WASHINGTON — Tennessee nearly lost its way on a road trip Tuesday night.
The Lady Vols traveled a long, hard route to a 71-59 victory over George Washington before a crowd of 3,459 at the Smith Center.
UT’s 13-point second-half lead melted to two with 6:03 left. The Colonials still were hanging at 59-56 when a pair of Alex Fuller free throws with 3:14 left ignited a decisive scoring run.
“I’m glad we found a way to win,’’ UT coach Pat Summitt said. “We have to have a lot more composure.
“Fortunately we can learn from this game without going home with a loss.”
Glory Johnson led No. 7 Tennessee (6-1) with 16 points. Senior forward Alex Fuller, who played the entire second half, scored a season-high 13. Shekinna Stricklen added 12.
Tara Booker led George Washington (4-3) with 14 points.
The Lady Vols parlayed a 51-35 rebounding advantage into a decisive 24-10 edge in second-chance points.
“I think a game like this shows us we need our defense and our rebounding,’’ Fuller said. “We relied on our defense. We relied on our boards. We relied on each other.”
The Lady Vols leaned pretty heavily on Fuller as well. Her 28 playing minutes matched her season high and her points surpassed the nine she scored against DePaul on Sunday. Fuller’s 4-for-6 field-goal shooting included her first two 3-pointers of the season. Both came during a rough-and-tumble second half.
“It’s about time,’’ she said. “I kind of relaxed and stopped thinking about it. Me and Coach met today and she told me to relax and take that responsibility off (myself).”
Fuller sensed that what she said on the court was as important as anything she did.
“I think they just needed to hear my voice,’’ she said, referring to her teammates. “They needed a leader on the floor. That’s my role.”
Tennessee’s youth showed against determined George Washington, which trailed by 13 points in both halves.
Summitt’s patience with UT’s freshmen wore thin. In the case of Amber Gray, who failed to close out on a Booker trey to end the first half, and Alyssia Brewer, who shot 0-for-4 from the floor and had three turnovers before the break, Summitt’s patience ran out. Those two Lady Vols didn’t play in the second half. Neither did Alicia Manning, who played just two minutes.
“I know it’s youth and I should have more patience,’’ Summitt said. “But tonight I didn’t have enough patience.”
Summitt tore into Stricklen after she committed a turnover and was largely responsible for another sloppy possession shortly before halftime. The freshman guard was benched to start the second half. She received a second chance, however, and delivered a clutch driving jumper for a 56-52 lead with 5:45 left. Stricklen banked in another jumper with 2:10 remaining, stretching Tennessee’s lead to 64-56.
“I just made a mistake and I apologized to my team,’’ said Stricklen, referring to the first-half miscues. “When she put me back in, I knew I had to step up.”
Tennessee was hurt by its inability to make shots. The Lady Vols’ field goal percentage dipped below 30 percent on several occasions and never rose above 40 percent, settling at 35.3 (24-for-68).
Yet the Lady Vols shot 72 percent from the free-throw line (18-for-25) and were hitting above 80 percent while the game was in doubt.
Johnson covered for her 3-for-15 field-goal shooting by making 10 of 12 free throws.
“It’s our fault if we’re not making free throws,’’ said Johnson, whose father, Bassey, was in attendance. “That’s not a contested shot.”
UT also had its most accurate game from behind the 3-point line, hitting 5 of 11 attempts. Angie Bjorklund’s trey with 1:12 left provided a 67-59 lead and finally pointed the way to a win.
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Comments » 34
xvolx writes:
this team is athletic, but cant shoot a lick. must be youth. they probably can win sec., but will be in trouble in the ncaa tourn. before the season I thought sweet 16 would be good. that still looks good.
bclay1012 writes:
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
CTOWNICON writes:
LOOKING AT THE TOP TEN TEAMS THERE ARE SOME GOOD ONES THERE. THIS TEAM IS CAPABLE OF BEATING EITHER ONE OF THOSE TEAMS IF THEY CAN JUST FIND A RYTHM AND QUIT SO MUCH JUMP SHOOTING. ONCE AGAIN THIS TEAM NEEDS MORE POST PLAY TO BE INCLUDED AN DRIVE MORE TO THE BASKET. I FEEL THAT AS THE SEASON GOES ON THEY WILL GET IT TOGETHER. VIKI I AM STILL WAITING ON POINT CONTRIBUTION BUT I DO APPRECIATE THE REBOUNDS. WHERE YOU AT KELLY CAINE.
pdhuff#552644 writes:
Good one , Pat.
"We can learn from this game without going home with a loss".
