AUBURN, Ala. - Auburn stole the showdown Sunday afternoon.
In some instances, that was literally the case. Tiger stars DeWanna Bonner and Whitney Boddie took turns feasting on Tennessee cross-court passes. Another time, Auburn defenders swarmed all over Lady Vols guard Angie Bjorklund and pried the basketball loose.
These were a few examples of how the sixth-ranked Tigers laid a smackdown on No. 10 Tennessee, running away in the second half to an 82-68 SEC women's basketball victory before a program-record crowd of 12,067 at Beard-Eaves Coliseum.
Bonner scored a career-high 35 points, the most against Tennessee since Virginia's Monica Wright scored that many in the season's second game. Boddie scored 17 points and dished out nine assists. Alli Smalley added 16 points.
Auburn (20-0, 5-0 SEC) finished with a flourish, scoring 51 second-half points and shooting 58.6 percent from the floor (17-for-29) after halftime in ending a 16-game losing streak against UT.
The Auburn student section serenaded the Tigers in the final minutes with the chant "undefeated". They had cause for a full-throated "underrated" as well.
"It makes people sit up and take notice: 'Maybe they are for real,' " Auburn coach Nell Fortner said.
Tennessee (15-4, 4-2) didn't offer a sufficient argument otherwise. Freshman guard Shekinna Stricklen scored a season-high 26 points, and classmate Glory Johnson had a double-double with 13 points and 10 rebounds. UT shot a respectable 47.3 percent from the floor. But that wasn't enough to overcome the Lady Vols' 23 turnovers, which matched a season high, or their defensive struggles.
"Today is not a good day to be wearing the Orange,'' Johnson said. "It's something you have to deal with."
The Lady Vols did well to hang within 31-26 at the break. With Boddie slashing through their man defensive alignment, the Lady Vols shifted into a zone within the first four minutes.
The change drew attention to what turned out to be an insurmountable problem, namely the difference in backcourt play.
"Our guard play was not good,'' said UT coach Pat Summitt, who remained two victories shy of her 1,000th career win. "All you have to do is look at the turnovers we had."
Bjorklund, Tennessee's second-leading scorer, didn't start after forgetting her basketball shoes for practice on Saturday. On Sunday, she couldn't find her jumper, shooting 1-for-7 from the floor and recording more turnovers (four) than points (three).
Point guard Briana Bass matched those totals and was overmatched on defense against Boddie.
It was probably no coincidence that Stricklen's lone break - the final three minutes of the first half - coincided with a six-point swing in Auburn's favor, which wiped out a brief 23-22 Tennessee lead.
The steals stood out the most in enabling Auburn to open a 48-33 lead in the first five-plus minutes of the second half. Boddie swiped an Alicia Manning pass and took off for a layup that became a 3-point play after a Manning foul.
Bonner finished this scoring flourish by stealing Amber Gray's crosscourt pass and converting another layup.
"We made flat passes and those equate to lazy passes as well,'' Summitt said. "Our turnovers were very costly, but we had some upperclassmen turning over the ball, too.
"Ball security has cost us, and today was probably the most we had to pay for it."
Along with revving Auburn's effort, the turnovers also juiced the fans, who not only filled the seats but also were standing along the upper concourse.
"When you've got a turnover . . . that gets the crowd into it and gets (UT) rattled,'' Bonner said, "so you hit them hard again."
The Tigers pounded away until leading by 24 points (73-49) with 4:22 left. A meandering finish cut into their lead but didn't diminish the outcome.
Said Stricklen: "They looked like they wanted it more than we did."
Notebook: Vicki Baugh (left knee sprain) tried to play but lasted just 19 seconds. "She's just not ready,'' Summitt said. ... Both teams wore shooting shirts in warmups that honored former North Carolina State coach Kay Yow, who died Saturday.
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Comments » 87
gohawks1 writes:
Dang.
huntined#565710 writes:
Turnovers and playing a good team..Too young to compete with their seniors,,
Teams know they have a shot at Tenn this year and they know they can beat them as they are a young team.. Afraid we will get some more of this..Fla and other teams are playing well now
hmhawk writes:
Says it all.Waahhh!!
pammyvol1000 writes:
I love women's sports!! Shekinna seems to be the only player that really shows up at the games.. I guess these are growing pains for next year..
floridavolsfan writes:
Can't win every game! The smallster from smalley B!!! It is how you play the game--- W"s and L's are for the fans who so graciously pick up the tab!!!
LdyVolFaninKS writes:
Pitiful performance by the Lady Vols. We know they have it in them and they proved it with their too little to late come back at the end. Where was that effort earlier in the game? Strick can't do it all. Put it together for 40 minutes ladies, we know you have the heart, now show us the determination. I'll be in OKC rooting for ya!
