After four decades and a lot of history, the Tennessee-Louisiana Tech women's basketball series is about to become history.
Indications are that the storied rivalry will end after next season, after Tech returns to Knoxville to complete a three-game contract between the schools.
The teams played Monday night at Thompson-Boling Arena with the Lady Vols winning, 81-60.
UT coach Pat Summitt said Tuesday that she didn't think Tech wanted to repeat the standing deal and continue playing two games in Knoxville for every UT visit to Ruston, La.
Furthermore, Tennessee has to pare its non-conference schedule in advance of the SEC schedule growing by two games when the league goes to division play in 2009-10.
"We felt like that was one of the games we had to drop,'' Lady Vols associate head coach Holly Warlick said.
The series, which began Dec. 16, 1978, has spanned AIAW and NCAA jurisdiction of the sport. The two teams have met everywhere from the regular season to national championship games.
At the outset, Tech had the upper hand, winning 11 of the first 12 games in the series. In the end, Tennessee has dominated, winning 11 of 12, including the past eight meetings.
Overall, the teams have played 40 times with Tennessee leading the series after Monday's victory, 23-17.
Warlick has experienced the rivalry as a player and a coach. She remembers when Tech dominated.
"I think that was probably why it was so special when we won our first championship," said Warlick, referring to Tennessee's 67-44 victory over Tech in the 1987 national championship game in Austin, Texas, "because we had so much respect for them."
Pressing Matters: Tennessee began preparing for Sunday's visit from No. 4 North Carolina by convening a strong group of male practice players, who simulated the Tar Heels' press and athletic play during Tuesday's practice.
"They're a transition team, and they're an offensive-rebounding team,'' Warlick said of North Carolina. "They're going to run the ball every chance they get."
Despite losing two starters from last season, including star point guard Ivory Latta, Warlick said Carolina still is Carolina.
"They play the same style," Warlick said.
Off The Mark: Summitt thinks the Lady Vols should do better than their 50 percent free-throw shooting (7-for-14) against Tech. For a large portion of Monday's game, they were shooting better on 3-pointers than free throws.
"I think we have to shoot free throws at a whole different percentage level," Summitt said.
Monday's attempts were confined to three players - Candace Parker, Nicky Anosike and Alberta Auguste. Anosike and Auguste did most of the misfiring. Each shot 1-for-4 from the line.
Notebook: Tennessee's 11 blocks against Tech tied for the fourth-most in a game in school history. ... Senior guard Alexis Hornbuckle has moved past Chamique Holdsclaw into 10th place for career assists with 389. ... Senior center Anosike has topped 800 career points.
© 2007, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.
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Comments » 18
tnmantravel#531151 writes:
:( :(
so long la tech...so long UConn (lady vols will see later at the final four)
our football team needs to schedule UConn instead of la monroe or la lafayette or memphis....vol nation still needs something annually to beat on called a "UConn " football would do it....anyone...anyone??
ODA751 writes:
Mantravel, I agree. I'd love to see a UT vs Uconn football matchup. I wonder if Pat would give the locker room speech before the game.
TigerVol writes:
Who Cares....its women's basketball!
vol4jesus writes:
So TigerVol are you saying women's basketball is no big deal? Is they why we shouldn't care if La Tech drops off or cunnycut drops off Lady Vols Schedule? and the poster child right after you thinks the same? Just checking to see if you support Coach Summit and Lady Vols. Gettin ready for Lady Heels.....
jdcvols#230433 writes:
tngeoff, that comment ranks right up there with Hiresanders comment about Streater. True Fan huh??
ForVols90 writes:
Tigervol, tngeoff, if its just womens basketball, why are you even reading (or having it read to you) the story?
jdcvols#230433 writes:
Ok, if you read your post that we are referring too, it leaves the real impression that you do not care about UT Women's BB. Thanks for clearing it up. I will apologize for my comment.
pdhuff#552644 writes:
Go Pat, you are the bomb! We can only pray that other major sports coaches will aspire to rise to your level of competence! Its nice to have the hardware in the 21st century. Go Lady Vols.
Stumps writes:
tigervol....
go see a game. you'll change your tune quick enough. these ladies can play.
vol4jesus writes:
pdhuffnpuff get a grip please. Your veiled reference to other 'MAJOR' sport coaches is very obvious in light of your other negative post on the Coach of our pigskin team. Oh btw what is the football team doing this weekend? GO LADY VOLS get ready for a tough game with lady tar heels.
sgtvols writes:
we get enough testing in the sec. we go undfeated we will beat several ranked teams in the sec. the wonderful thing about basketball is the ncaa tournment. it ain't up to some biased sportswriter opinion.
sgtvols writes:
if tigervol is a memphis state fan, she/it is right in memphis it is "just women's baskeball" and not much of that.
sgtvols writes:
get to something serious, where is Cain? we need her and rat now!
tnmantravel#531151 writes:
can't wait to watch lady vols take on the 'heels on sunday...GO LADY VOLS
bmaples writes:
Last year's NC game in the F4 was one of the best basketball games I've ever watched. Too much to repeat here -- no field goals for the last 8 minutes of the game -- "We are not leaving here without a championship!!" -- I bet NC hasn't forgotten. This year's LVs had better be ready, ready, ready! Go Lady Vols!
bmaples writes:
And one more thing - how sweet a weekend would it be to win the SEC Championship AND beat UNC on the same weekend!?!
TurboFan writes:
Geoff, UConn football may turn out to be a flash in the pan as you predict but at least it would be a change from the myriad of minor league teams from Lose-iana we play already.
But it will never happen because of the lack of a recruiting base in Connecticut.
mad_poly_uct writes:
tngeoff....sorry, the Boston Celtics & UCLA are a few steps ahead of the Lady Vols as far as "most storied program of all time" goes.80'S and 90's maybe, but not all time....
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