigger lead.
Tennessee guard Meighan Simmons, who entered the night averaging a team-high 17.6 points per game, picked up two early fouls and played just 11 minutes in the first half. Tennessee's frontcourt endured a major loss when center Isabelle Harrison took a spill after driving to the basket and had to be helped to the locker room. The Lady Vols had announced before the game that Harrison was playing with a meniscus injury in her left knee.
But the Irish didn't take advantage in the early going and only led 33-29 at the half. Diggins didn't get much help from her teammates, who shot a combined 8 of 30 in the first half.
Diggins then took over the game early in the second half.
The senior guard dominated the Lady Vols on both ends of the floor. She had six points, three steals, one block and an assist during an 11-0 run that gave the Irish a 16-point lead.
Diggins started the run by sinking a 3-pointer and making a conventional three-point play. Tennessee called a timeout, but Diggins stole the ensuing inbounds pass, drove to the basket and sank one of two free throws after drawing a foul.
Diggins then made another steal that eventually led to a 3-point basket by Madison Cable. She got one more steal on Tennessee's next possession and passed to Kayla McBride for a jumper that capped the spurt.
In a 72-44 victory over Tennessee last season, Notre Dame broke open a close game in the second half and proceeded to hand the Lady Vols their second-most lopsided loss in Summitt's tenure. This time, the Lady Vols fought back.
After trailing by as many as 19 points, Tennessee rattled the Irish with a furious rally over the final 10 minutes and cut the lead to 69-64 on Taber Spani's free throw with 3:54 remaining.
That's when Diggins took over again.
She found Madison Cable for a layup that got the Irish out of danger. After Spani and Jasmine Jones missed jumpers on Tennessee's next possession, Diggins sank a 3-pointer to make it a 10-point game.
Notre Dame's lead wouldn't drop below eight again.
Jewell Loyd added 10 points for Notre Dame, while Kayla McBride had nine points and 10 rebounds. Bashaara Graves had 19 points and 13 rebounds for Tennessee. Taber Spani added 12 points and Simmons had 11 points.
Notre Dame (19-1) won its 14th straight game and snapped the Lady Vols' nine-game winning streak. Notre Dame also became the first school ever to defeat both Connecticut and Tennessee in three consecutive seasons. The Irish won 73-72 at Connecticut on Jan. 5.
Before the game, Tennessee hung a banner at Thompson-Boling Arena in honor of former Lady Vols coach Pat Summitt, whose 1,098-208 record in 38 seasons gives her the most career wins of any Division I men's or women's basketball coach ever.
Summitt, who led Tennessee to eight national titles and 18 Final Four appearances, already had the playing court named after her. The Hall of Fame coach stepped down in April after announcing in 2011 that she has early-onset dementia, Alzheimer's type. She remains on Tennessee's staff as head coach emeritus, attends just about every practice and sits in the stands for all home games. Former Lady Vol greats Chamique Holdsclaw, Tamika Catchings and Candace Parker attended Monday's game.
Tennessee (16-4) used the emotion of that pregame ceremony to take an early 7-2 lead, but the Irish answered with a 12-2 run of their own. Diggins scored 11 points in the first 10 minutes of the game to help the Irish build an eight-point lead.
Notre Dame had chances to build an even bigger lead.
Tennessee guard Meighan Simmons, who entered the night averaging a team-high 17.6 points per game, picked up two early fouls and played just 11 minutes in the first half. Tennessee's frontcourt endured a major loss when center Isabelle Harrison took a spill after driving to the basket and had to be helped to the locker room. The Lady Vols had announced before the game that Harrison was playing with a meniscus injury in her left knee.
But the Irish didn't take advantage in the early going and only led 33-29 at the half. Diggins didn't get much help from her teammates, who shot a combined 8 of 30 in the first half.
Diggins then took over the game early in the second half.
The senior guard dominated the Lady Vols on both ends of the floor. She had six points, three steals, one block and an assist during an 11-0 run that gave the Irish a 16-point lead.
Diggins started the run by sinking a 3-pointer and making a conventional three-point play. Tennessee called a timeout, but Diggins stole the ensuing inbounds pass, drove to the basket and sank one of two free throws after drawing a foul.
Diggins then made another steal that eventually led to a 3-point basket by Madison Cable. She got one more steal on Tennessee's next possession and passed to Kayla McBride for a jumper that capped the spurt.
In a 72-44 victory over Tennessee last season, Notre Dame broke open a close game in the second half and proceeded to hand the Lady Vols their second-most lopsided loss in Summitt's tenure. This time, the Lady Vols fought back.
After trailing by as many as 19 points, Tennessee rattled the Irish with a furious rally over the final 10 minutes and cut the lead to 69-64 on Taber Spani's free throw with 3:54 remaining.
That's when Diggins took over again.
She found Madison Cable for a layup that got the Irish out of danger. After Spani and Jasmine Jones missed jumpers on Tennessee's next possession, Diggins sank a 3-pointer to make it a 10-point game.
Notre Dame's lead wouldn't drop below eight again.
Jewell Loyd added 10 points for Notre Dame, while Kayla McBride had nine points and 10 rebounds. Bashaara Graves had 19 points and 13 rebounds for Tennessee. Taber Spani added 12 points and Simmons had 11 points.
Lady Vols hang Pat Summitt banner
Tennessee unveiled the banner Monday before the ninth-ranked Lady Vols' game with No. 2 Notre Dame.
Summitt waved to the crowd as she headed onto the court with athletic director Dave Hart, her mother and future daughter-in-law. After a video detailing Summitt's career achievements aired on the scoreboard, Tennessee coach Holly Warlick walked over from the Lady Vols' bench to embrace Summitt. Warlick played for Summitt and worked as an assistant on her staff for 27 seasons.
The entire Tennessee team as well as former Lady Vol greats Tamika Catchings, Chamique Holdsclaw, Michelle Marciniak and Candace Parker then gathered around Summitt in front of the banner before it was raised to the rafters.
Summitt stepped down in April after leading Tennessee to eight national titles and 18 Final Four appearances in 38 seasons. She posted a career record of 1,098-208, giving her the most wins of any Division I men's or women's basketball coach. She announced in 2011 that she has early-onset dementia, Alzheimer's type.
Summitt remains on staff as head coach emeritus.
Sunday, January 27, 2013
Fans advised to arrive early for Pat Summitt banner ceremony
The Thompson-Boling Arena gates will open at 5:30 tomorrow night — a half hour earlier than usual — for Tennessee's women's basketball game against Notre Dame.
Fans are advised to be in their seats at least 20 minutes before the 7 p.m. start in order to see the banner-raising ceremony honoring Lady Vols head coach emeritus Pat Summitt.
The Lady Vols have asked all fans to wear orange apparel and create an "Orange Out" for the game.
Along with the banner ceremony, UT's 1991 national championship trophy will be on display on the concourse behind section 116.
Fans are advised to be in their seats at least 20 minutes before the 7 p.m. start in order to see the banner-raising ceremony honoring Lady Vols head coach emeritus Pat Summitt.
The Lady Vols have asked all fans to wear orange apparel and create an "Orange Out" for the game.
Along with the banner ceremony, UT's 1991 national championship trophy will be on display on the concourse behind section 116.
Saturday, January 26, 2013
David Climer: Holly Warlick looks at Tennessee Lady Vols her own way
Holly Warlick hasn’t mastered The Stare.
She can stomp shoe to hardwood with the best of them. Her voice cuts through the noise of the crowd. She waves her arms in much the same way she did as an All-America guard more than three decades ago.
The Stare? That’s not in her repertoire.
“That’s Pat,” she says. “Nobody could do it like Pat. I don’t even try.”
“Pat,” of course, is Pat Summitt, the legendary coach of the Tennessee Lady Vols and Warlick’s mentor. Summitt is known for a lot of things, but ask her former players what they remember most and many will offer stories about their most memorable encounter with The Stare.
Click here to read the rest of David Climer's story.
She can stomp shoe to hardwood with the best of them. Her voice cuts through the noise of the crowd. She waves her arms in much the same way she did as an All-America guard more than three decades ago.
The Stare? That’s not in her repertoire.
“That’s Pat,” she says. “Nobody could do it like Pat. I don’t even try.”
“Pat,” of course, is Pat Summitt, the legendary coach of the Tennessee Lady Vols and Warlick’s mentor. Summitt is known for a lot of things, but ask her former players what they remember most and many will offer stories about their most memorable encounter with The Stare.
Click here to read the rest of David Climer's story.
Thursday, January 24, 2013
No. 9 Tennessee 83, Vanderbilt 75
Taber Spani remembered only too well losing in Memorial Gym last season, and the senior made sure the Tennessee Lady Vols avoided a repeat performance.
Spani scored a career-high 24 points and Meighan Simmons added 23 as No. 9 Tennessee beat Vanderbilt 83-75 Thursday night for the Lady Vols' ninth straight victory.
''Well, I mean honestly you just want to come in and play your best against a great SEC team,'' Spani said. ''Obviously, this is a great rivalry game. But we also have a lot of respect for Vanderbilt and what they're capable of doing and it's always a great environment.''
Simmons said the Lady Vols wanted to send a message as well in this rivalry between SEC schools separated by 190 miles.
''We had to remind ourselves there's only one school in the state of Tennessee, and that's the University of Tennessee,'' Simmons said. ''We wanted to prove that point tonight.''
With No. 5 Kentucky losing to No. 18 South Carolina earlier in the night, Tennessee (16-3, 7-0) is the Southeastern Conference's last undefeated team in league play. Simmons said that's exactly where the Lady Vols expected to be. Coach Holly Warlick cautioned it's still very early this season.
''But yeah, it's great to be undefeated and be on top of the SEC,'' Warlick said. ''But ... we're not satisfied absolutely.''
The Lady Vols have won 11 straight SEC games dating back to last season and a loss here at Memorial Gym. They got a small measure of payback by beating Vanderbilt for the 25th time in 27 games in this series.
Bashaara Graves also had 16 points for Tennessee.
Vanderbilt (13-6, 3-3) lost for the first time at home this season and has lost three of four overall. The Commodores played without 6-foot-4 sophomore Clair Watkins, who tore her left anterior cruciate ligament in practice Wednesday. They still pulled down 21 offensive rebounds despite being outrebounded 46-43.
Christina Foggie led Vandy with 22 points before fouling out in the final minute, Tiffany Clarke had 19 and Kady Schrann 14.
The Commodores managed to tie the score twice, the second time at 41 after scoring the first 12 points of the second half. The Lady Vols answered with an 11-2 spurt capped by a drive by Simmons with 12:45 to go, and Vanderbilt couldn't get closer than five the rest of the way. Tennessee hit 14 of 15 at the line in the final 3:49 to seal the victory.
Vanderbilt coach Melanie Balcomb wasn't happy with how her Commodores trailed 41-29 at halftime and shot only 25.6 percent from the floor (10 of 39).
The Commodores came in as the SEC's second-best team beyond the arc, shooting 36.4 percent from 3-point range. They shot 21.7 percent (5 of 23) and missed three 3s in the final minutes with a chance to make it a one-score game. But Balcomb said the game plan called for the Commodores to work the ball into the paint and defend Simmons and Spani.
''I'm just baffled by the first half,'' Balcomb said. ''I liked the fight in the second half, but obviously the first half I didn't. We just didn't execute our game plan. Our kids are smarter than that. They have to work harder at the things we're asking them to do.''
Tennessee had coach emeritus Pat Summitt sitting on the front row behind their bench right beside Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam, just her second road trip this season. She watched the Lady Vols do what they usually do in Nashville. The Lady Vols now are 61-8 all-time against Vanderbilt in this in-state rivalry and 24-6 in Nashville.
Spani said having Summitt at the game meant the world.
''We were so excited when we found out she was coming, I was really trying to look for her, and I finally found her before the game,'' Spani said. ''She brings inspiration to our team every time we see her.''
The Lady Vols grabbed control from the start on a jumper by Isabelle Harrison, whose father Dennis played football for Vanderbilt in the 1970s. Vanderbilt managed to tie it up at 4 before Simmons hit a 3-pointer to put Tennessee ahead to stay. Simmons followed with another 3 and celebrated as she ran backward down the court signaling three with each hand.
Spani hit her first two 3s as well as the Lady Vols quickly pushed the lead to double digits. Even when something went wrong for the Lady Vols when Simmons missed a layup off the fast-break after moving the ball behind her back, Kamiko Williams was there to rebound the miss and put it back up for a bucket.
Tennessee led by as much as 15 with 1:50 left on Spani's third 3 of the half, and the Lady Vols led 41-29 at halftime only to watch that lead evaporate in the opening minutes of the second half.
Spani scored a career-high 24 points and Meighan Simmons added 23 as No. 9 Tennessee beat Vanderbilt 83-75 Thursday night for the Lady Vols' ninth straight victory.
''Well, I mean honestly you just want to come in and play your best against a great SEC team,'' Spani said. ''Obviously, this is a great rivalry game. But we also have a lot of respect for Vanderbilt and what they're capable of doing and it's always a great environment.''
Simmons said the Lady Vols wanted to send a message as well in this rivalry between SEC schools separated by 190 miles.
''We had to remind ourselves there's only one school in the state of Tennessee, and that's the University of Tennessee,'' Simmons said. ''We wanted to prove that point tonight.''
