What began as a rout ended as one Thursday night.
Tennessee got the one-sided evening started, bolting to a 19-point lead in an SEC women’s basketball showdown with LSU. The Lady Tigers took over from there and finished with a 19-point domination of the second half.
It all added up a 78-62 LSU victory and two teams heading in different directions.
The seventh-ranked Lady Tigers (21-3, 10-0 SEC) left with firm control of the conference lead. They were serenaded by a small group of their fans in attendance, who had enough time and enough lead at the end to indulge in two chants: “L-S-U” and “S-E-C.”
“It just shows we have a lot of heart,’’ said LSU senior forward Ashley Thomas, whose team outscored Tennessee 48-29 in the second half. “The majority of our team are seniors. It’s important for us to go out with a bang.”
The top-ranked Lady Vols (22-2, 8-1) went quietly. They trudged to their locker room, smarting from the 76-41 beating they took followed their rousing 21-2 start. Their fans were largely silent. The crowd of 15,574 at Thompson-Boling Arena began dispersing with more than two minutes remaining.
The ending forced UT officials to scrap plans afterward to officially present Lady Vol Candace Parker with the Honda Award she earned last season. They’ll try again at halftime against Mississippi State on Feb. 24 and hope for a better occasion.
This one couldn’t have been much worse.
The loss was Tennessee’s worst at home since an 82-65 thrashing by Stanford on Dec. 15, 1996. The margin of defeat tied for the worst home loss in SEC play. UT lost to Georgia 72-56 on Feb. 2, 1985.
The loss also ended a 17-game home winning streak and a 12-game win streak for the season.
UT coach Pat Summitt complimented LSU’s play before launching into a scathing review of her team’s performance.
“We can’t expect Candace to carry us every night,’’ Summitt said. “We got a lot of people standing around watching. We got exactly, exactly what we deserved. We didn’t defend and obviously we didn’t make shots.”
Parker scored a game-high 26 points and grabbed 10 rebounds. She added six assists and six steals. Her stat line was comparable, better in some respects, to the heavy lifting she did last season in UT’s 56-51 victory over LSU in Baton Rouge, La. This time, she didn’t have enough help. Center Nicky Anosike, with 10 points, was the only other Lady Vol scoring in double figures.
Or rather there was too much LSU. The Lady Tigers crowded six scorers into double figures — a program first. Center Sylvia Fowles led with 17 points. Point guard Erica White scored 16.
“Take nothing away from them,’’ Summitt said. “There is no quit in their team.”
Led by Parker’s 11 points and three assists, Tennessee charged to its 19-point lead within the first seven minutes. Everything was going the Lady Vols’ way while nothing was working for LSU.
“The first 10 minutes of the game, I can honestly say, we were in lockdown mode,’’ Parker said. “We didn’t let them score. Everybody was putting up garbage. We were making them play to their weaknesses.”
And then the game did a reverse pivot and Tennessee’s weaknesses emerged. Ironically, a missed layup by Parker began another offensive unraveling. Meanwhile, five 3-pointers ignited LSU, which rallied for a brief one-point lead before UT recovered for a 33-30 halftime edge.
The Lady Vols couldn’t get the basketball to Parker or anyone to start the second half, committing five turnovers in the first four minutes. They were falling prey to an LSU defense that gathered 15 steals and played an aggressive part in 19 Tennessee turnovers.
“They’re a very active team,’’ UT guard Alexis Hornbuckle said. “They like to get in the passing lanes. They like to get you to play fast, and we played right into that. … We were playing overanxious and had poor shot selection.”
Despite shooting 28.6 percent from the floor (10 for 35) for the final 20 minutes, the Lady Vols trailed 55-51 with 5 1⁄2 minutes left. A pair of baskets by Quianna Chaney, though, signaled the start of LSU’s finishing kick.
The Lady Vols’ offensive woes dragged down their overall effort, robbing them of any chance at another comeback like Monday’s rally against Rutgers. Instead, they were left to wonder how such a good start could end so badly.
“How did that happen?” Hornbuckle asked. “That’s something we need to look at and look at deep and fix it.”