Plasticman writes:
Too young this year. Where was Bjorklund today?
Pullingguard writes:
O sometimes wonder if its maturity and growing pains or maybe these particular players will never reach the goals expected and set by the teams of the past.. To be 15 games into the season and play so ship/shod does not bode well. Lets hope its growing pains.
pammyvol1000 writes:
Lazy passes. Not just 1 or 2 either. Your right.. they are 15 games in and should be getting the offense together. Easy missed shots!
Our picks rarely result in a drive to the basket or a 3 pointer.. Hope they get it together before March..
halloffamebowler writes:
It's ball handeling,no point guard,lack of a 3 point shooter, injuries and youth.Called Growing pains.Next year and the year after will be different,I hope.
riverosa writes:
Bjorklund did not strart today, she forgot her shoes and they had to go back and get them. The way she played today they should have brought the shoes and left her behind.
Plasticman writes:
Stupid is as stupid does. What you just said is really stupid.
beachvol1 writes:
When's football start????
halloffamebowler writes:
That was what everyone was asking when it was football season.
halloffamebowler writes:
You really showed the nation who and what you are with that post.Call yourself super stub and some may believe you.Were you born that stupid or did you finally succeed at something you worked hard at?
ladivolfan writes:
That's right beachvol, the Lady Vol's 17 wins and 4 losses record is much more boring than the football team's 6 wins and 7 losses. Lady vols have won 80% of their games. My condolences on your football teams 46%.
My apologies to those that actually have something constructive to say about this game and to the football fans that are actually constructive on the Lady Vol articles. I'm getting tired of people coming in a dissing on the baskeball boards when they have no interest being here at all. And it gives me great pleasure to report their current and past posts to KNS with off color words and comments to speed up the process of losing their ability to post at all.
ladivolfan writes:
sorry guys - wrong article
PureOrange writes:
It was hard to watch the game today. Coach Summitt is as frustrated as the rest of us that we have some players who do not want to play 40 minutes.
It is sad that Angie could be one of the best shooters in the nation, but she refuses to take shots early, and then starts pumping them up late. She also reverted back to those stupid, lazy passes, along with some of the others.
The excuse about them being young is getting old. Standing still when a teammate takes up a dribble and then wondering why the other team intercepts the lazy pass is hard to understand.
Being young has nothing to do with being out-hustled or giving it everything you have for 40 minutes.
We have tons of talent, but until our players realize it takes much more than taking the court to win games, then we will not be where Tennessee has been, and deserves to be.
ladivolfan writes:
On the game. Pat didn't expect miracles coming into the season. Slow and steady is the only way to build a NC team. Work them hard, push them even harder. Build on their strengths and drill defense, defense, defense into their heads until they say it in their sleep. This is a teaching year. They will show us what they've learned in the next 3 years. Pat never disappoints us. Lady Vols understand the legacy handed down to them and they will not disappoint us either. One game does not a season determine.
YankeeVol writes:
I agree about the guards. That seems like a major weakness right now. But maybe it's more mental, anyway. When your veteran (Bjorkland) forgets her shoes during a spell when your coach is stressing accountability and focus, that is not a good sign.
Timed_vol writes:
Mike, I'm guessing at least 10 losses, I've said that all along.
Good points about you Uconn team last year, but as you know 'if's' don't count for much...if Candace isn't hurt, we roll through the NCAA's without much effort. That is how it goes.
We do indeed suck this year, and Uconn does indeed have the inside track to the championship. your worst enemy will be complacency.
Timed_vol writes:
I've given you slack in the past for some of your a**hole comments. However, as the father of a female athlete, I'd clean your frickin' clock if you EVER dissed her for playing sports in front of me.
Got it there, bud?
bmaples writes:
First of all -- Butch is an a*s*s*.
Now that we've taken out the trash -- I agree, the "young team" line is getting old. As Rick Pitino says, that excuse ends about February 1; at that point, you've played enough college minutes to be a sophomore in some programs.
I think the problem is not lack of experience; it may be TOO MUCH experience, but at the wrong level -- high school. Many of these girls were so far beyond the competition that they only had to try about 30% of the time. Now they're playing in games full of great players, and they haven't adjusted to the you-got-to-bring-it-all-the-time reality.
I continue to hope for only one thing -- another Sweet 16 berth, to keep that streak alive. If they can figure out how to get that far, it'll be a good year. BUT -- they need to realize that playing poorly now may lower their seed and make that Sweet 16 harder to get.
AND, let's not forget -- this is a very, very good Auburn team. Losing to them is not exactly like losing to Sisters of the Poor.