With No. 5 Kentucky losing to No. 18 South Carolina earlier in the night, Tennessee (16-3, 7-0) is the Southeastern Conference's last undefeated team in league play. Simmons said that's exactly where the Lady Vols expected to be. Coach Holly Warlick cautioned it's still very early this season.
''But yeah, it's great to be undefeated and be on top of the SEC,'' Warlick said. ''But ... we're not satisfied absolutely.''
The Lady Vols have won 11 straight SEC games dating back to last season and a loss here at Memorial Gym. They got a small measure of payback by beating Vanderbilt for the 25th time in 27 games in this series.
Bashaara Graves also had 16 points for Tennessee.
Vanderbilt (13-6, 3-3) lost for the first time at home this season and has lost three of four overall. The Commodores played without 6-foot-4 sophomore Clair Watkins, who tore her left anterior cruciate ligament in practice Wednesday. They still pulled down 21 offensive rebounds despite being outrebounded 46-43.
Christina Foggie led Vandy with 22 points before fouling out in the final minute, Tiffany Clarke had 19 and Kady Schrann 14.
The Commodores managed to tie the score twice, the second time at 41 after scoring the first 12 points of the second half. The Lady Vols answered with an 11-2 spurt capped by a drive by Simmons with 12:45 to go, and Vanderbilt couldn't get closer than five the rest of the way. Tennessee hit 14 of 15 at the line in the final 3:49 to seal the victory.
Vanderbilt coach Melanie Balcomb wasn't happy with how her Commodores trailed 41-29 at halftime and shot only 25.6 percent from the floor (10 of 39).
The Commodores came in as the SEC's second-best team beyond the arc, shooting 36.4 percent from 3-point range. They shot 21.7 percent (5 of 23) and missed three 3s in the final minutes with a chance to make it a one-score game. But Balcomb said the game plan called for the Commodores to work the ball into the paint and defend Simmons and Spani.
''I'm just baffled by the first half,'' Balcomb said. ''I liked the fight in the second half, but obviously the first half I didn't. We just didn't execute our game plan. Our kids are smarter than that. They have to work harder at the things we're asking them to do.''
Tennessee had coach emeritus Pat Summitt sitting on the front row behind their bench right beside Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam, just her second road trip this season. She watched the Lady Vols do what they usually do in Nashville. The Lady Vols now are 61-8 all-time against Vanderbilt in this in-state rivalry and 24-6 in Nashville.
Spani said having Summitt at the game meant the world.
''We were so excited when we found out she was coming, I was really trying to look for her, and I finally found her before the game,'' Spani said. ''She brings inspiration to our team every time we see her.''
The Lady Vols grabbed control from the start on a jumper by Isabelle Harrison, whose father Dennis played football for Vanderbilt in the 1970s. Vanderbilt managed to tie it up at 4 before Simmons hit a 3-pointer to put Tennessee ahead to stay. Simmons followed with another 3 and celebrated as she ran backward down the court signaling three with each hand.
Spani hit her first two 3s as well as the Lady Vols quickly pushed the lead to double digits. Even when something went wrong for the Lady Vols when Simmons missed a layup off the fast-break after moving the ball behind her back, Kamiko Williams was there to rebound the miss and put it back up for a bucket.
Tennessee led by as much as 15 with 1:50 left on Spani's third 3 of the half, and the Lady Vols led 41-29 at halftime only to watch that lead evaporate in the opening minutes of the second half.
Lipscomb women's basketball lends its backing to a coaching legend
By Jerome Boettcher
When she stepped into a basketball arena, most television cameras captured the way Pat Summitt controlled a room, or, more appropriately, a court.
“Everybody knows the blue eyes and that stare,” Greg Brown said.
In just two years as an assistant for Summitt and Tennessee, though, Brown got to see a gentler, lighter side of the legendary basketball coach. Brown, now the head coach at Lipscomb, recalls a team trip to Greece and how his then-four-month old son, Cole, wouldn’t stop crying while on a bus.
“He was crying and scrumming around and Pat said, ‘Hey, give me that baby. Let me put him to sleep.’ And it was instant,’ ” Brown said. “Her sense of humor, all those type of things, you don’t get a chance to see unless you’re with her every day. She loves kids. She loves dogs. She loves a good joke. Those are the things I remember as much anything.”
Click here to read the rest of the story.
When she stepped into a basketball arena, most television cameras captured the way Pat Summitt controlled a room, or, more appropriately, a court.
“Everybody knows the blue eyes and that stare,” Greg Brown said.
In just two years as an assistant for Summitt and Tennessee, though, Brown got to see a gentler, lighter side of the legendary basketball coach. Brown, now the head coach at Lipscomb, recalls a team trip to Greece and how his then-four-month old son, Cole, wouldn’t stop crying while on a bus.
“He was crying and scrumming around and Pat said, ‘Hey, give me that baby. Let me put him to sleep.’ And it was instant,’ ” Brown said. “Her sense of humor, all those type of things, you don’t get a chance to see unless you’re with her every day. She loves kids. She loves dogs. She loves a good joke. Those are the things I remember as much anything.”
Click here to read the rest of the story.
Among other notable differences, Lady Vols feel a lack of respect this season
By Jerome Boettcher
Winning eight national championships under living icon Pat Summitt, the Tennessee women’s basketball program never has been confused for an underdog.
With Summitt retired, longtime assistant Holly Warlick at the helm and a bucket load of freshmen and sophomores, this winter has provided a new perspective for the Volunteers. They considered a preseason ranking of 20th a disappointment. A season-opening loss at Chattanooga coupled with back-to-back double-digit defeats to defending national champ Baylor and Stanford offered a wakeup call.
Still, even as they’ve returned to their winning ways, the Volunteers throw down an unfamiliar card — lack of respect.
Click here to read the rest of the story.
Winning eight national championships under living icon Pat Summitt, the Tennessee women’s basketball program never has been confused for an underdog.
With Summitt retired, longtime assistant Holly Warlick at the helm and a bucket load of freshmen and sophomores, this winter has provided a new perspective for the Volunteers. They considered a preseason ranking of 20th a disappointment. A season-opening loss at Chattanooga coupled with back-to-back double-digit defeats to defending national champ Baylor and Stanford offered a wakeup call.
Still, even as they’ve returned to their winning ways, the Volunteers throw down an unfamiliar card — lack of respect.
Click here to read the rest of the story.
Sunday, January 20, 2013
No. 9 Tennessee 96, Alabama 69
On the final day of a week honoring Pat Summitt, Tennessee paid tribute to its former coach by continuing a tradition she had started.
Beating Alabama.
Bashaara Graves had 21 points and eight rebounds as one of five Tennessee players to score in double figures Sunday as the ninth-ranked Lady Vols trounced Alabama 96-69 for their 39th consecutive victory over the Crimson Tide.
''They wanted to play this in honor of Pat,'' said Tennessee coach Holly Warlick, who played for Summitt and worked as an assistant on her staff for 27 seasons. ''Hopefully Pat saw what she has built this program on, and that's hard work with a foundation of defense and rebounding.''
Alabama hasn't beaten the Lady Vols since an 85-66 victory in the 1984 SEC tournament. Tennessee leads the all-time series 46-2 and has never lost to the Tide during the regular season.
Most of those Tennessee wins over Alabama came when Summitt was coaching the Lady Vols. Sunday marked the last day of the SEC's ''We Back Pat'' week to support former Summitt's foundation and its fight against Alzheimer's disease. During the game, Summitt received checks totaling $32,145 toward her foundation from Sam's Club, the SEC women's basketball officials and the Knoxville News-Sentinel.
Warlick and each of her assistants wore orange ''We Back Pat'' T-shirts under their blazers for the game. Before the game, Tennessee's coaches and players crossed the width of the court to hug Summitt, who was seated in the front row at midcourt. The team watched videos honoring Summitt before taking the floor.
Summitt, 60, stepped down as Tennessee's coach in April after winning 1,098 games and eight national titles in 38 seasons. She was diagnosed in 2011 with early-onset dementia, Alzheimer's type. Summitt remains on staff as head coach emeritus, attends just about every practice and watches each home game from the stands.
''It was really emotional for all of us, to have a coach who's made such an impact on everybody's lives, including ours,'' Tennessee guard Meighan Simmons said. ''It was a really emotional time, just to give her a hug, to feel her and to let her know, 'Coach, I appreciate you. We love you.' It was one of those things. She just told every single one of us, 'Let's go. Let's get ready.' We were able to refocus very well after that.''
Simmons scored 16 points as the Lady Vols (15-3, 6-0 Southeastern Conference) earned their eighth straight win overall. Isabelle Harrison, Jasmine Jones and Taber Spani each added 14 points.
Daisha Simmons scored 19 points, Kaneisha Horn added 14 points and Shafontaye Myers had 12 points for Alabama (11-7, 1-4). Horn also had 10 rebounds.
''I think Holly's done a great job stepping into her role, especially stepping into Pat's footsteps,'' Alabama coach Wendell Hudson said. ''She's done a great job and has them playing at a very high level.''
Tennessee's 39-game winning streak over Alabama is tied for the second-longest active streak in any conference rivalry. Stanford has beaten Pac-12 rival Washington State 53 straight times. UCSB has 39 straight wins over Cal State Fullerton in the Big West.
Alabama's lack of success in this series didn't bother the Crimson Tide in the early going. The Tide capitalized on Daisha Simmons' hot shooting and Tennessee's turnover problems to pull ahead early. Simmons scored 12 points in the first seven minutes of the game.
Tennessee took the lead for good at 20-18 on Harrison's layup with 10:20 left in the first half, but the Crimson Tide didn't go away immediately. Alabama was within five points until the Lady Vols closed the half on a 14-5 run to take a 49-35 lead into the intermission.
Alabama just couldn't slow down Tennessee.
The Lady Vols shot 62.9 percent (22 of 35) in the first half. Harrison and Graves, who had shot a combined 3 of 15 Thursday in a 75-66 victory at Auburn, teamed up to shoot 10 of 10 and score 23 points in the first half.
''We just couldn't get our shots off (against Auburn) and it was just horrible for us,'' Graves said. ''We wanted to come out the Alabama game and make up for that game. I think we did that.''
Graves and Harrison stayed hot in the second half as Tennessee put the game out of reach. Graves ended up shooting 9 of 11, while Harrison was 4 of 7 from the field and 6 of 6 from the free-throw line. Tennessee's inside strength made up for the fact it shot just 1 of 11 from 3-point range.
''It was a big factor,'' Horn said. ''They're really long. They were able to get some rebounds and putbacks. They were pretty good players. I respect them.''
Tennessee opened the second half on a 15-5 run and never looked back. After that 15-5 spurt, the Lady Vols led by at least 20 points the rest of the way.
Alabama has given up over 90 points in three of its last five games. The Tide fell 91-52 at Texas A&M on Jan. 3 and 95-83 to Georgia on Jan. 10. And they had no answers Sunday for a red-hot Tennessee team motivated to honor its former coach.
''We just wanted to make sure we represented UT and Pat in the fashion that we needed to,'' Warlick said.
Beating Alabama.
Bashaara Graves had 21 points and eight rebounds as one of five Tennessee players to score in double figures Sunday as the ninth-ranked Lady Vols trounced Alabama 96-69 for their 39th consecutive victory over the Crimson Tide.
''They wanted to play this in honor of Pat,'' said Tennessee coach Holly Warlick, who played for Summitt and worked as an assistant on her staff for 27 seasons. ''Hopefully Pat saw what she has built this program on, and that's hard work with a foundation of defense and rebounding.''
Alabama hasn't beaten the Lady Vols since an 85-66 victory in the 1984 SEC tournament. Tennessee leads the all-time series 46-2 and has never lost to the Tide during the regular season.
Most of those Tennessee wins over Alabama came when Summitt was coaching the Lady Vols. Sunday marked the last day of the SEC's ''We Back Pat'' week to support former Summitt's foundation and its fight against Alzheimer's disease. During the game, Summitt received checks totaling $32,145 toward her foundation from Sam's Club, the SEC women's basketball officials and the Knoxville News-Sentinel.
Warlick and each of her assistants wore orange ''We Back Pat'' T-shirts under their blazers for the game. Before the game, Tennessee's coaches and players crossed the width of the court to hug Summitt, who was seated in the front row at midcourt. The team watched videos honoring Summitt before taking the floor.
Summitt, 60, stepped down as Tennessee's coach in April after winning 1,098 games and eight national titles in 38 seasons. She was diagnosed in 2011 with early-onset dementia, Alzheimer's type. Summitt remains on staff as head coach emeritus, attends just about every practice and watches each home game from the stands.
''It was really emotional for all of us, to have a coach who's made such an impact on everybody's lives, including ours,'' Tennessee guard Meighan Simmons said. ''It was a really emotional time, just to give her a hug, to feel her and to let her know, 'Coach, I appreciate you. We love you.' It was one of those things. She just told every single one of us, 'Let's go. Let's get ready.' We were able to refocus very well after that.''
Simmons scored 16 points as the Lady Vols (15-3, 6-0 Southeastern Conference) earned their eighth straight win overall. Isabelle Harrison, Jasmine Jones and Taber Spani each added 14 points.