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Comments » 131
volsfan327 writes:
We couldn't hit the broad side of a barn tonight! I would hate to be at pratice tomorrow. Pat will have us ready next time! GO VOLS!!!!!!!!!!!!
volsfan327 writes:
LSU shot 60 percent during the second half compared to Tennessee's 28.6 percent..Thats how we lost a 19 point lead! Oh well..Happy VOLentines Day fans.
cwayne17 writes:
I never thought I'd see the day where the Lady Vols are the "3rd" biggest attraction in Knoxville! At least Bruce and the boys are keepin' it up. This means that the Men will be ranked higher than the women come Monday morning...lol..this seems like a messed-up dream.
riverosa writes:
This was a wake up call. Standing around, no movement, stopped doing what they were doing the first 10 minutes. They play like this in March they won't make it to the second round. They are lazy, over confident and too cocky. They should have lost to Rutgers also they just lucked out.
bmaples writes:
bossvol, be thankful you didn't have to watch this. Absolutely the worst loss by a LV team I have EVER seen. No passion, no focus, no offense. They looked like they had no plays of any kind. The only saving grace was their defense was good most of the game -- except for the pass to the post, which LSU completed way too many times the second half.
I'm waiting on the KNS story on it, so I can see what Coach has to say. If it's printable.
hdhurst writes:
The bright side to this loss--maybe Rutgers admin., coaches, and fans can stop bit*hin' about not being No. 1 now.
I think back to 1998--the Lady Vols had won 3 straight NC's, and dominated throughout the reg season, only to lose in the big dance.
The bottom line...the NCCA tourney is all that matters to a team like TN.
GO LADY VOLS..
bmaples writes:
Riverosa -- dead on. I'm afraid the hunger isn't there.
riverosa writes:
Parker is absolutley not ready for the wnba.
snowvol writes:
Plasticman, I couldn't agree with you more. I love the Lady Vols but I'll tell you what -- and I'll premise this by mentioning that I utterly despise UConn -- those folks up in Storrs, CT understand player development and HALFCOURT OFFENSE. Much as it kills me to say it, it's true. Often times, our players look like brick masons out there. Much of that has to do with exactly what you said: Standing around. Laziness at the offensive end leads to lack of focus and intensity . . . which leads to disastrous games like the one this evening. 26% shooting is more than just an off night.
There is no excuse -- none whatsoever -- that a Pat Summitt team should ever, ever, ever lose to anyone in the SEC by double-digits. A 16 point loss to LSU? Are you kidding me?
I'm sure there will be LV fans who find what I'm saying -- and what you said -- bordering on blasphemous...something about how we're not real fans. Whatever. I could care less. What I do care about is how this program, bearing in mind how great a coach Pat Summitt is, can look so damn anemic on offense on more than just one or two nights a season.
MillisaAnn writes:
The Lady Vols need to get it together and do it in Now. I too would hate to see Pat at practice tommorrow.
murrayvol writes:
Hmmm! This is not what I expected. Thought it would be a close and reasonably well played game. Not to be.
The Lady Vols have much work to do and an attitude to adjust. I'm guessing that will start tomorrow.
dkerr#270212 writes:
Ouch!
tinmantn3 writes:
wow whats with all the standing around. Are we lazy,over confident? Or do we just plain think we cant be beat at home. Sloppy passing no effert in them getting us turn over's. maybe we should practice harder? Either way wow we need to come to PLAY & be focused.And we cant expect CP3 to do it all, its called a basketball TEAM!!
Lets GO LADY"S !!
MrBamSeydu writes:
Parker = lazy and VERY over-rated (Holdsclaw = best Lady Vol ever)
Anosike = fat / clumsy
Bobbitt = flashy turnover waiting to happen
Bjqzorklund = tries hard, shoots well, but too slow and easily taken out of game
Hornbuckle = inconsistent / better suited for PG
Baugh = how is she on scholarship? clumsiest person of all time
the rest aren't worth talking about.
yes, the Lady Vols are a solid team (for the women's collegiate level) but watching them makes me cringe. really, watching most women play basketball makes me cringe but this team is extremely lucky to have only lost 3 games (Rutgers, LSU, and Stanford--- you read it right). this is the first year that i can remember where our men's team is obviously better than our women's team as compared to their respective gender/competition.
maybe after Parker stops trying to look cool and gets her head out of her rearend and the entire team quits thinking the Tennessee on their jerseys wins games for them, they MIGHT make it to the Final 4 but i see them out in the elite 8.
