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Calling up the reserves in Lady Vols' win
Hornbuckle sets UT steals record in rout of Tide
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TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - Tennessee got the result it expected against Alabama on Thursday night.
As for achieving the performance the Lady Vols wanted, that took more doing than the scoreboard indicated. A do-over by the reserves helped the overall perspective on an 85-58 SEC women's basketball victory before a crowd of 3,101 at Coleman Coliseum.
Candace Parker scored a game-high 19 points for No. 3 Tennessee (24-2, 10-1 SEC). Nicky Anosike scored 12 and grabbed eight rebounds to lead UT's 43-30 advantage.
Alexis Hornbuckle gathered five steals to surpass Bridgette Gordon and become UT's all-time steals leader with 335.
Tierney Jenkins led Alabama (8-19, 1-11) with 12 points. The Crimson Tide shot a respectable 46.4 percent from the floor (26-for-56) but committed 26 turnovers. Thirteen of them were Tennessee steals.
UT's starters didn't do all the work. Back-ups Vicki Baugh and Alex Fuller were the team's other double-figure scorers with 12 and 10 points, respectively. The duo shot a combined 8-for-9 from the floor. Baugh's points amounted to a season high.
The reserves combined for 34 points and were better caretakers of Tennessee's lead in the second half, expanding the advantage by five points during the final 11 minutes.
While that wasn't much of an improvement, it was much better than the first half.
"I thought we felt better,'' freshman guard Sydney Smallbone said. "I felt better."
Tennessee's starters staked the Lady Vols to a quick double-figure lead at the outset. With former Lady Vol sharpshooter Sidney Spencer watching from behind UT's bench, her replacement, freshman Angie Bjorklund, got it all started with a 3-pointer in the first 13 seconds.
Hornbuckle needed four steals to surpass Gordon's career total of 333. That's usually a good night's work for the senior guard. On this night, she had the record after stealing an inbounds pass with 9:05 left in the first half.
"I knew I needed four,'' Hornbuckle said. "I didn't expect to get it in the first (11) minutes."
UT coach Pat Summitt marked the occasion by praising Hornbuckle's work ethic.
"She's had a tremendous impact on our team and our program,'' Summitt said. "She's not afraid to get down and do the dirty work."
Summitt also took the opportunity to take a playful jab at a former player by saying, "I didn't know Bridgette played that much defense."
About the only glitch in building a 25-6 lead was Parker missing a dunk attempt. The senior forward, who confirmed Wednesday that she will forgo a final season of eligibility, threw the basketball off the back iron on a breakaway attempt.
Presented with an identical opportunity moments later, Parker laid the ball over the front of the rim, forgoing any more drama for a simple layup.
"Thank God the second one went in,'' she said.
Parker downplayed her decision to pass on the extra season. When asked if she'd had much response, Parker said, "I haven't really talked to anybody. I didn't know it was that big of a deal."
When asked about the team response, Parker said, "We haven't even talked about it. We live in the moment."
She could've been speaking for Tennessee's reserves with that last thought. They entered en masse in the first half and squandered 8 points of the team's lead over a seven-minute span. Alabama coach Stephany Smith likely was thinking of those minutes when she said: "There were moments where we played really well with poise and confidence at times."
The second half was a different story. Smallbone, who had played one minute in the last three games, played 20 minutes - her most in three weeks.
"There's a lot of things I need to improve on,'' said Smallbone, who scored nine points. "My teammates help me a lot. They help me on defense and offense, telling me the little things I need to do."
Her minutes played can't hurt either.
Said Summitt: "I think she'll have some good minutes to look at (on video) with her second-half play.''
Notebook: Tickets for Tennessee's final two home games are selling briskly. The count for Sunday's game against Mississippi State is 18,937. Sales for Florida next Thursday are 14,458.
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Posted by 98reax on February 22, 2008 at 1:20 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I'm still bumbed out that CP3 is leaving. Evidently, National Championships mean less to her than playing with Lisa Lesley and being near her beau. I think she might miss the college glory. I don't feel like she will be all that in the pros. Look what happened to Chamiqua. She did not fare so well in the WNBA. Yes she was good for a while, but she never won a championship. The stress really got to her. The coaching merry-go-round got to her. The injuries got to her. BUT, she has 3 rings, 3 National Championships that cannot be taken from her. Her jersey hangs in the rafters in TBA, her 3 banners, her records in the college game will always be talked about. CP3 "could be" VERY GOOD next year. She's nowhere near the best, IMHO.
Posted by Hunter on February 22, 2008 at 2:15 a.m. (Suggest removal)
She'll have more people at her last UT game than her first 5 WNBA games.....that league is in trouble - they need a franchise in Knoxville to have a shot at working in the longer run.
Posted by pdhuff on February 22, 2008 at 3:14 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Well, she's graduating and has to think of herself, now. She and Tenn have been good for each other. I wish her godspeed and all the best.
We'll see a totally different team next year. A another good one, we can hope.
Posted by anthony on February 22, 2008 at 4:08 a.m. (Suggest removal)
As a fan, enough is never good enough. She's been playing for us and herself, going to school and getting an education at the same time. She doesn't owe us anything, what would we do for her? We all cannot even vote together correctly over the years. We argue in our churches and our homes need improvement. In this present moment she needs to move on, and we need to improve as people, united, accepting roles in government and esstablishing ministries as Christians. Maybe then when the next Candace comes along, she'll have a few more reasons to stay than to go.