Daisha Simmons scored 19 points, Kaneisha Horn added 14 points and Shafontaye Myers had 12 points for Alabama (11-7, 1-4). Horn also had 10 rebounds.
''I think Holly's done a great job stepping into her role, especially stepping into Pat's footsteps,'' Alabama coach Wendell Hudson said. ''She's done a great job and has them playing at a very high level.''
Tennessee's 39-game winning streak over Alabama is tied for the second-longest active streak in any conference rivalry. Stanford has beaten Pac-12 rival Washington State 53 straight times. UCSB has 39 straight wins over Cal State Fullerton in the Big West.
Alabama's lack of success in this series didn't bother the Crimson Tide in the early going. The Tide capitalized on Daisha Simmons' hot shooting and Tennessee's turnover problems to pull ahead early. Simmons scored 12 points in the first seven minutes of the game.
Tennessee took the lead for good at 20-18 on Harrison's layup with 10:20 left in the first half, but the Crimson Tide didn't go away immediately. Alabama was within five points until the Lady Vols closed the half on a 14-5 run to take a 49-35 lead into the intermission.
Alabama just couldn't slow down Tennessee.
The Lady Vols shot 62.9 percent (22 of 35) in the first half. Harrison and Graves, who had shot a combined 3 of 15 Thursday in a 75-66 victory at Auburn, teamed up to shoot 10 of 10 and score 23 points in the first half.
''We just couldn't get our shots off (against Auburn) and it was just horrible for us,'' Graves said. ''We wanted to come out the Alabama game and make up for that game. I think we did that.''
Graves and Harrison stayed hot in the second half as Tennessee put the game out of reach. Graves ended up shooting 9 of 11, while Harrison was 4 of 7 from the field and 6 of 6 from the free-throw line. Tennessee's inside strength made up for the fact it shot just 1 of 11 from 3-point range.
''It was a big factor,'' Horn said. ''They're really long. They were able to get some rebounds and putbacks. They were pretty good players. I respect them.''
Tennessee opened the second half on a 15-5 run and never looked back. After that 15-5 spurt, the Lady Vols led by at least 20 points the rest of the way.
Alabama has given up over 90 points in three of its last five games. The Tide fell 91-52 at Texas A&M on Jan. 3 and 95-83 to Georgia on Jan. 10. And they had no answers Sunday for a red-hot Tennessee team motivated to honor its former coach.
''We just wanted to make sure we represented UT and Pat in the fashion that we needed to,'' Warlick said.
Summitt still contributes to Lady Vols in new role
Former Tennessee coach Pat Summitt continues to be very involved with Lady Vols basketball.
The 60-year-old Summitt watches each Tennessee home game from the stands and attends most practices. She also serves as a frequent sounding board for coach Holly Warlick and the players.
As Warlick talked with reporters before Saturday's practice, Summitt walked by. Warlick said, "Hey, Coach Summitt, we're just talking about you."
Summitt quipped, "We're listening."
She has early-onset dementia, Alzheimer's type, and turned the program over to Warlick in April 2012 and was named head coach emeritus.
She will be presented donations to her foundation during Sunday's game against Alabama. The contest closes out the Southeastern Conference's "We Back Pat" week, which supports the Pat Summitt Foundation's fight against Alzheimer's.
The 60-year-old Summitt watches each Tennessee home game from the stands and attends most practices. She also serves as a frequent sounding board for coach Holly Warlick and the players.
As Warlick talked with reporters before Saturday's practice, Summitt walked by. Warlick said, "Hey, Coach Summitt, we're just talking about you."
Summitt quipped, "We're listening."
She has early-onset dementia, Alzheimer's type, and turned the program over to Warlick in April 2012 and was named head coach emeritus.
She will be presented donations to her foundation during Sunday's game against Alabama. The contest closes out the Southeastern Conference's "We Back Pat" week, which supports the Pat Summitt Foundation's fight against Alzheimer's.
Friday, January 18, 2013
UT to honor Pat Summitt with banner at Thompson-Boling Arena
Evidence of the greatness her teams and players achieved during her 38-year head coaching career hangs from the rafters at Thompson-Boling Arena. Soon, Lady Vol Head Coach Emeritus Pat Summitt will have a banner of her own hoisted high above the basketball court that bears her name.
University of Tennessee Vice Chancellor and Director of Athletics Dave Hart announced Friday at the Salute To Excellence fundraiser that a ceremony to raise Summitt’s banner will be held prior to the Lady Vols’ home game vs. Notre Dame on Jan. 28. That contest starts at 7 p.m. Eastern time and is a Big Monday match-up that will be televised by ESPN2.
“We are thrilled to honor Pat and her outstanding career,” Hart said. “She is a legend who transcends women’s basketball. This banner will serve as yet another reminder of the impact Coach Summitt has at our University and throughout the country. Her integrity, class and competitiveness continue to inspire the world of sports and, now, the fight to beat Alzheimer’s.”
Summitt, the NCAA’s all-time winningest basketball coach in the men’s or women’s game with a record of 1,098-208 (.840), will join five players she coached as well as esteemed UT men’s coach Ray Mears, Vol Network broadcasting legend John Ward and three former Vols in the lofty reaches of Thompson-Boling.
Previous Lady Vol player honorees include Holly Warlick (No. 22 -- Feb. 18, 1980), who has followed in her mentor’s footsteps as Tennessee’s head coach, Bridgette Gordon (No. 30 -- Jan. 17, 1990), Daedra Charles (No. 32 -- Dec. 28, 1991), Chamique Holdsclaw (No. 23 -- Feb. 1, 2001) and Tamika Catchings (No. 24 -- Dec. 7, 2003).
Vol honorees include Mears and John Ward (March 1, 2006), Bernard King (No. 53 -- Feb. 13, 2007), Ernie Grunfeld (No. 22 - March 2, 2008) and Allan Houston (No. 20 -- March 6, 2011).
“It will be quite an honor to join those with a banner already hanging in the rafters at Thompson-Boling Arena,” Summitt said. “I appreciate the honor and feel very blessed to have been able to spend my entire career at the University of Tennessee. I will be forever grateful for the opportunities afforded me by such a great institution.”
During her time at the helm of the Lady Vol program, Summitt guided Tennessee to an NCAA-record eight NCAA National Championships. Her squads brought home the top prize in 1987, 1989, 1991, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2007 and 2008, with the ’98 edition running the table with a 39-0 record. During her tenure, UT competed in all 31 NCAA Tournaments, advancing to 18 NCAA Final Fours and carding five runner-up finishes to accompany the eight title game victories.
In the Southeastern Conference, her squads won 16 SEC regular-season crowns and 16 postseason tournament titles. The Lady Vols captured the tourney trophy in each of her final three seasons, including last year in Nashville, and eight times Summitt’s charges claimed season sweeps of the hardware. In 33 seasons of SEC play under her direction, the Lady Vols accumulated a 317-44 record (.878) during the regular season and a 69-17 mark (.802) during the postseason.
While Summitt developed 12 Olympians, 34 WNBA players, 21 WBCA All-Americans who earned 36 honors and 39 All-SEC players who received 82 total accolades, her most respected statistic is the 100 percent graduation rate of her players. All 122 of the young ladies who completed their careers as Lady Vols have earned degrees.
Summitt’s personal honors could fill a book. For her on-the-court body of work, she was named the Naismith Coach of the Century in 2000, No. 11 on Sporting News’ 50 Greatest Coaches of All-Time and the 2011 Sports Illustrated Sportswoman of the Year. She has been inducted into numerous halls of fame, including the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame and the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame. She was a five-time Naismith Coach of the Year, the 1998 AP Coach of the Year, the 1998 IKON/WBCA Coach of the Year and the 1983 and 1995 WBCA/Converse Coach of the Year. She added SEC Coach of the Year on eight occasions (1993, 1995, 1998, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2007, 2011).
In the past year and a half, since Summitt announced a diagnosis of early-onset dementia, Alzheimer’s type on Aug. 23, 2011, and that she was stepping away from her head coaching position on April 18, 2012, she has been recognized far and wide not only for her prowess in the realm of athletics but also for the impact she has had on society as it pertains to women, leadership and the determination and open nature in which she has handled her diagnosis and fight against the disease.
Just a few of the awards among her lengthy list of recent accolades are the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the ESPYs’ Arthur Ashe Courage Award, the USTA’s Billie Jean King Legacy Award, the President’s Council on Fitness, Sports & Nutrition Lifetime Achievement Award, AARP National Inspire Award and the Alzheimer’s Association’s Sargent and Eunice Shriver Profiles in Dignity Award.
University of Tennessee Vice Chancellor and Director of Athletics Dave Hart announced Friday at the Salute To Excellence fundraiser that a ceremony to raise Summitt’s banner will be held prior to the Lady Vols’ home game vs. Notre Dame on Jan. 28. That contest starts at 7 p.m. Eastern time and is a Big Monday match-up that will be televised by ESPN2.
“We are thrilled to honor Pat and her outstanding career,” Hart said. “She is a legend who transcends women’s basketball. This banner will serve as yet another reminder of the impact Coach Summitt has at our University and throughout the country. Her integrity, class and competitiveness continue to inspire the world of sports and, now, the fight to beat Alzheimer’s.”
Summitt, the NCAA’s all-time winningest basketball coach in the men’s or women’s game with a record of 1,098-208 (.840), will join five players she coached as well as esteemed UT men’s coach Ray Mears, Vol Network broadcasting legend John Ward and three former Vols in the lofty reaches of Thompson-Boling.
Previous Lady Vol player honorees include Holly Warlick (No. 22 -- Feb. 18, 1980), who has followed in her mentor’s footsteps as Tennessee’s head coach, Bridgette Gordon (No. 30 -- Jan. 17, 1990), Daedra Charles (No. 32 -- Dec. 28, 1991), Chamique Holdsclaw (No. 23 -- Feb. 1, 2001) and Tamika Catchings (No. 24 -- Dec. 7, 2003).
Vol honorees include Mears and John Ward (March 1, 2006), Bernard King (No. 53 -- Feb. 13, 2007), Ernie Grunfeld (No. 22 - March 2, 2008) and Allan Houston (No. 20 -- March 6, 2011).
“It will be quite an honor to join those with a banner already hanging in the rafters at Thompson-Boling Arena,” Summitt said. “I appreciate the honor and feel very blessed to have been able to spend my entire career at the University of Tennessee. I will be forever grateful for the opportunities afforded me by such a great institution.”
During her time at the helm of the Lady Vol program, Summitt guided Tennessee to an NCAA-record eight NCAA National Championships. Her squads brought home the top prize in 1987, 1989, 1991, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2007 and 2008, with the ’98 edition running the table with a 39-0 record. During her tenure, UT competed in all 31 NCAA Tournaments, advancing to 18 NCAA Final Fours and carding five runner-up finishes to accompany the eight title game victories.
In the Southeastern Conference, her squads won 16 SEC regular-season crowns and 16 postseason tournament titles. The Lady Vols captured the tourney trophy in each of her final three seasons, including last year in Nashville, and eight times Summitt’s charges claimed season sweeps of the hardware. In 33 seasons of SEC play under her direction, the Lady Vols accumulated a 317-44 record (.878) during the regular season and a 69-17 mark (.802) during the postseason.
While Summitt developed 12 Olympians, 34 WNBA players, 21 WBCA All-Americans who earned 36 honors and 39 All-SEC players who received 82 total accolades, her most respected statistic is the 100 percent graduation rate of her players. All 122 of the young ladies who completed their careers as Lady Vols have earned degrees.
Summitt’s personal honors could fill a book. For her on-the-court body of work, she was named the Naismith Coach of the Century in 2000, No. 11 on Sporting News’ 50 Greatest Coaches of All-Time and the 2011 Sports Illustrated Sportswoman of the Year. She has been inducted into numerous halls of fame, including the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame and the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame. She was a five-time Naismith Coach of the Year, the 1998 AP Coach of the Year, the 1998 IKON/WBCA Coach of the Year and the 1983 and 1995 WBCA/Converse Coach of the Year. She added SEC Coach of the Year on eight occasions (1993, 1995, 1998, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2007, 2011).
In the past year and a half, since Summitt announced a diagnosis of early-onset dementia, Alzheimer’s type on Aug. 23, 2011, and that she was stepping away from her head coaching position on April 18, 2012, she has been recognized far and wide not only for her prowess in the realm of athletics but also for the impact she has had on society as it pertains to women, leadership and the determination and open nature in which she has handled her diagnosis and fight against the disease.
Just a few of the awards among her lengthy list of recent accolades are the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the ESPYs’ Arthur Ashe Courage Award, the USTA’s Billie Jean King Legacy Award, the President’s Council on Fitness, Sports & Nutrition Lifetime Achievement Award, AARP National Inspire Award and the Alzheimer’s Association’s Sargent and Eunice Shriver Profiles in Dignity Award.
Thursday, January 17, 2013
No. 9 Tennessee 75, Auburn 66
Meighan Simmons scored 29 points and No. 9 Tennessee rallied from a 12-point deficit in the second half for a 75-66 victory over Auburn on Thursday night.
The Lady Vols (14-3, 5-0 Southeastern Conference) used a 40-15 run to take control of a game they’d trailed most of the way en route to their seventh consecutive win.