Pullingguard writes:
Hangover from the clock stoppage on Monday. But Lady Vols have never had the free flowing offense, always lot of standing around on offense and little movement without the ball... Without Parker this team is just So-So and in the NCAA tournament it will be rough go unless Pat get them fine-tuned. But we must remember they did beat both NC and Duke, so they are capable when properly inflated with motivation..
bmaples writes:
You know, I tend to let people have their say when my team has lost -- after all, it's what happens on the floor that counts -- and I tend to be fairly patient with other sports fans, and realize that not everyone has class.
But, I've decided one thing ...
UConnFan, you're a jerk.
tennisvol writes:
Blow out in Vol city! LSU had the ball out of bounds with one second on the shot clock to shoot in the 2nd half. TN fouled on the throw in.
That just about says it all. The word seems to be - attack the Vols hard to start the 2nd half.
soddydaisy777 writes:
I don't say to much. But, to you uconns fan. Your fat lip just needs to shut up. Your know better than we are. You are LOL! The Lady Vols better get there act together.But, I wouldn't count us out. Go LV!!
billadcock#209476 writes:
We really intimidate those UCONN fans as they finally have a chance to post on our boards.....just more hot air-riema. Go Vols.
SCVolsFan writes:
UConnFan, you are a jerk and have worn out your
welcome mat.
No, they didn't play well tonight after a great 21-2 run.
Its OK. I'm sure they will bounce back.
GO LADY VOLS!
donniedem writes:
Wow...What a lousy effort from the No. 1 team in the land. I rushed home to watch the game not expecting this embarrassment. I can smell the stinch from Thompson Boling Arena overtaking my yard off Summit Hill. Boy am I spoiled! It is so frustrating to see the Lady Vols play so bad, that I can't help but be a bit angry. Yes, attitudes need adjusting! I hope this team can put everything back together before NCAA tourney time. The NCAA is what we all want. It is what matters!!!
riverosa writes:
Hard practice will not improve team work. Something is wrong, don't know what. Don't think Pat has an answer for this team. These girls blew more than a regular season championship tonight. They were absolutely terrible, the past three or four games have been that way.
BIGEJ writes:
THE DONKEY'S ASS-UMPTION BLOWS AGAIN; THE NONCOMPUS MENTUS UCONN BOY SPEAKS AGAIN WITH NO ORIGINAL THOUGHT.
98reax writes:
They were so ugly, I couldn't watch. I don't understand how they could humiliate themselves so badly at home. This was absolutely the most pathetic game I've seen in a long, long time. Lex was sleepwalking. Anosiki was wearing lead shoes. Bobbitt was full of herself. Bjorklan, gosh. I can't say anything good about the coaching either.
tigervol9802 writes:
You have a 21-2 lead and get beat by 16....at home?
That's pathetic.
chrisw2967 writes:
UConn has played only one team and that was Rutgers and lost and as bad as we played tonite I still think the lady vols makes it further than UConn come March.Plus we have Pat , you have Dingo diarrhea or hwhat ever his name is.
I agree with most post on here , there is alot of standing around and Parker is not the best that has come through K-Town ,Holdsclaw is the best I have seen come through UT.
scvols writes:
How can you have 4 All-Americans on the court and not be able to score???? Oh, it did just happen to KY mens at VANDY. If you remember LSU kick our butts in the SEC tourament and we won it all. But to get beat like that at home on TV, embarrassing.
FlaVol2 writes:
UConnFan: Every basketball team can have a bad night. Your team is a long way from ending up on top, so quit screaming at our great Vol supporters and remember we have the best basketball coach in the land - Pat Summitt
riverosa writes:
There is a lot of work to do between now and ncaa time. We will be lucky to win the SEC tourney. Looked like the football team tonight.
