NORFOLK, Va. — NORFOLK, Va. — Tennessee’s Angie Bjorklund was the shooter who kept giving Thursday night.
Apparently the only person left wanting more was teammate Alyssia Brewer. Or so she said.
“I was hoping she’d get 40,’’ Brewer said.
Not that Brewer felt short-changed by Bjorklund’s 29 points, which matched the sophomore’s career high. If anything, Brewer ought to have felt relieved. She definitely was impressed.
“It’s amazing,’’ Brewer said, “straight forward.”
Consecutive jumpers by Bjorklund wiped out a one-point deficit and were the difference in Tennessee’s 81-76 victory over Old Dominion before a noisy crowd of 6,318 at the Constant Center.
With the victory, No. 11 Tennessee (8-2) ended Old Dominion’s 29-game home winning streak, which was tied with Hartford’s for the longest active streak in the nation. The last visiting team to win here was Tennessee on Dec. 22, 2006.
Two other Lady Vols scored in double figures. Brewer had 15 points and Glory Johnson scored 11. Johnson joined Chamique Holdsclaw as the only other UT freshman to open her career by scoring in double figures for her first 10 games.
Center Tiffany Green led Old Dominion (5-3) with 17 points. Jasmine Parker scored 14. Jessica Canady and Jen Nuzzo each had 11.
Bjorklund’s 3-pointer from the left wing provided the lead for good at 73-71 with one minute, 54 seconds left. Her follow-up was a jumper with 1:03 left, which pushed the lead to four.
Those baskets topped off a 10-for-19 shooting performance by the sophomore guard, which included 6-for-10 accuracy on 3-pointers. She capped Tennessee’s scoring with two free throws with five seconds left.
“As a shooter, you always think: if I’m open, shoot,’’ Bjorklund said. “My teammates did a great job of getting me open. Whether it’s a close game or not, if I’m open I’m going to shoot.”
This game certainly qualified as close. There were nine ties and 12 lead changes.
“This was the game to win,’’ said Green, after the Lady Monarchs suffered their 13th consecutive loss against UT.
The game was hard fought as well. Brewer and center Kelley Cain both went down and had to be helped off the court. Cain apparently hyperextended her right knee but returned down the stretch after Vicki Baugh fouled out.
Brewer said that she was fine after colliding with an Old Dominion player.
“We played hard, we took some hard falls,’’ Lady Vols coach Pat Summitt said. “I think we escaped any major injuries it appeared.”
The Lady Vols played without guards Shekinna Stricklen (stomach virus) and Cait McMahan (sore knee).
“It was like a war out there,’’ Brewer said. “You have to body up. You have to get tough.”
The Lady Vols won because of Bjorklund and their 56-38 rebounding advantage. Brewer’s five rebounds all came on the offensive end and led to nine of her points.
“I need to give that freshman credit,’’ Summitt said.
She reiterated her praise when Brewer arrived in the postgame interview room.
“I bragged on you,’’ Summitt told Brewer. “I want you to know that.”
UT’s 21 for 30 shooting at the free throw line also helped. The Lady Vols were six for six in the final 30 seconds.
Conversely, the Lady Vols won despite erratic field goal shooting and 10 first-half turnovers.
Other than Bjorklund, the Lady Vols shot 17 for 51 from the floor (33.3 percent). Johnson’s 3-for-14 shooting reflected more struggles from close range.
“I definitely had a rough time,’’ Johnson said.
With two point guards already sitting out the game, UT shortened its bench even more after halftime and committed just three more turnovers.
It also helped UT’s cause immensely when Jazzmin Walters missed a potential game-typing layup with 1:24 left.
Bjorklund didn’t miss when it mattered the most, sending UT home with a win in advance of Sunday’s game against Stanford.
“When you have a shooter like that,’’ Summitt said, “it takes a lot of pressure off our offense.”
Oregon sends Lady Vols home from…
Scripps Interactive Newspapers Group
Comments » 27
pdhuff#552644 writes:
Pat S, you are the bomb!
YankeeVol writes:
Hot-Damn. I needed this blast of heat as I endure the blizzard up here. Go Girls.
dwa7#337691 writes:
our girls sure got banged up!!!!! But they won.
GR82BAVOL writes:
A very hard fought victory. Way 2 go LVOLS!
ladyvolfaithful62 writes:
Way to go ladies. Congrats to Angie. Take care of that knee Cait. Now, come home and beat Stanford!
Vawlfanpreandpost writes:
Good Job!
ps11824 writes:
Angie, wow! We needed to see that (we fans). Some of us were getting awfully concerned that Bj had lost her touch. She pulled that one out for us tonight. Her stroke looked smooth, and her confidence was evident. When she stepped out and took that last jumper it was definitely the coup de tat.
I liked the way Brewer played tonight too. She was pretty brave and asserted her power and size in the paint. I don't know how we could have won without her post play.
I feel really good about Glory Johnson after seeing some of the moves she made tonight. Her shots were not falling all that well, but man, she has some sweet moves in traffic.
dwolfcreek#397971 writes:
GREAT EFFORT , GREAT WIN .
ladivolfan writes:
Such a relief to see Alyssia's play step up. Any concerns I had before are gone. Now I know what she is capable of. Angie is simply the best.
rockytopron writes:
Great win! This young team will be special before all is said and done. They are learning and taking some hard knocks from some good teams.