Simmons scored nine points on two 3-pointers and a three-point play during a 15-2 spurt that started the turnaround. Kamiko Williams’ drive with 10:05 left gave Tennessee its first lead—49-47—since the game’s opening basket.
Simmons, who had 27 points in a overtime win over Florida, made 10 of 14 shots—including 4 of 6 from 3-point range.
Taber Spani had 12 points for the Lady Vols and Ariel Massengale added 11.
Hasina Muhammed and Blanche Alverson scored 15 points apiece to lead Auburn.
The Lady Vols (14-3, 5-0 Southeastern Conference) used a 40-15 run to take control of a game they’d trailed most of the way en route to their seventh consecutive win.
Simmons scored nine points on two 3-pointers and a three-point play during a 15-2 spurt that started the turnaround. Kamiko Williams’ drive with 10:05 left gave Tennessee its first lead—49-47—since the game’s opening basket.
Simmons, who had 27 points in a overtime win over Florida, made 10 of 14 shots—including 4 of 6 from 3-point range.
Taber Spani had 12 points for the Lady Vols and Ariel Massengale added 11.
Hasina Muhammed and Blanche Alverson scored 15 points apiece to lead Auburn.
Wednesday, January 16, 2013
Sam’s Club to Donate $20,000 to The Pat Summitt Foundation
Sam's Club locations in Knoxville will present a $20,000 donation to The Pat Summitt Foundation to help in the fight against early onset dementia.
Knoxville Sam's Club managers Tony Street and Marc Hayden will present the $20,000 check to Pat Summitt on Sunday, Jan. 20, during halftime of the Tennessee-Alabama women's basketball game. Tipoff is at 1 p.m. at Thompson-Boling Arena.
Summitt is the winningest basketball coach in NCAA history, leading the Lady Vols for 38 years and to eight NCAA titles before stepping down in 2012 due to the early onset of Alzheimer's disease. In 2011, Summitt founded The Pat Summitt Foundation, making it her mission to find a cure for Alzheimer’s disease and dementia.
“I want to express my sincere thanks and appreciation for this generous grant from the Sam's Club stores in East Tennessee,” said Coach Summitt. “This gift is an investment that will help establish The Pat Summitt Foundation as a major contender in the battle against Alzheimer's disease as we seek to create a substantial pool of resources for strategic grants in our three focus areas of research, education and awareness and patient and caregiver support.”
Summitt’s 1,098 career coaching victories are the most for any coach, man or woman, and her eight NCAA titles is a record for women. She was named one of the 50 Greatest Coaches of All Time in any sport by the Sporting News in 2009, the Naismith Basketball Coach of the Century in 2000, and was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Obama in 2012.
Knoxville Sam's Club managers Tony Street and Marc Hayden will present the $20,000 check to Pat Summitt on Sunday, Jan. 20, during halftime of the Tennessee-Alabama women's basketball game. Tipoff is at 1 p.m. at Thompson-Boling Arena.
Summitt is the winningest basketball coach in NCAA history, leading the Lady Vols for 38 years and to eight NCAA titles before stepping down in 2012 due to the early onset of Alzheimer's disease. In 2011, Summitt founded The Pat Summitt Foundation, making it her mission to find a cure for Alzheimer’s disease and dementia.
“I want to express my sincere thanks and appreciation for this generous grant from the Sam's Club stores in East Tennessee,” said Coach Summitt. “This gift is an investment that will help establish The Pat Summitt Foundation as a major contender in the battle against Alzheimer's disease as we seek to create a substantial pool of resources for strategic grants in our three focus areas of research, education and awareness and patient and caregiver support.”
Summitt’s 1,098 career coaching victories are the most for any coach, man or woman, and her eight NCAA titles is a record for women. She was named one of the 50 Greatest Coaches of All Time in any sport by the Sporting News in 2009, the Naismith Basketball Coach of the Century in 2000, and was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Obama in 2012.
Sunday, January 13, 2013
No. 9 Tennessee 78, Florida 75 in OT
Ninth-ranked Tennessee needed overtime and a few breaks to extend its dominance over Florida.
Meighan Simmons scored 27 points, Bashaara Graves added 17 points and 15 rebounds, and Lady Vols beat the Gators 78-75 in overtime Sunday.
Tennessee (13-3, 4-0 Southeastern Conference) snapped Florida's 15-game winning streak at home and won for the 44th time in 48 meetings.
''If you're a spectator, it was an exciting game,'' Lady Vols coach Holly Warlick said. ''For the coaches, it was a little gut-wrenching.''
Simmons and Graves came up huge for Tennessee, which won its sixth consecutive game.
Simmons made 11 of 23 shots, including 7 of 12 in the first half, and hit four 3-pointers. Graves was clutch down the stretch.
After injuring her neck late in regulation, Graves returned and made a free throw that tied the game at 70 with 12.6 seconds remaining in regulation. She hit two from the charity stripe with 8.4 seconds left in overtime, forcing the Gators (13-5, 2-2) to take a 3-pointer at the buzzer.
Kayla Lewis' shot clanged off the front of the rim.
''She's our workhorse,'' Warlick said of Graves. ''She hit big free throws at the end. She's a competitor. She's been solid. She's been consistent.''
Florida battled back from a nine-point deficit in the second half and took the lead on January Miller's jumper in the lane with 29 seconds remaining. But Graves drew a foul on the other end and then calmly sent the game into overtime. The Gators failed to get off a shot in the final possession of regulation.
Even stranger was Florida's decision to foul with 25 seconds left in the extra frame of a tie game.
Coach Amanda Butler ordered her team to send Kamiko Williams to the line. Williams, a 64-percent free-throw shooter, put Tennessee ahead for good with the first of two.
''It was a calculated risk,'' Butler said. ''It was a bad decision. I make a lot of bad decisions. If I had it to do over again, I would trust our defense.''
Still, the Gators had chances.
Christin Mercer missed two free throws with 8.9 seconds remaining.
Those kinds of mistakes are usually costly against Tennessee.
''We didn't here to come out here today for a great showing,'' Butler said. ''This team is not satisfied by losing by three to Tennessee in overtime. It is no OK. We are not a team that is ever going to be OK with a loss by any margin anywhere. ... We're growing, we're on a journey, it's a process and this is a step in it. It's a painful step in our process, but a great showing isn't what we're after.''
Jaterra Bonds led Florida with 18 points. Miller and Carlie Needles chipped in 11 each.
''We won't come up short next time,'' Needles said.
Florida's leading scorer, Jennifer George, dislocated her right shoulder in the first half and did not return. Butler said it was a doctor's decision to keep George on the bench. She had eight points, two rebounds and two assists.
''That's one of the areas that give our team great confidence,'' Butler said. ''We're not a one-woman team. Although Jennifer is one of the best players in this league, we showed that our balance is legit.''
Florida made 19 of its first 40 shots, a shooting percentage that turned Warlick's stomach.
But the Lady Vols settled down in the second half and really tightened up with defensive stops at the end of regulation and overtime.
''It's a matter of getting up, bringing intense and playing with a lot of energy and with a lot of heart,'' Warlick said. ''This team thrives on getting defensive stops and scoring in transition. When we get really lax and stand around, we're not very good.''
Meighan Simmons scored 27 points, Bashaara Graves added 17 points and 15 rebounds, and Lady Vols beat the Gators 78-75 in overtime Sunday.
Tennessee (13-3, 4-0 Southeastern Conference) snapped Florida's 15-game winning streak at home and won for the 44th time in 48 meetings.
''If you're a spectator, it was an exciting game,'' Lady Vols coach Holly Warlick said. ''For the coaches, it was a little gut-wrenching.''
Simmons and Graves came up huge for Tennessee, which won its sixth consecutive game.
Simmons made 11 of 23 shots, including 7 of 12 in the first half, and hit four 3-pointers. Graves was clutch down the stretch.
After injuring her neck late in regulation, Graves returned and made a free throw that tied the game at 70 with 12.6 seconds remaining in regulation. She hit two from the charity stripe with 8.4 seconds left in overtime, forcing the Gators (13-5, 2-2) to take a 3-pointer at the buzzer.
Kayla Lewis' shot clanged off the front of the rim.
''She's our workhorse,'' Warlick said of Graves. ''She hit big free throws at the end. She's a competitor. She's been solid. She's been consistent.''
Florida battled back from a nine-point deficit in the second half and took the lead on January Miller's jumper in the lane with 29 seconds remaining. But Graves drew a foul on the other end and then calmly sent the game into overtime. The Gators failed to get off a shot in the final possession of regulation.
Even stranger was Florida's decision to foul with 25 seconds left in the extra frame of a tie game.
Coach Amanda Butler ordered her team to send Kamiko Williams to the line. Williams, a 64-percent free-throw shooter, put Tennessee ahead for good with the first of two.
''It was a calculated risk,'' Butler said. ''It was a bad decision. I make a lot of bad decisions. If I had it to do over again, I would trust our defense.''
Still, the Gators had chances.
Christin Mercer missed two free throws with 8.9 seconds remaining.
Those kinds of mistakes are usually costly against Tennessee.
''We didn't here to come out here today for a great showing,'' Butler said. ''This team is not satisfied by losing by three to Tennessee in overtime. It is no OK. We are not a team that is ever going to be OK with a loss by any margin anywhere. ... We're growing, we're on a journey, it's a process and this is a step in it. It's a painful step in our process, but a great showing isn't what we're after.''
Jaterra Bonds led Florida with 18 points. Miller and Carlie Needles chipped in 11 each.
''We won't come up short next time,'' Needles said.
Florida's leading scorer, Jennifer George, dislocated her right shoulder in the first half and did not return. Butler said it was a doctor's decision to keep George on the bench. She had eight points, two rebounds and two assists.
''That's one of the areas that give our team great confidence,'' Butler said. ''We're not a one-woman team. Although Jennifer is one of the best players in this league, we showed that our balance is legit.''
Florida made 19 of its first 40 shots, a shooting percentage that turned Warlick's stomach.
But the Lady Vols settled down in the second half and really tightened up with defensive stops at the end of regulation and overtime.
''It's a matter of getting up, bringing intense and playing with a lot of energy and with a lot of heart,'' Warlick said. ''This team thrives on getting defensive stops and scoring in transition. When we get really lax and stand around, we're not very good.''
Friday, January 11, 2013
Announcement from The Pat Summitt Foundation
Dear Pat Summitt Foundation Friends and Donors,
We Back Pat week is starting this weekend and runs Jan 13th – 20th! The Southeastern Conference features this week of women’s basketball games to support Pat’s fight against Alzheimer’s disease. This is the second year for We Back Pat week and there will be 17 games played in 14 cities. Click here to see the schedule of games.
We invite you to join Pat in the battle against Alzheimer’s disease by attending one of these games and encouraging friends and family members to go. Please visit our Donate Page to help Pat defeat Alzheimer’s on behalf of millions of Americans battling this disease.
Thank you for your support! Together We Will Win!!!
With Fierce Courage,
The Pat Summitt Foundation
Coach Summitt and her mother at the Tennessee Lady Vols Basketball game vs. Davidson College on December 28, 2012. This is the first Lady Vols game Pat and Hazel have watched together.
We Back Pat week is starting this weekend and runs Jan 13th – 20th! The Southeastern Conference features this week of women’s basketball games to support Pat’s fight against Alzheimer’s disease. This is the second year for We Back Pat week and there will be 17 games played in 14 cities. Click here to see the schedule of games.
We invite you to join Pat in the battle against Alzheimer’s disease by attending one of these games and encouraging friends and family members to go. Please visit our Donate Page to help Pat defeat Alzheimer’s on behalf of millions of Americans battling this disease.
Thank you for your support! Together We Will Win!!!
With Fierce Courage,
The Pat Summitt Foundation
Coach Summitt and her mother at the Tennessee Lady Vols Basketball game vs. Davidson College on December 28, 2012. This is the first Lady Vols game Pat and Hazel have watched together.
Thursday, January 10, 2013
No. 9 Tennessee 84, Missouri 39
Meighan Simmons scored 18 points Thursday night and No. 9 Tennessee relied on suffocating defense to trounce Missouri 84-39 for its fifth straight victory.
Bashaara Graves added 16 points and eight rebounds for the Lady Vols (12-3, 3-0 SEC). Isabelle Harrison had 12 points and a career-high 15 rebounds, and Taber Spani scored 11 points.
Morgan Eye scored 18 points and shot 6 of 17 from 3-point range for Missouri (12-5, 1-2). Eye had gone 11 of 18 on 3s Sunday in an 82-77 victory over Auburn, falling one shy of the NCAA record.
Missouri set an SEC record with 18 3-pointers in the victory over Auburn, but the Tigers shot just 19.7 percent (13 of 66) on Thursday. They were 9 of 36 from 3-point range and 4 of 30 on 2-point attempts.
Bashaara Graves added 16 points and eight rebounds for the Lady Vols (12-3, 3-0 SEC). Isabelle Harrison had 12 points and a career-high 15 rebounds, and Taber Spani scored 11 points.
Morgan Eye scored 18 points and shot 6 of 17 from 3-point range for Missouri (12-5, 1-2). Eye had gone 11 of 18 on 3s Sunday in an 82-77 victory over Auburn, falling one shy of the NCAA record.