My biggest bummer about this game is that the 1K win may come at OU. Frankly, though, I suspect we'll lose that game too, as OU is very strong this year. So, it might be Georgia at home on February 5. I think I'm going to go ahead and buy tickets now. Go Lady Vols!
volfan2002 writes:
It wouldn't have mattered If you had those players and three more. You weren't going to be a Parker led team, You never did and never will.
AlpharettaVol writes:
Angie seems to have regressed from last year. She looks like she has absolutely no confidence out there. Maybe she was more comfortable when she had teammates that took the leadership roles.
mad_poly_uct writes:
Ditto....and thank you.
shipperman#280095 writes:
http://www.firepatsummit.com
MillisaAnn writes:
Angie B, Kelly Cain,Fuller needs to step up and be leaders.
Get Better Vikki!!!
Lady Vols work harder and please listen to Pat and the other coache they know what they are doing.
CTOWNICON writes:
IF THE CHAMPIONSHIP BELONGED TO YOU I THINK YOU WOULD HAVE IT. THE PLAYERS YALL LOST WERE NOT GOOD PLAYERS ANYWAY, HEARD THAT ALL THROUGH OUT LAST YEAR AN TWO PLAYERS DONT MAKE A TEAM. BY THE WAY UGHH YALL DIDNT MAKE IT WHAT HAPPENED, WITH ALL THAT TALENT YOU LOST TO STANFORD WHICH GOT SPANKED BY THE LADY VOLS, BY THE WAY WITH A HURT SUPERSTAR. SO IT SPEAKS FOR ITSELF GENO JUST GOT OUT COACHED YET AGAIN BY ANOTHER LADY COACH. IM NOT GOING TO BE TACKY LIKE YOU I WILL ADMIT THAT I THINK UCONN WILL WIN IT THIS YEAR AN WILL DESERVE IT JUST LIKE TENNESSEE DID LAST YEAR. I SUSPECT YOU ARE IN LOVE WITH TENNESSEE BECAUSE YOU ARE ALWAYS ON THIS SITE. I GUESS UCONN REALLY AINT DOING IT FOR YOU SINCE YOU HAVE TO COME HERE. THINK ABOUT IT. GOOD LUCK IN THE NEXT GAME LADY VOLS AN KEEP YOUR HEADS UP.
CTOWNICON writes:
I THINK IT IS SUPER STUD LEARN TO SPELL IT BEFORE YOU KNOCK IT. WHAT DOES SEXUAL PREFERENCES HAVE TO DO WITH THIS SITE. I THINK YOU SHOULD CHECK YOUR MANHOOD AT THE DOOR. IS THERE SOMETHING DEEP WITHIN YOU THAT YOU ARE NOT COMFORTABLE WITH. IF YOU IN THE CLOSET YOU NEED TO COME OUT AN BE A SUPER STUD YOURSELF AN QUIT HATING ON WHAT IS AN WILL ALWAYS BE. SORRY LADY VOLS JUST NEEDED TO CHECK THE CLOSET QUEEN AT THE DOOR. GOOD LUCK IN THE NEXT STRETCH OF GAMES. DONT LET THIS LOOSING EFFORT TODAY GET YOU DOWN. GETEM TOGETHER PAT AN STAFF.
BigOrangeVol writes:
AAU is causing the ruination of good basketball players, guys and girls, across this nation!
benee#234696 writes:
Anybudy who mispels the name of a Tenessee koach shuld have his post dilated I mean deleted.
fortandrews writes:
I will never give up on this team. Yes Pat has her hands full. This team will be hard pressed to make the "sweet sixteen". You can coach all you want to between Monday and the next game - but when they walk out on the court you WILL NEVER know what they will do. And this team has trouble putting it together. Pat can coach until she is blue/ red in the face - but when the game starts all bets are off. Come on ladies remember January 3, 2009. You can STILL DO IT.
fasteddy41 writes:
this is the worst year for Vol sports in many a moon. Football tanked--then the men roundballers cant win a close game--and now the lady vols are not even in the gym--much less in the game!! Nowhere to go but up---hope-hope---
knoxdaniel#213742 writes:
All I want to say is take your best shot....Auburn you beat a bunch of high school seniors last year at this time, and you only hung 14 on us....you won't last long in the tourney. Amber Gray needs to show up, she is second best in the recruiting class and is hurting us. Manning needs to shoot and not always pass when she is wide open. Regardless learn and move on......
xvolx writes:
I didn't get to see the game. I did notice in the box score that other than nine more turnovers than auburn and auburn having twice as many freethrows, the other stats were pretty close. auburn also scored 13 more freethrows than ladyvols. this is a pretty large discrepancy in foul calling. Since I didnt see the game, I don't know if Aub. drew the fouls by playing more aggressive or we got the shaft thru biased officiating. right now we look like a five seed with a slim chance of making sweet 16. maybe with harder work and a 40 minute effort this team can mature and improve.
xvolx writes:
trying to defend your fantasy nat. champ. from last year are you Mike. It's going to be great to see Uchoke choke again this year.
