GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Sha Brooks stands a modest 5-foot-7. And that’s her media guide height.
Whatever the measurement, it doesn’t do justice to Florida’s senior guard, not when she plays Tennessee. Once again, the former Jackson (Tenn.) North Side High star came up big against the state school, really big.
Brooks scored 29 points — her personal best against the Lady Vols — and willed the Gators to a 66-57 comeback victory Sunday before a crowd of 8,060 at the O’Connell Center.
With the victory, the 11th ranked Gators (22-2, 8-1 SEC) beat Tennessee for just the third time in team history and extended their conference winning streak to a program-best seven games.
“It’s a huge, huge confidence builder for our team,’’ Florida coach Amanda Butler said.
No. 12 Tennessee (17-6, 6-3), meanwhile, lost its second game in seven days and is in fourth place in the SEC standings.
Brooks, who was averaging 20 points in four previous games against UT, has played a big role in two of Florida’s victories in the series. She scored 25 points in a 95-93 overtime victory in Knoxville three seasons ago.
“It’s something about wanting to beat Tennessee,’’ she said. “It’s not like I don’t want to beat other teams, but I really, really want to beat Tennessee.”
The only other Gator in double figures was forward Marshae Dotson with 10 points. And she needed four free throws in the final 2:16 to reach that total.
After Tennessee opened a 50-43 lead with 7 minutes, 29 seconds left, Brooks found another scoring gear. A trio of Brooks’ 3-pointers erased the Lady Vols’ advantage. The third, a bank shot from the top of the key over Shekinna Stricklen, gave Florida the lead for good at 54-52 with 4:27 left.
Brooks also was Florida’s top rebounder with seven and played an aggressive part in a Gators defense that limited Tennessee to two baskets in the final six minutes. The Lady Vols’ total was the fewest points UT has scored in the 40-game series with Florida.
And just for good measure, Brooks’ inbounds pass set up teammate Steffi Sorensen for a clutch 3-pointer and a 60-55 lead with 1:23 left.
“I don’t think she likes me,’’ UT coach Pat Summitt said of Brooks. “It’s amazing her toughness, how she comes at you. She plays both ends of the floor with great passion.
“She has, without a doubt, the biggest influence on how Florida plays the game. We’re lacking that.”
Angie Bjorklund led the Lady Vols with 16 points but shot 6-for-20 from the floor. Center Kelley Cain had her best game of the season with 12 points and 10 rebounds but attempted just three second-half shots.
Summitt gave credit to Florida and its determined play. She also noted, though, how too many jumpers, too many turnovers and not enough trips to the foul line undermined Tennessee’s effort.
While Florida was shooting 29 free throws and making 20 (Brooks was 10-for-18), Tennessee was 2-for-8 at the foul line.
“They obviously attacked the basket,’’ Summitt said. “We settled for the three ball way, way too much.”
The reference was to Tennessee shooting 5-for-22 (22.7 percent) from beyond the 3-point arc.
The infatuation with the long-range shot helped neutralize a 23-12 edge in offensive rebounds. Trailing by two points with less than four minutes remaining, the Lady Vols’ rebounding afforded them three shots on one trip down the court. Each time, they took a trey and missed. And then Stricklen grabbed a third rebound, only to commit a turnover.
That was one of 19 by UT. While the turnover hurt in terms of timing, it wasn’t the most glaring.
Earlier, Alyssia Brewer blocked a Brooks shot and stripped her of the ball. Her follow-up to an outstanding defensive play was to dribble the length of the floor and hook a pass that bounced harmlessly into UT’s bench, throwing away a golden opportunity to extend a 47-41 lead.
Coming out of a timeout with 2:50 left and trailing by three points, Bjorklund, who played 40 minutes and committed seven turnovers, drove to the baseline and dished a pass right to Florida’s Sorensen.
“They do a great job of taking away the baseline; we told them to stay off the baseline,’’ Summitt said. “I don’t know what Angie was thinking at that time.”
Conversely, it was obvious what Brooks and the Gators were thinking and doing.
“They did bring a lot of energy,’’ Cain said. “They never let up.”
Dan Proctor draws Tennessee Football…
Oregon sends Lady Vols home from…
Cordarrelle Patterson drafted by the…
Scripps Interactive Newspapers Group
Comments » 117
Surfingvol writes:
I hate Florida, Florida hates me, its understood
Surfingvol writes:
Tennessee
dwa7#337691 writes:
2nd...............I was correct on my prediction...
These Ladies are so young.........no killer in them..
I am glad Pat won the 1000th.....it will be a while before we win more.....
Sad weekend in Knoxville...boys and girls....