Missouri set an SEC record with 18 3-pointers in the victory over Auburn, but the Tigers shot just 19.7 percent (13 of 66) on Thursday. They were 9 of 36 from 3-point range and 4 of 30 on 2-point attempts.
Sunday, January 06, 2013
No. 12 Tennessee 79, No. 10 Georgia 66
Bashaara Graves scored a career-high 23 points and No. 12 Tennessee rallied in the second half to beat No. 10 Georgia 79-66, giving the Lady Vols their fifth consecutive victory in this series.
After trailing 42-40 at halftime, Tennessee (11-3, 2-0 SEC) scored the first nine points of the second half and stayed in front the rest of the way.
Meighan Simmons added 16 points for Tennessee, while Jasmine Jones scored a career-high 12 points to go along with seven rebounds. Taber Spani had 11 points and seven rebounds.
Jasmine James scored 18 points and Khaalidah Miller had 14 for Georgia (13-2, 1-1 SEC).
In each of its two conference wins, Tennessee has broken open a close game in the second half. The Lady Vols won 73-53 at No. 18 South Carolina in their SEC opener Thursday after leading 32-31 at halftime.
Georgia has won just one of its last 14 meetings with Tennessee and has lost its last 11 games to the Lady Vols in Knoxville by an average margin of 24.7 points.
This game proved much closer, at least in the early going. The lead changed hands seven times in the first half alone, with neither team pulling ahead by more than six points.
The Lady Bulldogs entered the day having outscored their opponents 391-190 in points off the bench, and they had nine players averaging at least 14.8 minutes per game. Nine Georgia players scored in the first half Sunday, while Tennessee had just nine healthy players on its entire roster.
That balance helped Georgia take a halftime lead against a Tennessee team struggling with foul trouble. Tennessee sophomore center Isabelle Harrison, coming off a career-best performance in a 73-53 rout of South Carolina, picked up two early fouls and played just six minutes in the first half.
But instead of wearing down in the second half, the Lady Vols came out stronger.
Tennessee built a seven-point lead as Georgia missed its first eight shots of the second half. Georgia wouldn't go away quite yet and cut the deficit to two points when Tennessee got a little careless with the ball.
Simmons and Graves took over from there.
The junior guard and freshman forward each scored five points during a 14-3 run that helped Tennessee build a double-digit advantage. Simmons made a 3-pointer and sank an off-balance baseline jumper at the start of the run. Graves capped the spurt by making back-to-back baskets in the paint and converting the last one into a 3-point play.
Tennessee's lead never dropped below nine points the rest of the way. Tennessee shot 50 percent (15 of 30) while holding Georgia to 29 percent shooting (9 of 31) in the second half.
Georgia hasn't beaten Tennessee in Knoxville since edging the Lady Vols 94-93 in overtime on Dec. 8, 1996. Tennessee is the only SEC program with a winning record against Georgia.
After trailing 42-40 at halftime, Tennessee (11-3, 2-0 SEC) scored the first nine points of the second half and stayed in front the rest of the way.
Meighan Simmons added 16 points for Tennessee, while Jasmine Jones scored a career-high 12 points to go along with seven rebounds. Taber Spani had 11 points and seven rebounds.
Jasmine James scored 18 points and Khaalidah Miller had 14 for Georgia (13-2, 1-1 SEC).
In each of its two conference wins, Tennessee has broken open a close game in the second half. The Lady Vols won 73-53 at No. 18 South Carolina in their SEC opener Thursday after leading 32-31 at halftime.
Georgia has won just one of its last 14 meetings with Tennessee and has lost its last 11 games to the Lady Vols in Knoxville by an average margin of 24.7 points.
This game proved much closer, at least in the early going. The lead changed hands seven times in the first half alone, with neither team pulling ahead by more than six points.
The Lady Bulldogs entered the day having outscored their opponents 391-190 in points off the bench, and they had nine players averaging at least 14.8 minutes per game. Nine Georgia players scored in the first half Sunday, while Tennessee had just nine healthy players on its entire roster.
That balance helped Georgia take a halftime lead against a Tennessee team struggling with foul trouble. Tennessee sophomore center Isabelle Harrison, coming off a career-best performance in a 73-53 rout of South Carolina, picked up two early fouls and played just six minutes in the first half.
But instead of wearing down in the second half, the Lady Vols came out stronger.
Tennessee built a seven-point lead as Georgia missed its first eight shots of the second half. Georgia wouldn't go away quite yet and cut the deficit to two points when Tennessee got a little careless with the ball.
Simmons and Graves took over from there.
The junior guard and freshman forward each scored five points during a 14-3 run that helped Tennessee build a double-digit advantage. Simmons made a 3-pointer and sank an off-balance baseline jumper at the start of the run. Graves capped the spurt by making back-to-back baskets in the paint and converting the last one into a 3-point play.
Tennessee's lead never dropped below nine points the rest of the way. Tennessee shot 50 percent (15 of 30) while holding Georgia to 29 percent shooting (9 of 31) in the second half.
Georgia hasn't beaten Tennessee in Knoxville since edging the Lady Vols 94-93 in overtime on Dec. 8, 1996. Tennessee is the only SEC program with a winning record against Georgia.
Thursday, January 03, 2013
Tennessee 73, South Carolina 53
Isabelle Harrison tied her career best with 18 points and set career highs with 14 rebounds and seven blocks as No. 12 Tennessee rallied with a big second half to beat No. 18 South Carolina 73-53 in the Southeastern Conference opener Thursday night.
The Lady Volunteers (10-3) hadn't lost their first SEC game since 1997, yet they trailed 35-32 after Tiffany Mitchell's bucket early in the second half. That's when Tennessee cranked things up and took control with a 35-7 run the next 13 minutes.
Ariel Massengale tied the game at 35-all with a 3-pointer before Harrison's inside basket put the Lady Vols in front. Meighan Simmons' layup gave Tennessee the lead for good, 41-40. Harrison put back Simmons' miss on the next possession and the rout was on.
When Taber Spani connected on her second 3-pointer, Tennessee led 67-42.
Mitchell led the Gamecocks (12-2, 0-1) with 14 points.
Spani finished with 18 points on 4 of 5 shooting from behind the arc for Tennessee. Massengale scored 13 and Simmons finished with 10 points, eight of those in those in the second half.
The Gamecocks had no answers for the 6-foot-3 Harrison, who made 9 of 12 baskets and had her way with South Carolina's post players in Ashley Bruner and Aleighsa Welch - both 6-foot.
South Carolina struggled from the field, shooting 29 percent (20 of 69) for the game. None of the Gamecocks' nine players finished over 50 percent shooting. Welch, the team's leading scorer coming in, was just 3 of 7 for six points, less than half her average.
Tennessee and South Carolina both entered the matchup trying to regain their strides after some high-profile defeats. The Lady Vols had won two straight since dropping games to defending national champ Baylor and then-No. 1 Stanford before Christmas. The Gamecocks had their program-tying best-ever start at 10-0 ended by Stanford two weeks ago and have since rebounded with blowout victories over South Carolina State and Western Carolina.
The Lady Vols haven't lost in Columbia since 1980 and are 43-2 all-time against South Carolina coming in. One of those defeats, though, came last February in Knoxville, ending Tennessee's 40-game series win streak.
The Lady Vols erased that defeat a month later, upending the Gamecocks in the SEC semifinals on the way to the league tournament title.
Tennessee's height proved critical early on as Harrison was not challenged underneath. She made 6 of 7 shots, mostly all from close in, as the Lady Vols opened a 32-29 lead in the final minute of the opening half. Bruner's two foul shots with 2.8 seconds remaining before the break, though, drew the Gamecocks within a point, 32-31.
Harrison also had two of Tennessee's three blocked shots.
The Lady Vols were playing without injured starter Cierra Burdick. The team announced Tuesday she was out indefinitely with a broken bone in her right hand. Burdick started 11 of the first 12 games and was averaging 8.8 points and 6.5 rebounds.
The Lady Volunteers (10-3) hadn't lost their first SEC game since 1997, yet they trailed 35-32 after Tiffany Mitchell's bucket early in the second half. That's when Tennessee cranked things up and took control with a 35-7 run the next 13 minutes.
Ariel Massengale tied the game at 35-all with a 3-pointer before Harrison's inside basket put the Lady Vols in front. Meighan Simmons' layup gave Tennessee the lead for good, 41-40. Harrison put back Simmons' miss on the next possession and the rout was on.
When Taber Spani connected on her second 3-pointer, Tennessee led 67-42.
Mitchell led the Gamecocks (12-2, 0-1) with 14 points.
Spani finished with 18 points on 4 of 5 shooting from behind the arc for Tennessee. Massengale scored 13 and Simmons finished with 10 points, eight of those in those in the second half.
The Gamecocks had no answers for the 6-foot-3 Harrison, who made 9 of 12 baskets and had her way with South Carolina's post players in Ashley Bruner and Aleighsa Welch - both 6-foot.
South Carolina struggled from the field, shooting 29 percent (20 of 69) for the game. None of the Gamecocks' nine players finished over 50 percent shooting. Welch, the team's leading scorer coming in, was just 3 of 7 for six points, less than half her average.
Tennessee and South Carolina both entered the matchup trying to regain their strides after some high-profile defeats. The Lady Vols had won two straight since dropping games to defending national champ Baylor and then-No. 1 Stanford before Christmas. The Gamecocks had their program-tying best-ever start at 10-0 ended by Stanford two weeks ago and have since rebounded with blowout victories over South Carolina State and Western Carolina.
The Lady Vols haven't lost in Columbia since 1980 and are 43-2 all-time against South Carolina coming in. One of those defeats, though, came last February in Knoxville, ending Tennessee's 40-game series win streak.
The Lady Vols erased that defeat a month later, upending the Gamecocks in the SEC semifinals on the way to the league tournament title.
Tennessee's height proved critical early on as Harrison was not challenged underneath. She made 6 of 7 shots, mostly all from close in, as the Lady Vols opened a 32-29 lead in the final minute of the opening half. Bruner's two foul shots with 2.8 seconds remaining before the break, though, drew the Gamecocks within a point, 32-31.
Harrison also had two of Tennessee's three blocked shots.
The Lady Vols were playing without injured starter Cierra Burdick. The team announced Tuesday she was out indefinitely with a broken bone in her right hand. Burdick started 11 of the first 12 games and was averaging 8.8 points and 6.5 rebounds.
Wednesday, January 02, 2013
Tyler Summitt finds calling as coach
Pat Summitt's son is in his first season as an assistant with the Marquette women
By Mechelle Voepel
In August, Tyler Summitt was meticulously prepared -- his standard operating procedure -- to propose to his high school sweetheart, AnDe Ragsdale. The fact that he'd recently undergone an emergency appendectomy was of no consequence. Even with quite literally a tender side, he showed his tender side.
"He was still able to go on a walk with me," Ragsdale said of how Tyler popped the question. "He had this beautiful Bible made for me, and he read a verse out of it. On the front of it he had engraved, 'Mr. and Mrs. Summitt.' It was perfect; it was simple and sweet, and that's what I love. He was great … despite having a really sore abdomen."
Click here to read the rest of the story.
By Mechelle Voepel
In August, Tyler Summitt was meticulously prepared -- his standard operating procedure -- to propose to his high school sweetheart, AnDe Ragsdale. The fact that he'd recently undergone an emergency appendectomy was of no consequence. Even with quite literally a tender side, he showed his tender side.
"He was still able to go on a walk with me," Ragsdale said of how Tyler popped the question. "He had this beautiful Bible made for me, and he read a verse out of it. On the front of it he had engraved, 'Mr. and Mrs. Summitt.' It was perfect; it was simple and sweet, and that's what I love. He was great … despite having a really sore abdomen."
Click here to read the rest of the story.
Lady Vols ready for SEC play
Coming off two wins at Thompson-Boling Arena, Tennessee kicks off the new year on the road at South Carolina for the beginning of Southeastern Conference action.
"I loved our intensity (in the Rutgers game)," head coach Holly Warlick said. "If we bring the intensity like we did on the defensive end like I know we can, it's exciting."
"It's a grueling conference. It's a conference that we have to come ready to play every night. To open up at South Carolina there, and then to come back and play Georgia...it's a tough road, but we started out the year sort of the same with three of our four games on the road so our pre-conference schedule will help us."
The Lady Vols will start league play without sophomore forward Cierra Burdick who fractured her fourth metacarpal in her shooting hand on Dec. 31, but UT will have Jasmine Phillips back in the lineup.
Tennessee has had steady results from freshman Bashaara Graves, who just earned her third SEC Freshman of the Week honor after posting her sixth career double-double against Rutgers.
"Anybody that comes to Tennessee, especially the freshmen, they come in hungry," junior guard Meighan Simmons said. "I'm not surprised, I think she's (Graves) doing an amazing job. She works hard. She gives 110 percent every day in practice. She's a silent assassin. She doesn't say much or try to have any confrontation. She just works. I think that's really what has helped her this year."
"I have to be tough," Graves said. "You're in Division I basketball and you're in the hardest conference, so you have to deal with things that like. I think I'm ready for that and conference play."
UT faces the Gamecocks at 9 p.m. ET on Thursday, Jan. 3, in Columbia. The game will be broadcast on SportsSouth and streamed on ESPN3.