GreerVol22 writes:
If only Ainge had a second chance.....thats right....he did and completed two perfect passes to LSU players. SNAP! Sorry about that, I thought I heard someone say fire Fulmer...
volsfan327 writes:
LOL-Greer Now thats funny, I don't care who ya are :)
zjcvols#543765 writes:
Parker is the greatest WCBB after a big win, but when we have a bad loss, Parker becomes overrated?! yeah right, she's the best wb player in the world. period. I'd take her over Catchings, but I'm not convince to take her over Holdsclaw. Holdsclaw was the greatest wcb player ever. She changed the game. Anyway, Don't blame CP, she had 25,10,6 and outplayed Fowles. Blame Bobbitt, Hornbuckle, Bjorklund, and the bench. Nikki and Candace did they're job and some (especially Nikki). The guards better start shooting better or were in trouble. btw, in case you didn't know, we played two top 8 teams, not Miss St. and Kentucky. Calm down everybody, we played two great teams, we just got to fix a couple things. Pat will get the job done.
N2Motorsports writes:
Lady Vols will be fine but senseless turnovers, terrible shooting, and piss poor defense will give you a loss to a top 10 team in any sport. Candace Parker should touch the ball in the post everytime down the floor. A lot of times in the 2nd half when the Vols needed a basket Parker didn't get the ball. Parker is not overrated. She was double teamed a lot in the 2nd half when she did get the ball. This should be used as a wake-up call to the LV. They should have lost 2 games this week. Still have a tough one at Vandy on Sunday. Everyone quit crying it will be fine. You people crack me up. I remember when the men lost at KY a couple of weeks ago everyone was crying saying UT's flex offensive has lost it's way. I begged to differ then as I do now. female dog chill!
james#216392 writes:
Nnease15, add poor coaching to that list. When they got the big lead, you could see them losing their focus. Wild shots and etc. Even though the defense was keeping the LSU score at 2, the Vols were not scoring and not focused. Yet Pat waited and waited before taking a time out. By then they were out of their game. I kept screaming for a time out but with these TV time outs, coaches forget to coach sometimes. She finally took a time out after LSU score 8 or 10 in a row. Too Late.
Timed_vol (Inactive) writes:
didn't see the game, but have seen some LV games this season. Hornbuckle has mostly played okay. Bobbitt is having a bad year, as is Anosike.
The shooting? Still awful. Bjorklund does okay, but ther is no one else.
What this game points out: in the NCAA's, the LV's will get kicked out by a team like LSU or North Carolina. Tuesday and tonight are exactly how it will be once the LV's get to sweet sixteen.
I don't think Pat is doing a bad coaching job, but I think she has NOT been able to pull in recruits over the past couple of years. We have a very weak sophomore and junior class.
I'll go back to what I said after the Rutgers game: Bobbitt needs to SIT; so does Anosike. They are NOT earning their minutes.
yabadabadoo1026 writes:
02champs, the fact I disagree with you has nothing to do with it but what relevance does your stupid comment have to do with anything relating to this game------------nothing at all----some of you idiot haters just have to go out of your way sometimes to find something to hate
utchris writes:
Not pulling in the recruits? I believe we had the #1 recruiting class last year and we have it again this year. Couple that with a top three class of 3 years ago. I think that she is doing fine recruiting. Parody has made things more interesting. Give the young freshman time, they will be ok.
Volsrbest writes:
The bottom line the last two games is that no one stepped up to help Parker. Candice had two pretty solid games, but the other girls that have been performing well, didn't come through. They'll be fine, but they have to figure out how to play 60 minutes and get good even contribution from everyone.
Also, UconnFan enjoy our loss just like we do when you get beat. By the way, Rutgers will probably be #1, not you.