Go Lady Vols!
PS: If stanford shows up playing like they did against puke U, that will be another win in UT's books.
andefromtn#212139 writes:
This team will jell by March and the rest of the schools will need to worry. These girls can play, which means hard work, great coaching and time will lead to a long run in the post season.
Angie had a super hot hand last night and it was a beautiful thing to watch. The Fresh-pak, the freshmen, kept plugging away. They played a tough game and didn't quit which for a group of freshmen is a great thing. Keep growing as a team and the wins will come. There may be ups and downs but remember the season is to prepare you for March and the Final Four.
jackxx#237396 writes:
Went to the game in Norfolk last night. ODU whacked UVA who beat us so we figured it would be a good game. I live near Rickmond and the living had been hard for this die-hard LV fan since the UVA game. But all was well, Angie shot the lights out and everything looked good except, of course, the officials. One girl for ODU should have been arrested for mugging LV shooters. But was she called for fouls for decking several -- of course not.
On to Stanford!
Also, could the softball team play Liberty University up here for a change?
Go LV!
Jackfergs in VA
Bloodrunzorange writes:
Welcome back Angie and Go Lady Vols!
mogreer_tn#213464 writes:
Good Win...young team, it will be a long season and a BIG learning curve.
Although my head was hurting watching them play, i do understand the youth.
adimatteo#261830 writes:
great job, great win girls.
I know that given our history everytime we lose a game, or dont make the final four many fans scream the end of the world!
But Old Dominion has not lost on that court for two full seasons, they played one heck of a game with several seniors,etc... Just the fact that this team hung in there, kept composure, was very exciting to see, people dont realize how much important it is having experienced players means in college ball.
Great win girls, you deserved it for the hustle.Hope no serious injury, some scary moments.
allvol9 writes:
Great win. Go Big Orange!
richvol writes:
The LV's showed some fight last night. That was a very good win in a difficult situation.
The officials allowed OD to mug us and called touch fouls on our defense. The center for OD would have fouled out by halftime at any other arena. Did any one see what actually happened to Kelly Cain when she was injured? Number 25 pushed Glory in the back so hard she fell into the side of Kelly's knee and that could have been a season ending injury. I can't stand biased officiating on either side. If you don't have the integrity to call a game fairly then you deserve to be called out on it and retired.
Brewer played one heck of a game and can be a money player for this team. Frankly though,Glory hurt the team more than she helped it. She played out of control...she missed a half dozen layups,turned the ball over repeatedly and missed way too many freethrows. She is an amazing athlete but needs to get herself under control in a game like this. I'm sure she will be fine but we need her to be steady. We missed Stricklen too.
LadyVolFanForever writes:
I knew Angie would step up as soon as she got back in shape. She is the leader of this team and she leads by example. It was nice to see Brewer show us what Coach has known all along she is capable of, keep it up girl.
Some of these freshmen need to learn how to "assist", especially when their shots aren't falling. Flash doesn't score points or win games ! This is a team effort and everyone needs to be a team member. We have great talent but everyone needs to get it together. We are definetely improving but there will still be huge bumps in the road ahead. Go Lady Vols !
knoxtenor writes:
Like a certain super-famous NFL QB and former Vol, everyone questioned Angie's performance when she first came back from her injury. I'd say both individuals have now silenced the naysayers.
OGYDALSLOV!
volboy81 writes:
what a game, Angie!! You rock! Way to stay together & play together, Lady Vols...Lets have 20,000 there Sunday night and beat Stanford.....again!!!
GO LADY VOLS!
ps11824 writes:
Pat and the Baby Vols missed Shekinna on the court last night. Hope she's back with a vengeance Sunday against the Cardinal. Don't you just know Tara has been hammering the championship loss into their little trees? They will most definitely be after us like a duck on a Junebug. Revenge is a dangerous passion.
On the subject of Glory Johnson; the officials are eying her this season. She plays an aggressive style with quick moves in traffic. With a year of Pat and Dean coaching she should become a near unstoppable force with the basketball. She needs to bulk up some.
Do you guys remember how Mique got herself all muscled up between her soph/junior year because she was taking a beating under the basket? Perhaps the training staff will suggest a similar regimen for GJ this off-season help her reach All-American status. If she can develop her fade-away a bit more she would avoid a lot of that mugging, and get to the charity stripe too. She absolutely has to stay out of foul trouble. The kid is quick as lightening with sweet, sweet moves.
You know I'm no sage, but yep, I'm gonna say it now: She has the potential of being the go-to player for the LVs at or near the level of you-know-who. Mark it.
SomeGuy writes:
And Butch continues to demonstrate her stupidity. Pat Summitt is the greatest coach in the history of women's basketball but you like the cheating little jerk at UConn. That figures.
ladivolfan writes:
Hey Fred Flintstone. There's a typo in your screen name. Relax, it may take you a while to figure this one out.
sgtvols writes:
only real women and sissy boys coach women's basketball.
Volfantm writes:
Angie Bj did show poise and experience last night, great to see! Also I think little BB is really coming along at the point. With about 10 games of college experience all the freshmen are coming along well. Lady Vols forever!
mississippi writes:
Hey Butchie,go get a life and tell gino we'll see him in april 2009
ncvol writes:
Good game ladies...I was worried for awhile, but you pulled it off. Good luck with Stanford. Play tough. Go L.Vols!
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