"It's an opportunity for us to come out and play South Carolin tough there," Warlick said. "They beat us here last year. If somebody thinks going to South Carolina is a pushover, they're crazy. They have the mindset of their coach and play with heart."
"I loved our intensity (in the Rutgers game)," head coach Holly Warlick said. "If we bring the intensity like we did on the defensive end like I know we can, it's exciting."
"It's a grueling conference. It's a conference that we have to come ready to play every night. To open up at South Carolina there, and then to come back and play Georgia...it's a tough road, but we started out the year sort of the same with three of our four games on the road so our pre-conference schedule will help us."
The Lady Vols will start league play without sophomore forward Cierra Burdick who fractured her fourth metacarpal in her shooting hand on Dec. 31, but UT will have Jasmine Phillips back in the lineup.
Tennessee has had steady results from freshman Bashaara Graves, who just earned her third SEC Freshman of the Week honor after posting her sixth career double-double against Rutgers.
"Anybody that comes to Tennessee, especially the freshmen, they come in hungry," junior guard Meighan Simmons said. "I'm not surprised, I think she's (Graves) doing an amazing job. She works hard. She gives 110 percent every day in practice. She's a silent assassin. She doesn't say much or try to have any confrontation. She just works. I think that's really what has helped her this year."
"I have to be tough," Graves said. "You're in Division I basketball and you're in the hardest conference, so you have to deal with things that like. I think I'm ready for that and conference play."
UT faces the Gamecocks at 9 p.m. ET on Thursday, Jan. 3, in Columbia. The game will be broadcast on SportsSouth and streamed on ESPN3.
"It's an opportunity for us to come out and play South Carolin tough there," Warlick said. "They beat us here last year. If somebody thinks going to South Carolina is a pushover, they're crazy. They have the mindset of their coach and play with heart."
Lady Vols' Burdick has broken bone in right hand
Tennessee forward Cierra Burdick is out indefinitely after breaking a bone in her right hand.
Although the 12th-ranked Lady Vols didn't practice Monday, Burdick was working out on her own when she fractured the fourth metacarpal of her shooting hand.
There is no timetable for Burdick's return, though she's expected to be back before the end of the season.
Burdick, a 6-foot-2 sophomore, ranks fourth on the team in scoring (8.8) and third in rebounding (6.5).
The Lady Vols (9-3) open their Southeastern Conference schedule Thursday at No. 18 South Carolina (11-1).
Tennessee already was playing without freshman guard Andraya Carter, who started 5 of the Lady Vols' first seven games before undergoing season-ending arthroscopic surgery for a torn labrum on her right shoulder.
Although the 12th-ranked Lady Vols didn't practice Monday, Burdick was working out on her own when she fractured the fourth metacarpal of her shooting hand.
There is no timetable for Burdick's return, though she's expected to be back before the end of the season.
Burdick, a 6-foot-2 sophomore, ranks fourth on the team in scoring (8.8) and third in rebounding (6.5).
The Lady Vols (9-3) open their Southeastern Conference schedule Thursday at No. 18 South Carolina (11-1).
Tennessee already was playing without freshman guard Andraya Carter, who started 5 of the Lady Vols' first seven games before undergoing season-ending arthroscopic surgery for a torn labrum on her right shoulder.
Monday, December 31, 2012
Lady Vols' Graves named SEC Freshman of the Week
Lady Vols' forward Bashaara Graves has been named the SEC Women's Basketball Freshman of the Week.
The a 6'2" forward/center from Clarksville also picked up the honor on Nov. 12 and Dec. 3. She is the first player this season to earn either SEC Player or Freshman of the Week distinction on three occasions.
Graves posted a pair of double-doubles in wins over Davidson and Rutgers. She extended her streak of double-doubles to three-straight games and now is tied for the SEC lead this season with six. For the week, she averaged 13.5 points, 12 rebounds, two steals, a block and an assist. She shot 50% from the floor and 90% from the free throw line. Graves has now scored in double figures in 11 of 12 games.
The a 6'2" forward/center from Clarksville also picked up the honor on Nov. 12 and Dec. 3. She is the first player this season to earn either SEC Player or Freshman of the Week distinction on three occasions.
Graves posted a pair of double-doubles in wins over Davidson and Rutgers. She extended her streak of double-doubles to three-straight games and now is tied for the SEC lead this season with six. For the week, she averaged 13.5 points, 12 rebounds, two steals, a block and an assist. She shot 50% from the floor and 90% from the free throw line. Graves has now scored in double figures in 11 of 12 games.
Sunday, December 30, 2012
Tennessee 66, Rutgers 47
No. 13 Tennessee used a strong defensive performance and balanced scoring to defeat Rutgers 66-47 Sunday.
The victory was the 1,200th in Tennessee's program history, an NCAA best. It was also the ninth consecutive win over Rutgers for the Lady Volunteers (9-3).
Tennessee led by as many as 28 points in the second half after leading 33-13 at halftime.
The Scarlet Knights (8-4) shot 34.6 percent (18 of 52) from the field and just 22.2 percent (6 of 27) in the first half.
Rutgers' 13 first-half points were the fewest Tennessee has allowed in a first half this season. Rutgers missed its first seven shots as the Lady Vols jumped out to an early 8-0 lead.
Tennessee's Isabelle Harrison recorded a double-double with a game-high 18 points and 11 rebounds.
Kahleah Copper led the Scarlet Knights with 13 points.
Rutgers cut Tennessee's lead to 33-16 to start the second half but never got any closer after the Lady Vols went on a 7-0 run to take a 40-16 lead.
A jumper by Meighan Simmons with 13:06 left gave Tennessee a 48-20 lead, its largest of the day.
Simmons scored 11 of her 15 points in the first half. Tennessee's Bashaara Graves had a double-double with 11 points and 14 rebounds.
The Lady Vols shot 44.1 percent (26 of 59) from the field, and outscored the Scarlet Knights 30-22 in the paint and 19-12 in fast-break points.
Tennessee scored 24 points off 24 Rutgers turnovers, while the Scarlet Knights managed just eight points off 18 Lady Vols turnovers.
Rutgers' leading scorer and rebounder, Monique Oliver, injured her left ankle midway through the first half and didn't return. She played just nine minutes and had no points or rebounds.
Erica Wheeler, with 11 points, was the only Scarlet Knights player besides Copper in double figures.
The victory was the 1,200th in Tennessee's program history, an NCAA best. It was also the ninth consecutive win over Rutgers for the Lady Volunteers (9-3).
Tennessee led by as many as 28 points in the second half after leading 33-13 at halftime.
The Scarlet Knights (8-4) shot 34.6 percent (18 of 52) from the field and just 22.2 percent (6 of 27) in the first half.
Rutgers' 13 first-half points were the fewest Tennessee has allowed in a first half this season. Rutgers missed its first seven shots as the Lady Vols jumped out to an early 8-0 lead.
Tennessee's Isabelle Harrison recorded a double-double with a game-high 18 points and 11 rebounds.
Kahleah Copper led the Scarlet Knights with 13 points.
Rutgers cut Tennessee's lead to 33-16 to start the second half but never got any closer after the Lady Vols went on a 7-0 run to take a 40-16 lead.
A jumper by Meighan Simmons with 13:06 left gave Tennessee a 48-20 lead, its largest of the day.
Simmons scored 11 of her 15 points in the first half. Tennessee's Bashaara Graves had a double-double with 11 points and 14 rebounds.
The Lady Vols shot 44.1 percent (26 of 59) from the field, and outscored the Scarlet Knights 30-22 in the paint and 19-12 in fast-break points.
Tennessee scored 24 points off 24 Rutgers turnovers, while the Scarlet Knights managed just eight points off 18 Lady Vols turnovers.
Rutgers' leading scorer and rebounder, Monique Oliver, injured her left ankle midway through the first half and didn't return. She played just nine minutes and had no points or rebounds.
Erica Wheeler, with 11 points, was the only Scarlet Knights player besides Copper in double figures.
Friday, December 28, 2012
Tennessee 75, Davidson 40
Bashaara Graves and Cierra Burdick recorded double-doubles Friday as No. 13 Tennessee trounced Davidson 75-40 to avoid its first three-game losing streak since 1986.
Graves scored 16 points and pulled down 10 rebounds for the fifth double-double of her freshman season despite resting for the game's final 10 minutes, 47 seconds. Burdick added 10 points and 10 rebounds. Isabelle Harrison played only 19 minutes, but she nearly gave the Lady Vols a third double-double before finishing with 13 points and nine rebounds.
Tennessee (8-3) had fallen 76-53 at No. 3 Baylor and 73-60 to No. 1 Stanford in its last two games. The Lady Vols haven't dropped three straight games since losing 68-54 to No. 8 Mississippi, 66-60 to No. 11 Auburn and 59-56 to No. 3 Louisiana Tech on Feb. 5-10, 1986.
Sophia Aleksandravicius had 12 points and seven rebounds to lead Davidson (4-7) in both categories. Laura Murray added 11 points, but she shot just 4 of 15.
Graves and Harrison helped the Lady Vols dominate under the basket all night. Tennessee outrebounded Davidson 48-26 and outscored the Wildcats 22-0 in second-chance points. The Lady Vols also had a 26-5 edge in points off turnovers.
The victory over Davidson also allowed the Lady Vols to gain some revenge against the Southern Conference. Tennessee had opened the season with a stunning 80-71 road loss to Southern Conference member Chattanooga.
Tennessee coach Holly Warlick had criticized her team's effort after the Stanford game and responded Friday by overhauling her starting lineup. Graves and junior guard Meighan Simmons were the only starters from the Stanford game who remained in the starting lineup Friday.
Tennessee's new-look lineup featured three freshmen: Graves and forwards Jasmine Jones and Nia Moore. Jones and Moore were making their first career starts. The lineup also included senior guard/forward Taber Spani, making her third start of the season.
That combination wouldn't stay on the floor very long. Warlick returned to her usual starting five of Graves, Simmons, Burdick, Harrison and Ariel Massengale less than three minutes into the game with Davidson leading 7-5.
Tennessee took control of the game by going on a 12-0 run while holding Davidson scoreless for a stretch of nearly six minutes midway through the first half. That spurt turned an 11-11 tie into a 23-11 Tennessee lead, and the Lady Vols maintained a double-digit advantage the rest of the night.
After leading 41-21 at the intermission, Tennessee opened the second half on a 9-0 run and remained in front by at least 25 points the remainder of the game.
Davidson has never beaten a Southeastern Conference team in 11 attempts.
Graves scored 16 points and pulled down 10 rebounds for the fifth double-double of her freshman season despite resting for the game's final 10 minutes, 47 seconds. Burdick added 10 points and 10 rebounds. Isabelle Harrison played only 19 minutes, but she nearly gave the Lady Vols a third double-double before finishing with 13 points and nine rebounds.
Tennessee (8-3) had fallen 76-53 at No. 3 Baylor and 73-60 to No. 1 Stanford in its last two games. The Lady Vols haven't dropped three straight games since losing 68-54 to No. 8 Mississippi, 66-60 to No. 11 Auburn and 59-56 to No. 3 Louisiana Tech on Feb. 5-10, 1986.
Sophia Aleksandravicius had 12 points and seven rebounds to lead Davidson (4-7) in both categories. Laura Murray added 11 points, but she shot just 4 of 15.
Graves and Harrison helped the Lady Vols dominate under the basket all night. Tennessee outrebounded Davidson 48-26 and outscored the Wildcats 22-0 in second-chance points. The Lady Vols also had a 26-5 edge in points off turnovers.
The victory over Davidson also allowed the Lady Vols to gain some revenge against the Southern Conference. Tennessee had opened the season with a stunning 80-71 road loss to Southern Conference member Chattanooga.
Tennessee coach Holly Warlick had criticized her team's effort after the Stanford game and responded Friday by overhauling her starting lineup. Graves and junior guard Meighan Simmons were the only starters from the Stanford game who remained in the starting lineup Friday.
Tennessee's new-look lineup featured three freshmen: Graves and forwards Jasmine Jones and Nia Moore. Jones and Moore were making their first career starts. The lineup also included senior guard/forward Taber Spani, making her third start of the season.
That combination wouldn't stay on the floor very long. Warlick returned to her usual starting five of Graves, Simmons, Burdick, Harrison and Ariel Massengale less than three minutes into the game with Davidson leading 7-5.
Tennessee took control of the game by going on a 12-0 run while holding Davidson scoreless for a stretch of nearly six minutes midway through the first half. That spurt turned an 11-11 tie into a 23-11 Tennessee lead, and the Lady Vols maintained a double-digit advantage the rest of the night.
After leading 41-21 at the intermission, Tennessee opened the second half on a 9-0 run and remained in front by at least 25 points the remainder of the game.
Davidson has never beaten a Southeastern Conference team in 11 attempts.
Saturday, December 22, 2012
Stanford 73, Tennessee 60
Stanford forward Chiney Ogwumike has at least one career achievement that eluded her older sister.
Ogwumike had 21 points and a career-high 19 rebounds Saturday and Stanford remained undefeated with a 73-60 victory at No. 10 Tennessee, giving the top-ranked Cardinal only their second win at Knoxville in 13 attempts.
Stanford won at Tennessee for the first time since an 82-65 victory on Dec. 15, 1996.