Go Lady Vols!!
coach75 writes:
hey uconn fan i heard geno celebrated this one like he used to with tarausi, a quiet dinner alone and then we all know what comes next. geno becomes the b$%#^ that he is. we all know what female dogs are b******, and a husky is a dog. as for rutgers it took your best game and you lost, it took one of our worst second halves and we won. who has more national championships nuff said. can't wait till geno gets caught and your program goes down the drain.
98reax writes:
Dave Neal and Debbie Antonelli, I just do not like TV announcers. I have to turn the sound down. Can't listen. Can't watch. What shall I do? I'll take a nap until March. I'll awaken to find we have championship #8. Geno has retired. UConnFan has returned to the cellar.
PureOrange writes:
Sickening game. This late in the season and we look like a first week all freshmen team. This is absolutely the laziest and least focused team I have ever seen Pat have. We have won on talent when it did not take a lot of effort, but when effort is required, this team does not want to give it. Angie is a great shooter when she will actually shoot, but is the worst passer I have ever seen. Bobbitt is getting worse. She is careless and for the past few games has played like she wanted to give the game away. Parker gave a lot of effort, but she cannot win by herself. Everyone else stands around and watches. The offense is as dull as it can possibly be. We play for a maximum of 12 minutes a game. This kind of effort is an embarrassment. I am very upset, but I don't even know why because if they don't care enouth to play hard, then why should I care if they embarrass themselves and the university. I would not be surprised to see the same thing Sunday. So much for a national championship. I have been saying all year that this would happen because they do not play hard. It is now catching up.
Volsrbest writes:
Let UconnFan enjoy the moment. We played pitiful and deserved to lose. It's water under the bridge and we'll grow from it. I just hope the stupid NCAA selection committee pairs UConn and Tenn opposite so we can put this phooey to rest! There's not much I enjoy more than whipping Geno!!
jdcdjc#246285 writes:
I love the Lady Vols, but I have to dissagree with the writer of the above article. This was no upset. LSU is plainly the better team. I do not think we are a top 5 team and not a #1 seed.
This is virtually the same team that won it all last year and they do not even know how to close out a game. I also think this has to be one of Pat's worse coaching jobs ever. We were fortunate to win the Rutgers game. On a neutral court they would have beaten us by 10-15 points.
It's just a good thing we are not playing UCONN this year, Pat probably knew what she was doing when she discontinued the series. As I look back we were lucky to beat N.C. I do not believe they can make it to the final four, at least not until they learn there are two halves in a game.
I wish they could win it all but they just do not have the chemistry on this team.
AlpharettaVol writes:
I have been a LV fan for many years and they have done some fantastic things, but they really stunk it up tonight. They looked like they didn't care about winning. Their rebounding was nonexistent and they just stood around on offense waiting for some miracle to happen (it never did). PS need to do something to wake them up. Maybe start five new players next game.
Timed_vol (Inactive) writes:
I'm not seeing this 'no effort by Candace' stuff. she gets the snot beat out of her every game. would love to see some of you play low post and see what really goes on under there. the best shots are the ones to the lower back.
I stand by what I said: time to bench Anosike and Bobbitt.
Timed_vol (Inactive) writes:
back to recruiting clasees:
ratings don't mean that much. Look at this year's class: Bjorklund starts, Baugh hardly plays, Smallbone does NOT play, and Cain is hurt. Last year?? That kid from Maryville?? Harldly a game-changer. And befor that? Lindsay Moss?
Let me put it differently: imagine how it would be if Bjorklund was backing up a Junior. Another Junior was pushing Anosike for PT, and a soph had passed Bobbitt.
staf101#341843 writes:
I never saw a team play this bad! Pat is there anything you can do, or they just to lazy to want to win?
PureOrange writes:
I guess this is so painfull because the memory of our football team laying down so many times is still so fresh.
Please, Bruce, don't let our men lay down on us. We can't handle any more gutless efforts.
huntined#565710 writes:
Got to hand it to the LADY TIGERS as they had their a game on in the second half.
They are a lot of seniors there and they play hard
Tough loss but the sun will rise in the morning
A big loss but that is all it is a loss
lewhs93#205993 writes:
Conn U .You get LSU in a few days and they are not the weaklings you are used to playing.
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