TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Tennessee coach Pat Summitt praised her starters and called out the reserves Sunday afternoon.

After all five UT starters scored in double figures in an 82-65 victory against Alabama, Summitt emphasized that won’t be enough in postseason play.

"Our biggest concern?" she said in response to a question. "It’s what our people coming off the bench will do. Of the four, we need at least two we feel we can count on.

"Sometimes I feel like I’m juggling four balls and have no idea which one is going to be the one (or the two) I really need to hold onto. To get two (dependable players off the bench) would be great. Alex (Fuller) was the most dependable today.

"As you go into an SEC tournament, and you’re trying to play back-to-back-to-back, our depth is a liability to our team."

Inconsistent play off the bench has been an issue all season. It was magnified last week when the Lady Vols lost starting point guard Alexis Hornbuckle to a season-ending wrist injury.

But after 27 games, it seems a bit late to be counting on a transformation.

"It really is late," Summitt said. "As a coach, you have to keep believing until you find out you can’t depend on them."

Fuller, a 6-foot-3 post player who has been forced to play on the wing because of attrition, had four assists and four rebounds in 21 minutes at Coleman Coliseum. The only points from UT’s four reserves came on a 3-pointer by freshman guard Lindsey Moss.

Summitt is becoming more frustrated by the play of backup Dominique Redding, a good shooter whose overall play has been inconsistent at best.

"Dominique is a junior," Summitt said. "If she is going to help this team, she has to step up and commit to this team right away.

"I’m hoping these players sitting up here will be able to connect and get the message out. Dom could help us more. Lindsey could help us more. Alex really responded in the second half (against Alabama)."

Starters Shanna Zolman, Nicky Anosike and Tye’sha Fluker were on the dais with Summitt when their coach asked for volunteers to spread the word. They didn’t have a problem with the assignment.

"That can be the difference between us winning and losing," said Anosike, who had 14 points and eight rebounds against the Tide. "If we see someone slacking up, it’s our job to get in their face and let them know. Or we would be failing that person and failing the team."

She said it’s too late in the season to be concerned about hurting someone’s feelings.

"At this point, I don’t care," Anosike said. "We’re all adults on the team. If you’re going to pout about it, then this is not where you belong. You have to be able to dish it and take it."

Anosike remembers taking it last year as a freshman from then-senior Shyra Ely.

"Shyra used to get in my face all the time," Anosike said. "If I wasn’t finishing or wasn’t on the boards, she wouldn’t hesitate to get in my face.

"And you know what? It motivated me to get in there and do what I needed to do.

"It helped me, actually. As opposed to getting defensive, I looked at it as she is trying to help me.

"That’s the attitude we need to get across the board: ‘We’re not yelling at you. We’re on the same team. We’re trying to help.’ "

In postseason play — with only nine healthy players on their roster — the Lady Vols will need everybody’s help.

Sports editor John Adams may be reached at 865-342-6284 or adamsj@knews.com