Amen, great coach.
ravensearay writes:
This is obviously going to be one of those kinds of seasons where your heart is going to be in your throat most of the time. When they're good....they're really good, but when they're off - they're really off...
Rythm and confidence are the keys............
suPEARLman writes:
Nice title.....
knoxtenor writes:
And don't forget consistency.
We finally have a big enough presence on the court to play an aggressive inside game and the girls are just throwing it up there, hoping it will go in. A little patience would be in order. You can be aggressive under the basket and still take time to take proper shots.
Five of eleven is okay from three-point land, but we can do better. Once Bjorkland gets back in the swing of things, that percentage should climb. When that happens, she will hopefully ignite the rest of the team, as she did in several games in the tournament last year.
adimatteo#261830 writes:
I think both coaches and fans need to remind themselves that they are young. They will lose gsome ames they would win if a year later, etc...
We keep hearing about the youth, etc, and then everyone goes ballistic when they make freshman mistakes, lose composure, etc.
Sorry folks , relax, enjoy what we have, we have some great talent and ladies, we will have a good season and the next few years we will be right in the thick of things.No, we wont win a NC this year, get over it
rockytopron writes:
Once again, Pat shines and knows what she is doing. She realized that this team would struggle early on and they have. She scheduled good teams, but not great teams early on. We still have a tough schedule ahead of us, but with each win, these ladies are learning and growing.
Here we go Lady Vols, here we go!
utbacker writes:
This song and dance gets old pretty quick. After each game she berates the same kids over and over, even when they don't reqally play big minutes. Gray and Manning only played 9 minutes combined out of 200 and then after the game the focus goes to how they don't bring it. She's a great coach and i respect her but once again, how are they having that much impact on the game? They didn't take a shot, had one rebound, one assist, and no turnovers in a game marred by tournovers and poor shooting and all you have to say after the game is these three freshmen didn't bring it? Gray didn't close out on a three pointer... okay, that's bad, but who's being "blamed" for the other 3. I am glad the young ladies won, but I think it's very dangerous to constantly be blasting these kids over and over again. If you don't want to play them, then don't but please don't try to find reasons to paint some picture that they all of a sudden can't play here. I, as a faithful ut fan just don't like that.
DroopyDrawers writes:
The critical remarks should remain in the locker room. Go Lady Vols. Manning, you still are my favorite player. You should be playing the point.
jeff1vol writes:
I was there last night and I can honestly tell all of you who had to listen to the radio...This team is going to struggle. Guard play is horrendous. Glory Johnson missed a break-away layup that would have taken the wind right out of GW. BTW...WAY too many missed baskets from point blank range. You can certainly tell that most of these Lady Vols were in HS last year. Seriously...If this team makes the Sweet 16, we should be satisfied. They've got a LONG way to go to compete with the big girls.
98reax writes:
Pat knows what she's doing. Remember (the players do) if Pat don't call you out, you ain't worth the calling. Come on, don't even begin to think you know how to coach these kids. Just let Pat do it and be grateful for the way she does it. Gray, Manning and Brewer will come back next game and show you they listened and got the message Pat sent them. They knew Pat's style when they chose Tennessee. They will grow from this game.
bobby.hampshire#507450 writes:
I understand there is a slim chance in winning another title this year but you have to understand we have PAT and there isn't anyone out there with her experience or hard work ethics. I remember a few years back where we had a TEN loss young team which went into the National Tourney and ended up surprising everyone with a National Title, so stating "NO, WE WONT WIN A NC THIS YEAR, GET OVER IT" is a little far fetch. Chances may be slim but stating they are not going to win it is a little too extreme at this moment. You can never take TN out of the National Picture as long as they make the tourney!
cb4vols#206343 writes:
I seem to recall a young team that lost 10 regular season games and ended up winning the national championship several years ago. I'd say that "school is still out" on them at this point.
cb4vols#206343 writes:
Oops Didn't see the prior post but I concur with it..
sgtvols writes:
these freshmen will win a national title before they depart. they will also get pat her # 1000. probably get pat # 9 & 10. they will be much imroved by ncaa time. #16 ain't bad for a bunch of freshmen.
volboy81 writes:
the Lady Vols will be like the men....a LOT better in March than in December....and neither look too bad right now! Look for a few more banners in TBA in the next few years...women AND men!
ncvol writes:
Pat, as we all know, has a coaching style that has taken the Lady Vols to 8 National Championships,many final fours, many sweet sixteens,and many SEC championships. She is stern, but aren't most of the successful coaches?
Goodness, she let Candice Parker sit the bench at the start of last year's game in her home town. Candice still loves her.She gave Bobbitt many looks last year and this year will not be any different.