Ogwumike's older sister, Nneka Ogwumike of the WNBA's Los Angeles Sparks, scored 42 points in Stanford's 97-80 win over Tennessee last year.
But the No. 1 pick in the most recent WNBA draft never won at Tennessee during her college career.
''One thing Nneka didn't do was get a win here at Tennessee, so I wanted to one-up her,'' Ogwumike said. ''It was a great game.''
Tennessee coach Holly Warlick questioned her team's effort after the game and was more disappointed in this performance than she was after a 76-53 loss at No. 3 Baylor on Tuesday.
''This will change,'' Warlick said. ''As coaches, we'll make some changes too. It's time to grow up.''
Bashaara Graves had 15 points and 12 rebounds for Tennessee (7-3). Meighan Simmons added 12 points, while Ariel Massengale and Cierra Burdick had 11 points each.
Stanford's Amber Orrange scored 14 points. Toni Kokenis and Bonnie Samuelson each added 11 points and Joslyn Tinkle had 10 points for the Cardinal, who host No. 2 Connecticut in their next game Dec. 29.
''The most important thing now is that we keep improving and stay healthy,'' Stanford coach Tara VanDerveer said. ''We've got great leadership and great chemistry. I'm hoping that we'll be playing better in March and April.''
Tennessee was seeking its first home win over a top-ranked opponent since a 77-72 victory over Louisiana Tech on Jan. 22, 1996. The Lady Vols are 14-32 against top-ranked opponents, and they're 2-11 when facing No. 1 teams at home.
Stanford (11-0) was coming off a 53-49 squeaker at No. 21 South Carolina on Wednesday, but the Cardinal never trailed Tennessee and owned a double-digit lead most of the way.
Facing a national title contender for the second straight game, the Lady Vols again struggled to make shots.
Tennessee missed its first 11 shots against Baylor to fall behind 17-0 and went on to trail 41-16 at the intermission, its largest halftime deficit in school history.
The Lady Vols shot 31.9 percent against Stanford and missed their first 12 attempts from 3-point range.
Stanford grabbed a 33-21 halftime lead by relying on Ogwumike and capitalizing on Tennessee's cold shooting.
Ogwumike, who entered the game averaging 21.9 points and 12.2 rebounds, had 13 points and 12 rebounds by halftime.
The 6-foot-4 junior finished the game with a career-high five assists to go along with her eighth consecutive double-double.
''The most important thing was that she didn't get in foul trouble,'' VanDerveer said. ''It was disciplined basketball. She does everything for us. She's a leader. She puts the team on her back. She made her big sister Nneka proud today.''
After a Burdick jumper tied the score 8-8 with 14:44 left in the first half, Stanford went on a 13-2 run. Tennessee missed 12 consecutive shots at one point during that Stanford run.
''We let our offense dictate our defense,'' Burdick said. ''I feel like I'm a broken record because I said the same exact thing against Baylor. You would think we would have gone back to the drawing board and fixed that, but apparently we haven't. That's what hurts so bad. We had a great opportunity in front of us to beat the No. 1 team in our house and we just couldn't get the job done.''
Tennessee cut the lead to 10 early in the second half, but Stanford answered with an 11-2 run.
The Lady Vols chipped away at the 19-point deficit and got the lead down to nine when Burdick made one of two free throws with 8:43 left. Ogwumike answered with a putback on Stanford's next possession, and the margin didn't drop below 10 points again.
Even though Tennessee's offense improved in the second half, the Lady Vols couldn't make enough stops to have a realistic shot at pulling the upset.
''We would make a stop, then give up an offensive rebound,'' Warlick said. ''If you can't do those things, then you had better hope you're going to shoot in the 50s or 60s (or) you're not going to win the basketball game. This program was built on defense and rebounding, and that is not a typical Tennessee team right there. That's not going to get it done. That's not acceptable, and I'll take responsibility for that. They will be ready.''
While Tennessee searches for answers, Stanford continues playing with the sense of purpose that accompanies a No. 1 ranking. Stanford's 71-69 victory over defending national champion Baylor on Nov. 16 has helped the Cardinal believe they're capable of anything.
''It gave us a lot of confidence,'' Ogwumike said. ''This year, we lost my sister Nneka. The people outside and inside the team doubted how well we'd do this year.''
Ogwumike had 21 points and a career-high 19 rebounds Saturday and Stanford remained undefeated with a 73-60 victory at No. 10 Tennessee, giving the top-ranked Cardinal only their second win at Knoxville in 13 attempts.
Stanford won at Tennessee for the first time since an 82-65 victory on Dec. 15, 1996.
Ogwumike's older sister, Nneka Ogwumike of the WNBA's Los Angeles Sparks, scored 42 points in Stanford's 97-80 win over Tennessee last year.
But the No. 1 pick in the most recent WNBA draft never won at Tennessee during her college career.
''One thing Nneka didn't do was get a win here at Tennessee, so I wanted to one-up her,'' Ogwumike said. ''It was a great game.''
Tennessee coach Holly Warlick questioned her team's effort after the game and was more disappointed in this performance than she was after a 76-53 loss at No. 3 Baylor on Tuesday.
''This will change,'' Warlick said. ''As coaches, we'll make some changes too. It's time to grow up.''
Bashaara Graves had 15 points and 12 rebounds for Tennessee (7-3). Meighan Simmons added 12 points, while Ariel Massengale and Cierra Burdick had 11 points each.
Stanford's Amber Orrange scored 14 points. Toni Kokenis and Bonnie Samuelson each added 11 points and Joslyn Tinkle had 10 points for the Cardinal, who host No. 2 Connecticut in their next game Dec. 29.
''The most important thing now is that we keep improving and stay healthy,'' Stanford coach Tara VanDerveer said. ''We've got great leadership and great chemistry. I'm hoping that we'll be playing better in March and April.''
Tennessee was seeking its first home win over a top-ranked opponent since a 77-72 victory over Louisiana Tech on Jan. 22, 1996. The Lady Vols are 14-32 against top-ranked opponents, and they're 2-11 when facing No. 1 teams at home.
Stanford (11-0) was coming off a 53-49 squeaker at No. 21 South Carolina on Wednesday, but the Cardinal never trailed Tennessee and owned a double-digit lead most of the way.
Facing a national title contender for the second straight game, the Lady Vols again struggled to make shots.
Tennessee missed its first 11 shots against Baylor to fall behind 17-0 and went on to trail 41-16 at the intermission, its largest halftime deficit in school history.
The Lady Vols shot 31.9 percent against Stanford and missed their first 12 attempts from 3-point range.
Stanford grabbed a 33-21 halftime lead by relying on Ogwumike and capitalizing on Tennessee's cold shooting.
Ogwumike, who entered the game averaging 21.9 points and 12.2 rebounds, had 13 points and 12 rebounds by halftime.
The 6-foot-4 junior finished the game with a career-high five assists to go along with her eighth consecutive double-double.
''The most important thing was that she didn't get in foul trouble,'' VanDerveer said. ''It was disciplined basketball. She does everything for us. She's a leader. She puts the team on her back. She made her big sister Nneka proud today.''
After a Burdick jumper tied the score 8-8 with 14:44 left in the first half, Stanford went on a 13-2 run. Tennessee missed 12 consecutive shots at one point during that Stanford run.
''We let our offense dictate our defense,'' Burdick said. ''I feel like I'm a broken record because I said the same exact thing against Baylor. You would think we would have gone back to the drawing board and fixed that, but apparently we haven't. That's what hurts so bad. We had a great opportunity in front of us to beat the No. 1 team in our house and we just couldn't get the job done.''
Tennessee cut the lead to 10 early in the second half, but Stanford answered with an 11-2 run.
The Lady Vols chipped away at the 19-point deficit and got the lead down to nine when Burdick made one of two free throws with 8:43 left. Ogwumike answered with a putback on Stanford's next possession, and the margin didn't drop below 10 points again.
Even though Tennessee's offense improved in the second half, the Lady Vols couldn't make enough stops to have a realistic shot at pulling the upset.
''We would make a stop, then give up an offensive rebound,'' Warlick said. ''If you can't do those things, then you had better hope you're going to shoot in the 50s or 60s (or) you're not going to win the basketball game. This program was built on defense and rebounding, and that is not a typical Tennessee team right there. That's not going to get it done. That's not acceptable, and I'll take responsibility for that. They will be ready.''
While Tennessee searches for answers, Stanford continues playing with the sense of purpose that accompanies a No. 1 ranking. Stanford's 71-69 victory over defending national champion Baylor on Nov. 16 has helped the Cardinal believe they're capable of anything.
''It gave us a lot of confidence,'' Ogwumike said. ''This year, we lost my sister Nneka. The people outside and inside the team doubted how well we'd do this year.''
Tuesday, December 18, 2012
Baylor 76, Lady Vols 53
Third-ranked Baylor raced out to a 17-0 lead as the Bears ended Tennessee’s seven-game win streak, handing the No. 10 Lady Vols a 76-53 defeat on Tuesday night.
Baylor moved to 9-1 overall as Brittney Griner tallied 17 points and grabbed 12 rebounds. Kimetria Hayden netted 16 points. Brooklyn Pope corralled a game-best 16 rebounds to go along with 11 points.
Tennessee (7-2) was led by Meighan Simmons, who scored 16 points. Kamiko Williams had a season-high 15 points, two off her career-high of 17. Williams posted her first-career double-double with a career-high 10 rebounds.
Tennessee played without 6-3 center Isabelle Harrison, who was sidelined with a sprained ankle.
The loss of 23 points equalled the eight-largest in school history.
Baylor outrebounded the Lady Vols, 54-47.
The Lady Vols missed their first 11 shots of the game before scoring for the first time, with 13:05 left in the first half, on a Cierra Burdick jumper to make it 17-2.
Tennessee tried to climb out of the early hole, but it proved to be too tall of a mountain.
UT cut the deficit to 12 at 21-9 and 23-11, but Baylor continued its sharp shooting in the first half and regained a 20-plus point lead at 32-11 on a 3-pointer by Hayden with 6:49 left in the first half. The run expanded to 13-0 to gave Baylor a 36-11 lead with five minutes left in the half. Taber Spani ended the drought with a 3-pointer at the four-minute mark.
Tennessee trailed 41-16 at halftime. The 25-point deficit was the largest at halftime in school history. The previous largest margin was 20 against Rutgers in 2009 as the Lady Vols rallied from down 33-13 to win 55-51 on the road.
Both Griner and Hayden had 11 points at halftime.
The Lady Vols began the second half scoring eight of the first 12 points as Simmons canned a 3-pointer to cut the deficit to 45-24.
Tennessee continued to battle and chip away, but the margin never got below 19 points in the second half. A Williams’ jumper made the score 70-50 with three minutes left. Nia Moore’s layup with 93 seconds left, cut the score to 72-53.
The Lady Vols return home to host No. 1 Stanford on Saturday at 4:00 PM.
Baylor moved to 9-1 overall as Brittney Griner tallied 17 points and grabbed 12 rebounds. Kimetria Hayden netted 16 points. Brooklyn Pope corralled a game-best 16 rebounds to go along with 11 points.
Tennessee (7-2) was led by Meighan Simmons, who scored 16 points. Kamiko Williams had a season-high 15 points, two off her career-high of 17. Williams posted her first-career double-double with a career-high 10 rebounds.
Tennessee played without 6-3 center Isabelle Harrison, who was sidelined with a sprained ankle.
The loss of 23 points equalled the eight-largest in school history.
Baylor outrebounded the Lady Vols, 54-47.
The Lady Vols missed their first 11 shots of the game before scoring for the first time, with 13:05 left in the first half, on a Cierra Burdick jumper to make it 17-2.
Tennessee tried to climb out of the early hole, but it proved to be too tall of a mountain.
UT cut the deficit to 12 at 21-9 and 23-11, but Baylor continued its sharp shooting in the first half and regained a 20-plus point lead at 32-11 on a 3-pointer by Hayden with 6:49 left in the first half. The run expanded to 13-0 to gave Baylor a 36-11 lead with five minutes left in the half. Taber Spani ended the drought with a 3-pointer at the four-minute mark.
Tennessee trailed 41-16 at halftime. The 25-point deficit was the largest at halftime in school history. The previous largest margin was 20 against Rutgers in 2009 as the Lady Vols rallied from down 33-13 to win 55-51 on the road.
Both Griner and Hayden had 11 points at halftime.
The Lady Vols began the second half scoring eight of the first 12 points as Simmons canned a 3-pointer to cut the deficit to 45-24.
Tennessee continued to battle and chip away, but the margin never got below 19 points in the second half. A Williams’ jumper made the score 70-50 with three minutes left. Nia Moore’s layup with 93 seconds left, cut the score to 72-53.
The Lady Vols return home to host No. 1 Stanford on Saturday at 4:00 PM.
Sunday, December 16, 2012
No. 13 Tennessee women defeat No. 18 Texas 94-75
Meighan Simmons poured in 18 points to lead six Tennessee players in double figures as the 13th-ranked Lady Vols roared past No. 18 Texas 94-75 on Sunday in Austin.
Tennessee (7-1) shot 46.8 percent from the floor and held the Longhorns to 34.3 shooting in winning for the fourth straight year against Texas.