Timed_vol writes:
KNS STAFF:
I belive you may wish to review this person 'butchisback' with an eye towards banishment. I'm no lawyer, but several posts have seemed to come very close to defamation and (libel??).
It's up to you, just something for you to note.
xvolx writes:
sorry ctown. meant that for Mike from Uchoke.
BigOrangeVol writes:
Mr. Parker, thank you so much for knowing the difference!!! Libel it is. Defamation encompasses libel (written), slander (spoken), calumny (spoken), and vilification (spoken).
You can also add shiperboy, robthestooge and mikefromwhocares to that list.
bmaples writes:
If Imus can lose his job for using the H word to refer to the Rutgers girls, perhaps Butch can be banned for same.
I've said it multiple times, and I'll say it again -- KNS needs to change their forum software to the one that DailyKos uses, where "trusted users" (those with enough recommendations on their comments) can hit the TrollRate button on a comment. Someone get enough trollratings, their comment disappears. It's amazing how quickly the community learns to police itself (and defend legitimate differences of opinion).
WeLoveTennesseeVols writes:
She needs to know a few down from further out, where they can't guard her. That Auburn kid lucked up on that long long three from way out with the clock at 1 second. You need to punish people like that when they can beat you with bleeping shots like that! Immaturity and lack of focus and confidence, and a knowledge of what you have and can do, and when you can do it are important. And playing like the devil can't hurt any either. We had a great defense in the first half, but I didn't watch the second half. I'll just have to garner some of the blame for this one myself, girls, sorry!
tnbigg writes:
Ditto.
KNS - You have nuked plenty of good folks for much lesser things...pull the trigger.
As for our Lady Vols...just turn it around. The season isn't over and you're playing for one of (not just women) greatest basketball coaches that ever coached the game. C'mon Lady Vols! Time to roll!
tnbigg writes:
tngeoff told me to say "hey"...so..."hey!" Hope all is well up there in Connecticut.
BigRMan writes:
Hey Mike: The classiest things ever to come out of UCON have nothing to do with Auriema's crew-They are Jim Calhoun & Walter Ray Allen-'nuf said!
BIGEJ writes:
KNS blogger...wife to one of the writers working the "old I am another fan and go whomever".....a real fan would not be so obtuse....GO VOLS
mmynatt writes:
Unfortunately Pat has not been able to get through to these gals. Yes Auburn is very good; yes Vanderbilt is very good. But what worries me are three things: 1) we have not got anyone who even resembles Candace on either end; 2) we can not stop the other team's "top scorer" for the day at all; and 3) our two big gals have serious knee injuries and it does not look like either will ever overcome them. Also we miss Cait McMahan more than anyone may be willing to admit.
I predict this team may go out of the NCAA earlier than any Lady Vols team ever. That said I hope I am wrong, but this year (2008-2009) is turning out to be not so good for all the UT athletic programs:(
RTB writes:
It is long past due that the readers are up-to-here with the nasty comments from several specific readers, who seem to write hate time after time. It's not just nasty, it is very dull to read that post after post. And it provides no interesting VOL or sports information.
Surely, someone at KNS monitors these chats. What will it take to revoke the abusers' ability to post trash? I think if you added a "Recommend Removal," button, the readers would be grateful and would do the work of reading the trash and tell you who to remove. It's time!
volboy81 writes:
That wasn't a very good game by the Lady Vols...WAY too many turnovers. Looked like we got outhustled some too...We're still the class of women's BB though...it was only Auburn's 2nd win over us in the last 26 meetings....we'll be okay!!
Thanks for a great game, Stricklen...you ALWAYS show up!
See you Thursday!
GO LADY VOLS!!
johnlg00#206211 writes:
I think you put your finger on it in your second paragraph. HOW to give maximum effort is a much a skill of the game as shooting, passing, etc. The freshmen in particular just HAVEN'T had to dig deep against opposition of AU's caliber in a hostile environment. The greatest players are those who know how to find that extra gear, that extra measure of effort that gives victory. Great players don't play until they are tired, they play until exhausted. While there is no excuse for lazy passes, a general lack of cohesion on the floor is as much a result of injuries and constantly varying combinations as of youth. I don't believe in excuses any more than anyone else, but to ignore REASONS why a team gets subpar performances is not fair. I thought we had mostly all agreed that this was not likely to be a vintage LV year. Why rush to throw everybody under the bus now? Not that you were, bmaples.
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