I am sure all the former vols will tell you how she wants perfection but they all still continue to love her. So, let's don't get down on Pat. She will have this team heading in the right direction. Go Vols!
adimatteo#261830 writes:
I dont disagree with your comment. My point was more that too many people seem to think this is same team as last year, I realize some people get too spoiled, but they have to understand while this teamis very talented they are young...
I hope they do better than I think, but if not,I wont go crazy, scream, etc...for I know they will be back stronger and better the following season.
98reax writes:
All this predicting this or that is fun for some. Heck, I may even do it from time to time. One thing I won't do is question Pat's coaching philosophy. Would you really? Another thing I decided not to do is whine about losing some games. This undefeated stuff is way too stressful (for me). It's much easier to buy into the 'win some, lose some' probability, and let Pat and staff do the worrying AND the coaching.
BigOrangeVol writes:
Carolyn, as I said...2.5!
OSU & Jim Foster for Brewer
OU & Sherri Coale for Gray.
Major_Magilicutty writes:
I agree UTfan4life: what's with the sexual innuendo of the article's title?
Volunatic writes:
Reading the article's title made me miss Shanna Zolman for some reason.
utbacker writes:
Big orange, i don't think leaving is on their minds... I don't know. I'm talking as a fan that after every game we're hearing about them and they aren't having such a huge impact on the game as what's being put out there. Whether they earn it or not in practice is on the kids, but when you look at cost us and made it close, they weren't involved.
YankeeVol writes:
Wow, wouldn't have been great if Dan Fleser could have been creative enough to come up with a different title? You know, one that didn't use sexist, objectifying, and demeaning adjectives to describe women?
It seems ironic that a team that is perpetually admired for skill, talent, and character was headlined in a way that evokes images of the SI swimsuit edition. I think these women deserve more than that, regardless of how they played, who their coach is, or where they're from. Am I expecting too much?
xvolx writes:
stay tough on them pat. If they dont want to play your way, let them pull a wiley-gatewood.
BigOrangeVol writes:
Carlton, that was referencing an earlier post.
Since Pat became the Lady Vols head coach, 20.5% of her recruits have either quit or transferred. With a 12 person squad...20.5% is 2.46!
98reax writes:
Dan Fleser, may I just say, the headline for this article rots?
utbacker writes:
The reality of the situation is that this is pretty much an extremely young squad. Other than Uconn, I haven't seen anyone that appears invincible. Look at the other teams that have such a heavy influx of youth (Rutgers, LSU are the prime examples). I feel like this team is right where it should be considering the circumstances.
LadyVolFanForever writes:
Who are we to question Coach Summitt and her staff. Each player is responsible for their own actions, the Coach knows how to push each one of them and she knows which ones are worth really pushing.
I don't want to see any of our talent transfer. Look at Smallbone, she rode the bench 99% of the time last year. She stuck it out and used this past summer to get better and she has contributed this year. With injuries as frequent as they are these days, we need depth. These young ladies chose to come to Tennessee, the Tennessee coaching staff chose them. The ball is now in the players court and it is up to them to listen and learn from the best.
Our Lady Vol coaching staff isn't kicking anyone out the door so why are some of you fans (using that term loosely) ?
utbacker writes:
Good point. These kids haven't even been here 3 months yet and are already being shown the door by many. The example of Sydney is great. If no one has enough patience for a freshman to learn the ropes then they are just completely unrealistic. Every person playing a professional sport wasn't a starter or star as a freshman and there are many people that played and were stars as freshmen that weren't that their senior years. let the process play out.
98reax writes:
Good points, utbacker and LVFF. The main point here is to stay supportive of our athletes and staff. Please, let us not turn into the tyrannical football forum.
The nut cases that log in here claiming to be fans of our so-called rivals are not really worthy to share this forum with us if they cannot show respect. Some who claim to be Lady Vols fans but are skeptical should perhaps turn back the pages of history and review the statistics.
Winning percentage equals squat to Pat Summitt right now. When she feels she has gleaned the most an athlete has to give during the time she had them in her charge; when a student athlete has accomplished what was discussed at the time of recruitment, both in character, academics and athleticism, then is Pat Summitt pleased with her mentoring.
We have, unequivocally, the best women's basketball program in the nation. We should be so very thankful for what we have, have had and for what we have the potential to become. As fans we should not dare ask for more. But then we are greedy, aren't we?
ladivolfan writes:
Heck, I can't even comment on the article for trying to figure out what in the world "Dangerous Curves" means. Google it and you get "Welcome to Dangerous Curves Club. Where the drinks are cool and the girls are always hot. CAN YOU HANDLE IT?"
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