Ariel Massengale and Taber Spani had 15 points apiece for Tennessee and Cierra Burdick and Bashaara Graves scored 14 each. Graves also had 10 rebounds. Jasmine Jones added 10 points and nine rebounds for the Lady Vols.
Chassidy Fussell led the Longhorns (6-2) with 31 points.
Texas shot 25 percent and trailed 45-27 at halftime. The Longhorns cut the Tennessee lead to 78-68 on Fussell's 3-pointer with 6:57 to play before the Lady Vols finished the game with a 16-7 run.
Tennessee (7-1) shot 46.8 percent from the floor and held the Longhorns to 34.3 shooting in winning for the fourth straight year against Texas.
Ariel Massengale and Taber Spani had 15 points apiece for Tennessee and Cierra Burdick and Bashaara Graves scored 14 each. Graves also had 10 rebounds. Jasmine Jones added 10 points and nine rebounds for the Lady Vols.
Chassidy Fussell led the Longhorns (6-2) with 31 points.
Texas shot 25 percent and trailed 45-27 at halftime. The Longhorns cut the Tennessee lead to 78-68 on Fussell's 3-pointer with 6:57 to play before the Lady Vols finished the game with a 16-7 run.
Lady Vols ready for tough stretch
Now that Tennessee has made a case that it won’t go backward in the post-Pat Summitt era, the 13th-ranked Lady Vols have a chance to deliver an even bigger statement.
Tennessee (6-1) carries a six-game winning streak into the toughest portion of its schedule. The Lady Vols play at No. 18 Texas on Sunday, visit No. 3 Baylor on Tuesday and return home to face top-ranked Stanford on Dec. 22.
“We’ve been saying how it can get us back in the national championship talk again, which we haven’t been in for a while,” sophomore guard Ariel Massengale said. “It’s good for the program.”
Tennessee hasn’t reached the Final Four since its 2008 national championship season, which represents this storied program’s longest drought since the NCAA began running the tournament in 1982.
Skepticism surrounded this team before the season as Tennessee replaced Summitt, who led the Lady Vols to eight national titles before stepping down in April with early-onset dementia. Tennessee was 20th in the preseason Top 25 — its lowest ranking since 1985 — and raised more doubts with a season-opening 80-71 loss at Chattanooga in Holly Warlick’s head coaching debut.
The Lady Vols haven’t lost since. Their winning streak includes double-digit victories over Georgia Tech, Miami and North Carolina, who all were ranked at the time.
They’re ready to test themselves against the nation’s best.
“I think beating three Top 25 teams has somewhat given us a head start at proving our point, but at Tennessee, we always have a point to prove because we’re Tennessee and there are a lot of expectations for us,” junior guard Meighan Simmons said.
Tennessee also must worry about showing signs of rust. The Lady Vols haven’t played since a 102-57 blowout of North Carolina on Dec. 2. That 13-day layoff represents the Lady Vols’ longest break during a season since 2008-09, when they had 14 days off between the Southeastern Conference tournament and the NCAA tournament.
“The way we played against Carolina, I would have wanted to start (playing again) a couple of days afterward, but we don’t have that benefit,” Warlick said. “We’ve tried to shorten practice and focus on certain things each day.”
Tennessee’s players say the practices have remained grueling enough to prepare them for what they’ll face over the next week.
“That’s what our coaches try to do, they try to prepare us and make us so physically exhausted and mentally fatigued in practice that the games seem a little bit easier,” senior guard/forward Taber Spani said.
Tennessee has focused primarily on improving its rebounding and transition defense. The Lady Vols have been at their best this season when they’ve forced a flurry of turnovers that lead to easy baskets.
The Lady Vols are entering this difficult stretch shorthanded. Freshman guard Andraya Carter underwent season-ending surgery to repair a torn labrum in her right shoulder Thursday after averaging 5.3 points and 20.6 minutes in the Lady Vols’ first seven games.
“It’s going to hurt us as far as our depth,” Warlick said.
Carter’s injury presents one more obstacle to a team beginning the biggest test of its season thus far.
The Lady Vols look forward to the challenge.
“We all come to Tennessee to play against the best,” Massengale said. “This is a great opportunity for us.
Tennessee (6-1) carries a six-game winning streak into the toughest portion of its schedule. The Lady Vols play at No. 18 Texas on Sunday, visit No. 3 Baylor on Tuesday and return home to face top-ranked Stanford on Dec. 22.
“We’ve been saying how it can get us back in the national championship talk again, which we haven’t been in for a while,” sophomore guard Ariel Massengale said. “It’s good for the program.”
Tennessee hasn’t reached the Final Four since its 2008 national championship season, which represents this storied program’s longest drought since the NCAA began running the tournament in 1982.
Skepticism surrounded this team before the season as Tennessee replaced Summitt, who led the Lady Vols to eight national titles before stepping down in April with early-onset dementia. Tennessee was 20th in the preseason Top 25 — its lowest ranking since 1985 — and raised more doubts with a season-opening 80-71 loss at Chattanooga in Holly Warlick’s head coaching debut.
The Lady Vols haven’t lost since. Their winning streak includes double-digit victories over Georgia Tech, Miami and North Carolina, who all were ranked at the time.
They’re ready to test themselves against the nation’s best.
“I think beating three Top 25 teams has somewhat given us a head start at proving our point, but at Tennessee, we always have a point to prove because we’re Tennessee and there are a lot of expectations for us,” junior guard Meighan Simmons said.
Tennessee also must worry about showing signs of rust. The Lady Vols haven’t played since a 102-57 blowout of North Carolina on Dec. 2. That 13-day layoff represents the Lady Vols’ longest break during a season since 2008-09, when they had 14 days off between the Southeastern Conference tournament and the NCAA tournament.
“The way we played against Carolina, I would have wanted to start (playing again) a couple of days afterward, but we don’t have that benefit,” Warlick said. “We’ve tried to shorten practice and focus on certain things each day.”
Tennessee’s players say the practices have remained grueling enough to prepare them for what they’ll face over the next week.
“That’s what our coaches try to do, they try to prepare us and make us so physically exhausted and mentally fatigued in practice that the games seem a little bit easier,” senior guard/forward Taber Spani said.
Tennessee has focused primarily on improving its rebounding and transition defense. The Lady Vols have been at their best this season when they’ve forced a flurry of turnovers that lead to easy baskets.
The Lady Vols are entering this difficult stretch shorthanded. Freshman guard Andraya Carter underwent season-ending surgery to repair a torn labrum in her right shoulder Thursday after averaging 5.3 points and 20.6 minutes in the Lady Vols’ first seven games.
“It’s going to hurt us as far as our depth,” Warlick said.
Carter’s injury presents one more obstacle to a team beginning the biggest test of its season thus far.
The Lady Vols look forward to the challenge.
“We all come to Tennessee to play against the best,” Massengale said. “This is a great opportunity for us.
Saturday, December 15, 2012
Pat Summitt honored at Toledo-Marquette game
Pat Summitt was honored on Saturday night during a "We Back Pat'' ceremony at halftime of the Toledo-Marquette women's basketball game.
The ex-Tennessee coach and her son, Tyler, a Marquette assistant coach, spoke briefly at the Al McGuire Center.
"It's a special night to have my son here and to have everybody backin' Pat,'' Summitt said before receiving a standing ovation.
Many of the fans were wearing "We Back Pat'' T-shirts bought to honor Summitt, who had 1,098 victories - more than any college coach, male or female - and won eight national championships.
Proceeds from sale of the shirts go to the Pat Summitt Foundation to fight Alzheimer's disease, which forced Summitt to end her 38-year career after last season.
The ex-Tennessee coach and her son, Tyler, a Marquette assistant coach, spoke briefly at the Al McGuire Center.
"It's a special night to have my son here and to have everybody backin' Pat,'' Summitt said before receiving a standing ovation.
Many of the fans were wearing "We Back Pat'' T-shirts bought to honor Summitt, who had 1,098 victories - more than any college coach, male or female - and won eight national championships.
Proceeds from sale of the shirts go to the Pat Summitt Foundation to fight Alzheimer's disease, which forced Summitt to end her 38-year career after last season.
Thursday, December 13, 2012
Lady Vols lose Carter for rest of season
Tennessee freshman guard Andraya Carter will undergo season-ending surgery on her right shoulder Thursday, limiting the 13th-ranked Lady Vols’ backcourt depth as they enter the toughest portion of their schedule.
Carter hurt her shoulder initially Nov. 18 in a 79-67 victory at Miami. She hurt her shoulder again and was helped off the court Nov 28 in an 88-81 overtime victory over Middle Tennessee. When she returned to action Dec. 2 in a 102-57 triumph over North Carolina, Carter aggravated the injury.
The 5-foot-9 guard had injured the same shoulder late in her senior season at Buford (Ga.) High School.
“She hurt it in high school, and it just kept popping out,” Tennessee coach Holly Warlick said.
Warlick said Carter was given the option of continuing to play and hoping the injury didn’t get worse. Carter and her family chose to have surgery.
“I think it’s the best decision,” Warlick said. “I didn’t tell her one way or another. I wanted them to make the best decision, but I totally understand it.”
Carter had been averaging 5.3 points and 20.6 minutes per game. She started each of Tennessee’s first five games before coming off the bench in the last two contests.
Warlick said the Lady Vols plan to seek a medical redshirt for Carter.
Her injury comes as Tennessee (6-1) begins a demanding stretch of games against No. 18 Texas, No. 3 Baylor and No. 1 Stanford. The stretch starts Sunday at Texas.
“She’s a great leader,” Warlick said. “It’s going to hurt us as far as our depth. We may not be able to run as much as we have been because we could sub people in and out.”
Carter’s injury creates some uncertainty behind starting point guard Ariel Massengale.
This could create an expanded role for senior Kamiko Williams, who has averaged 5.1 points and 15 minutes per game this season. Junior Meighan Simmons, the Vols’ leading scorer and first-team shooting guard, also can help out at point guard.
“We’re going to have to do it by committee,” Warlick said. “I hate it for Ariel. I think Andraya helped Ariel kind of relax and think, ‘You know, I don’t have to do this by myself.’ It’s going to be great for Andraya to stick around and be around Ariel and make sure she gives support watching the games and when (Massengale) comes off the court. Guards are going to have to step up.”
Carter hurt her shoulder initially Nov. 18 in a 79-67 victory at Miami. She hurt her shoulder again and was helped off the court Nov 28 in an 88-81 overtime victory over Middle Tennessee. When she returned to action Dec. 2 in a 102-57 triumph over North Carolina, Carter aggravated the injury.
The 5-foot-9 guard had injured the same shoulder late in her senior season at Buford (Ga.) High School.
“She hurt it in high school, and it just kept popping out,” Tennessee coach Holly Warlick said.
Warlick said Carter was given the option of continuing to play and hoping the injury didn’t get worse. Carter and her family chose to have surgery.
“I think it’s the best decision,” Warlick said. “I didn’t tell her one way or another. I wanted them to make the best decision, but I totally understand it.”
Carter had been averaging 5.3 points and 20.6 minutes per game. She started each of Tennessee’s first five games before coming off the bench in the last two contests.
Warlick said the Lady Vols plan to seek a medical redshirt for Carter.
Her injury comes as Tennessee (6-1) begins a demanding stretch of games against No. 18 Texas, No. 3 Baylor and No. 1 Stanford. The stretch starts Sunday at Texas.
“She’s a great leader,” Warlick said. “It’s going to hurt us as far as our depth. We may not be able to run as much as we have been because we could sub people in and out.”
Carter’s injury creates some uncertainty behind starting point guard Ariel Massengale.
This could create an expanded role for senior Kamiko Williams, who has averaged 5.1 points and 15 minutes per game this season. Junior Meighan Simmons, the Vols’ leading scorer and first-team shooting guard, also can help out at point guard.
“We’re going to have to do it by committee,” Warlick said. “I hate it for Ariel. I think Andraya helped Ariel kind of relax and think, ‘You know, I don’t have to do this by myself.’ It’s going to be great for Andraya to stick around and be around Ariel and make sure she gives support watching the games and when (Massengale) comes off the court. Guards are going to have to step up.”
Pat Summitt receives Naismith contributor award
Pat Summitt is the recipient of the 2013 Naismith Outstanding Contributor to Women's College Basketball Award, an honor given annually by the Atlanta Tipoff Club.
The award goes each year to an individual who made contributions of outstanding significance and created a long-lasting positive impact on women's college basketball. Anyone eligible for consideration must have been involved with the sport in a capacity related to coaching, broadcasting, college administration or the media.
Summitt stepped down as Tennessee's coach in April after announcing last year that she had early onset dementia, though she remains on staff as head coach emeritus.
Summitt led Tennessee to eight national titles in her 38-year tenure. Her 1,098-208 career record makes her the winningest Division I men's or women's college basketball coach in history.
The award goes each year to an individual who made contributions of outstanding significance and created a long-lasting positive impact on women's college basketball. Anyone eligible for consideration must have been involved with the sport in a capacity related to coaching, broadcasting, college administration or the media.
Summitt stepped down as Tennessee's coach in April after announcing last year that she had early onset dementia, though she remains on staff as head coach emeritus.
Summitt led Tennessee to eight national titles in her 38-year tenure. Her 1,098-208 career record makes her the winningest Division I men's or women's college basketball coach in history.
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