Nuthinbutorange writes:
No, idiot, you got some wonderful cookin' like Momma ain't never seen. Kinda hard to "own" a coach who has a 37-3 record against the Gators.
volball7222 writes:
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
CTOWNICON writes:
LADY VOLS YOU PLAYED A GOOD GAME. THOSE THREE POINT BASKETS IN THE END HURT THAT LATE IN THE GAME. STRICKLEN GOING BEHIND THE SCREEN NOT GONE WORK DID IT TWO TIMES AN FLORIDA GOT BACK TO BACK THREES, COSTLY. PLEASE START SWITCHING ON DEFENSE ON THE PERIMETER TRUST ME IT WILL HELP YOU. OVERALL A GOOD GAME YOU LADIES PLAYED. THE OFFICIATING WAS HORRIBLE. IS THERE ANYBODY YOU CAN COMPLAIN TO ABOUT THE OFFICIATING. I MEAN THEY NEED TO REVIEW SOME OF THESE GAMES AN CHECK THE OFFICIATING. WHY DO THE OFFICIALS NOT LIKE TENNESSEE. WE COULDNT GET A CALL ALL GAME UNLESS IT WAS AGAINST US. THIS IS NOT AN EXCUSE I MEAN SERIOUSLY THE OFFICIALS WERE HORRIBLE. ANYWAY GOOD GAME LADIES THE REFS STOLE THAT ONE WHEN YOU MEET ON A NEUTURAL COURT ITS PAYBACK TIME. THE OFFICIATING WAS HORRIBLE. I CANT STRESS THAT ENOUGH, JUST HORRIBLE. IT REALLY PISSES ME OFF WHEN THEY INTERFERE WITH THE GAME LIKE THAT, HORRIBLE. YOU KNOW ITS HORRIBLE WHEN PAT COMPLAINS BECAUSE SHE NORMALLY DONT GET ON THE REFS LIKE SHE DID TONIGHT. HORRIBLE OFFICIALS.
Nuthinbutorange writes:
Funny, I thought we we talking about women's basketball, which is, of course, a sport unknown in the vast, ugly swamp formally known as Florida. How did Coach Pearl enter this conversation? Are we a bit chapped about being owned by Bruce. Billy not getting it done for you anymore? How sad. Enjoy your victory, lizard. See ya at the SEC tournament.
CTOWNICON writes:
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
CTOWNICON writes:
ON A NEUTRAL COURT THEY WILL PAY. THE REFS KEPT THEM IN THIS ONE. HOME COURT ADVANTAGE, BUT ITS OK. YOU GOTTA COME OUT OF THE SWAMPS FOR THE SEC TOURNAMENT. WE ARE AN HONEST TEAM WE WIN ON OUR OWN MERIT WHEN WE DO. DONT NEED THE OFFICIALS HELP. EVERYBODY KNOWS THE OFFICIALS DONT LIKE TENNESSEE.
cphil writes:
Hmmm.. Florida gets 29 free throw attempts, the Lady Vols 8.
Florida gets an 18 point advantage from free throws.
I guess the officials saw things different to what we all saw on tv.
1961volfan#657086 writes:
Hey Gator4life - chomp me!
8 free throws for UT and 29 for Floriduh .......
What part of the swamp did these officials crawl out from?
halloffamebowler writes:
Jealous are you?
Tenn0Fla40 writes:
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
Timed_vol (Inactive) writes:
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
volhammer#634294 writes:
To all the Gator fans of women's basketball and the rest of the SEC !!
Enjoy the wins you get this year again the lady vols. Next year it all stops !!
One should expect a veteran team to win against a team as young as The Lady Vols (as many as 4 freshmen starters). The next three years will be different.
So as I said ENJOY IT !!
cdtnladyvols931#663910 writes:
HORRIBLE OFFICIALS...YES. I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THE SEC LET THESE OFFICIALS TREAT SOME OF THESE TEAMS LIKE THEY DO..THESE FOULS NEED TO BE CALLED ON BOTH ENDS ALIKE. THAT WAS THE MOST HORRIBLE CALLS I HAVE EVER SEEN..LADY VOLS COULD HAVE WON THAT GAME TONIGHT...BUT THE OFFICIALS MADE SURE THEY DIDN'T...SEND ONE TEAM TO THE VOUL LINE 29 TIMES THAT'S REDICILOUS. FLORIDA IS NOT THAT GOOD. BEFORE THE SEASON IS OVER EVERYONE THAT THINKS THEY ARE A NO. ONE TEAM WILL SEE THEY ARE NOT. THEY MAKE ME WANT TO BARFE...THEY SHOULD BE A NO ONE TEAM THEY HAVE ALL BEEN THERE FOUR YRS. ALL BUT ONE JR...LADY MADE SOME MISTAKES, BUT THEY ARE A YOUNG TEAM..I THINK THEY DO PRETTY DARN GOOD..WHITH ALL THE CALLS THEY GET FROM THOSE CRAZY OFFICIALS.