Posted by lnbadger320 on February 22, 2008 at 6:27 a.m. (Suggest removal)
does anyone know of a website that shows recruits UT is interested in. i heard there is some great ball player out of texas that UT is either looking at or signed her. i can't remember. i can't find any websites. any help would be appreciated.
Posted by andefromtn on February 22, 2008 at 7:47 a.m. (Suggest removal)
http://www.hoopgurlz.com/ offers coverage on the women's side. Our incoming freshmen are ranked the top recuiting class. There are several (3) Texas post players ranked in the top 10 for the 2009 class.
I hate to see Candance depart for the WNBA but I am thankful for all she has done as a Lady Vol. I wish her well for the next chapter of her life.
Posted by johnlg00 on February 22, 2008 at 10:23 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Some of you people crack me up! You seem to think that just because we enjoy watching young men and women play sports, they should live only for pleasing us! When we recruit these kids, our coaches rightly mention the tremendous loyalty and support of our fans, but they emphasize what coming here can do to prepare them for the rest of their lives, whether it is getting them ready for pro sports or the value of the education they will receive and the contacts they will make. Nearly all of us look back fondly on our college days; the working world is seldom as much FUN as being a college student. But the more mature of us realize that college life is only a phase that passes quickly, and it is what we do with the rest of our lives that matters most in the long run. Candace in particular has more than earned the right to do what she thinks will satisfy her most in later life. It is incredibly selfish of us to think that pleasing US should be more important to HER than her own future.
Posted by fortandrews on February 22, 2008 at 10:43 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I wish Parker had Peyton Manning's mind set and honored her scholarship. But I understand her position (don't like it). Thank you CP for the wonderful memories you gave us. Hope for you the very best in your next stage of life. Please work on your DEFENCE.
Posted by volboy81 on February 22, 2008 at 11:07 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Hey Fort Andrews: work on your S-P-E-L-L-I-N-G
Posted by RockyTop1 on February 22, 2008 at 11:47 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I know she feels it is time to move on but, I wish she could stay one more year to mentor our new freshmen next year!
It will be sad to have a player of her caliber and only win one Championship? This year will be tough to repeat considering how Bobbitt and Hornbuckle has played this year. For seniors they have not been what they were last year! Too bad I thought two rings were in the bag earlier this year!
Let's hope Pat can push the right buttons and get the eighth banner!! GO LADY VOLS!!
Posted by jevolball7 on February 22, 2008 at 10:50 p.m. (Suggest removal)
What's a CP3? I thought it was a star wars figure. Dunk? YAWN. There's a rel game to be plyed Sat. night!
Posted by bmaples on February 22, 2008 at 11:17 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I get so tired of the wanna-be basketball know-it-alls who come on here only to dis the ladies' game.
Posted by jevolball7 on February 22, 2008 at 11:29 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I get so tired of the wanna be know it alls trying to compare the two TOTALLY different games!
Posted by 98reax on February 23, 2008 at 1:03 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Lady Vol fans are absolutely selfish. I'm selfish. I want my team players to play the way I want them to, for sure. I'll be the first to admit that and I have no clue how to change other than give up sports altogether. That ain't happening any time soon. I respect their decisions however to consider their own future goals. Whatever they give the university over and above earning their sholarship is just perks for us fans. CP3 has given us 2 years of bragging rights and another banner in the rafters. Hornbuckle has provided some thrills and chills too. These 2 players will do well in the pros. I wish them the best. I'm especially proud of Parker for wearing the colors of our country. Can't wait to see that team again. It will be fun to watch her play with Tuarasi, Lesley, maybe Kara Lawson, and Tamika Catchings. Of course seeing her team up in LA with Syd will be fun. I surely miss #1 Chamiqua Holdsclaw who was an LA Spark for a short spell before retiring. Mique is doing what she must do for herself I trust. I wish all these amazing athletes the best in whatever they choose to do in their service to society.
Posted by Oenoboy on February 23, 2008 at 1:35 p.m. (Suggest removal)
CP is honoring her scholarship. She gave us four years and she is graduating. Why should she or anyone else stay beyond that? The point of college is to get an education and move on with your life. For the record, she is the best player in the country and will have a fine pro career if she stays healthy.
Posted by SidSpencerFan1 on April 8, 2008 at 6:58 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I do NOT want Candace to go pro this year because I do not want her to play with Sidney. I love Sidney Spencer to death. Last sumemr as a rookie she started for the team! And got a lot of attention. I've followed her game since she was a freshman in collage and i don't plan to stop. If Candace goes pro everyone is going to keep up with the Sparks because she's there. They didn't keep up with the Sparks becuase Sidney went there. She may be better than Sidney and all the current lady vols but she's not the only one on the team. Yet she's the only player everyone talks about, she's the only one that gets player of the game, she's the only one that gets any media attention. Even when she's not playing very well. She could not beat another team by herself. And I think it's time we give the other girls some attention!!!! I don't want Candace to play for the Sparks because she will she will take all the attention away from the rest of the team. and may even jeapordize her spot as a starter. Sidney deserves it she's played for a year now and done well she was the second top scorer on the Sparks this past season and and also a top rebounder. She deserves some spotlight and I don't want Candace to take that away from her.
GO SIDNEY SPENCER AND ALL THE CURRENT LADY VOLS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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