Tenn0Fla40 writes:
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
drone#208075 writes:
Isn't Amanda a Tennessee girl gone bad. Enjoy your one year run.
xvolx writes:
strickland and bjorkland lost this game. couldnt throw ball in the ocean and neither played defense. officiating should be investigated by SEC. We are six inches taller and no freethrows in first half and no one and one until one minute to go in the game. This is why I play golf. no crooked officials. you get what you shoot.
yabadabadoo1026 writes:
you know I'm a vol fan but its embarrassing to me that you can almost count of people blaming the officials whenever we lose anything---all of ours are just so paranoid and thinking conspiracy all the time---I'm sure Pats not blaming it the loss on officials so get off that BS people-----the most overused,rediculous argument I ever hear is that foul calls/shots need to be about equal----not the way it works ,its based on actual fouls committed----you homers always want to think we gettin screwed on foreign courts but never acknowlege any possibilty the other team might be on our court---quit being such bad losers and excuse makers, its embarrassing as a Vol fan to hear such so often from ours
vol1994 writes:
Please do not respond to these folks that are NOT ut fans.
DC florida- you are a disgrace, sir. Are you 13 years old?
I cannot believe that you would make the comments above like a 13 year old kid. Maybe it is your insecurities, i don't know but those comments are in poor taste and you should apologize to anyone who is offended. This is a site to discuss sports, UT SPORTS for that matter.
I hope they remove your posts as I requested and ban you from this site. Now I know why a lot of folks go to paid sites so that do not have to read immature posts such as yours. I am sure you will bash me which is your right but if you really think about it you know I am correct. Grow UP!
Congrats on Florida's victory and no I did not watch the game.
yeavols#228407 writes:
GO WALTER GO!! YOU are rocking here!! Your posts are in the lead here against the Lady Vols!! GO WALLY GO!! How far can you go?!?!!
thebadsamaritan writes:
Sha' Brooks went to North Side High School in Jackson, TN. How did she get away from the Lady Vols?
vol1994 writes:
Congrats on your victory today or tonight, no i did not watch the game.
Please refrain from your immature comments. Your post is totally uncalled for, immature, and out of line. Why can't you and your Gator friends discuss sports and stop with the personal attacks? You do NOT even know this lady. Pat Summitt has done more for her community than you could ever dream of doing.
Stop with the immature posts and say something interesting resembling some form of intelligence..
I hope they remove your comment as well but doubt it.
volsn1 writes:
WE DID NOT HAVE A CHANCE. THE OFFICIALS WERE GOING TO MAKE SURE WE DID NOT WIN.
ladivolfan writes:
Mikey and Butchy seem tame now. They can't hold a candle to these Gator Fans.
yabadabadoo1026 writes:
i'd bet he didnt even watch the game--just grabbin ahold of the always convenient the officials robbed us. Thats not what Pats going to be blaming it on I'm sure.
BIGEJ writes:
Uconn is currently a top five women's BB and their coach is in the top five for wins. BUT GA’s record when measured, comes up wanting… since GA took over @ UConn, he has recorded a losing season, has lost in the first round and second rounds of the NCAA, not all of GA's players have made the FF or graduated; if you are not dense, you will get the point; now go play elsewhere.
chuckfromwoodbury writes:
This shows that the SEC, once again, is the toughest conference in the country no matter what the sport, men or women. No go play some somewhere else. Geno, the walking ax wound.
LdyVolFaninKS writes:
Nice to see that good ole U-Can't Mike finally climbed out from whatever hole he was hiding in to make yet another ridiculous comment. She didn't proclaim they will be in St. Louis, but it is a goal every year. Too bad you didn't have the class to come on here and say congrats when Pat hit #1000, a record Guido Auri-enema will never come close to.
As far as poor officiating goes, it is a legitimate excuse when the calls are so one sided. Officiating that poor will even get into the heads of seasoned veterans. That being said, I thought the baby Vols did pretty well in handling that. Brooks was hot, and it's hard to contain a player when they are that hot.
Strick had a bad game...it happens to the best of the best players. Don't count on it happening in Little Rock...
Lady Vols-74 Floriduh-60
BIGEJ writes:
Pat in the post show, indicated poor shooting and decision making; no mention of their youth or the refs. Again, the Lady Vols will improve as the year goes on.....GO VOLs
LdyVolFaninKS writes:
NOBODY "owns" Pat Summitt. 1000W, 188L = 84%. Beat that.
huntined#565710 writes:
Yeah that 37-3 looks good also 6-1 and as they said if you beat them 38 out of 40 you don't get to play them again.
LdyVolFaninKS writes:
You Floriduh fans actually have the guts to make fun of the way Pat dresses...did you not see what Butler had on? All she needed was a cumber-bun to go with those ruffles and she would have been wearing a tuxedo from the 1970's.
huntined#565710 writes:
Look at the record--you gators win 3 in 40 and you own someone???
littleorange writes:
To Gator fans, congratulations to your team today. Why the TRASH talk? I must assume you are children as this is certainly very CHILDISH behavior.....Reflects very badly on your fan base and University.
LdyVolFaninKS writes:
Won(Win)-loss records and national championships don't matter? Last I knew, that's why you play any sport!
I'm posting about women's basketball and Pat Summitt-who the hell is Billy Donovan and most importantly on this blog, who the hell cares?
ggriggs939#223122 writes:
Even the announcers at the florida home game commented on the disparity in foul shots. florida had about 10 in the first half and the Lady Vols had only one. The ratio of 29 to 8 results when you play five against eight.
I should watch what I say because the sec might want to reprimand me for voicing an opinion.
pdhuff#552644 writes:
Great effort when you go to war with 7 freshmen.
Congrats, Lady Gators.
oldvolsfan writes:
hey dodo no one owns summitt
LdyVolFaninKS writes:
Butler is hot? Dude, you need to get out more often. Pat earned every wrinkle she has getting those 1000 wins and 8 NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS. Can't wait to see what Butler looks like after coaching for 35 years...oh wait, she'll never last that long.
huntined#565710 writes:
DC
Why do you come on here and try to BRAG about WOMEN BASKETBALL to the KING of WOMEN BASKETBALL.now your team did win today, but for you to try to say FLA is a POWERHOUSE in Women basketball and your coach owns anyone is a joke and you know it..And for you to try to downgrade the GREATEST women coach in HISTORY just because she is a VOL is showing very little class for you. Thought you were above that!!!
MillisaAnn writes:
I totally agree!!!!
The Lady Vols need somebody to step up and be a leader.
bmaples writes:
To any Florida fans with class who may be reading this forum -- congratulations on a solid win by a solid team. You don't have the record your team has on a fluke.
To the other Florida fans -- gloating after a win, especially classless gloating after a win, is as bad as whining after a loss.
To the Tennessee fans griping about the refs -- give it a rest. Part of the game of basketball is figuring out how the refs are calling it that night, and playing accordingly. Whining about the officiating is only a few steps above Mike from UConn -- and that's saying something.
To Lady Vols fans in general -- take a deep breath and come down from the ledge. This team is not going to win the regular-season SEC, nor are they going to win the SEC tourney. Frankly, I'm not surprised they lost today. This is a very good Florida team, and this is a not-so-good Tennessee team.
ESPN has them as a 4 seed in the NCAA, which might even be a little high. If the Ladies listen to CPS and the rest of the coaches, and learn from their mistakes, they'll make the Sweet 16, which frankly is the streak I care about most this year.
I was at the game on Thursday, and it was obvious that the combination of injuries and youth is the main problem. At times, they looked great, and at other times they looked like a mid-level high school team. The interesting thing was that they got better as the game went on. Here's hoping that they continue to improve.
Still a Ladies Vol fan -- and more and more amazed at the classlessness of some other fans,
Bruce in Louisville
volball7222 writes:
But off course! How do you think CPS won 1000 games? We mess with the clock, and just like today, we pay off the refs in gold bullion. We play Rocky Top until you just want to throw up and all the players take steroids.
DekanGator writes:
If your going to beat Tenn,this is the year.
We know the lady Vols are the class of Woman's basketball.
but we did not storm the court,(or field) like Tenn does when thy beat the Gators.
I think Amanda Butler, will be a Gator for a long time, but we all know she has a long long way to go, to keep up with Coach Summit.
huntined#565710 writes:
BRUCE, Now that is a good post right there!!
huntined#565710 writes:
You don't come to Tenn later this year..Need to learn your teams schedule..
oldbasshead writes:
I thought the defensive effort, especially rebounding was outstanding by the UT women. The game was still close even though UT has lots of freshmen playing against seniors. Sure Fla was tougher, but they have more upper classmen playing and that is the way it should be. The officiating certainly didn't help us. Once these girls become better shooter and get stronger, I believe I can see two more national championships from this group. Not sure what is going on with Stricklin. She doesn't seem to be responding well to the strategy that coach Summit is using on her.
jsmithnga#207674 writes:
Just like the year we lost 10 and won the NC; not expecting to win NC with this young team, but every loss is a lesson learned and I expect good results in the SEC championship and post season.
Share your thoughts
Comments are the sole responsibility of the person posting them. You agree not to post comments that are off topic, defamatory, obscene, abusive, threatening or an invasion of privacy. Violators may be banned. Click here for our full user agreement.