The fashion statement was loud. The competitive response was reassuring.
Tennessee had its say on a number of fronts Sunday night, which translated into a 75-66 SEC women's basketball victory over Vanderbilt.
Shekinna Stricklen led four double-figure scorers with 18 points for No. 18 Tennessee (20-9, 9-5 SEC). Fifteen of her points came in the second half, when the Lady Vols overcame a 3-point halftime deficit to lead by as much as 73-59 with 1:31 left.
After being honored beforehand as UT's lone senior, forward Alex Fuller scored 17 points and grabbed a career-high 14 rebounds, leading UT's 48-31 rebounding advantage.
No. 19 Vanderbilt (21-8, 10-4) had three double-figure scorers. Forward Christina Wirth scored a game-high 20 points.
Before a crowd of 14,157 at Thompson-Boling Arena, Tennessee wrapped up the regular season by extending its streak of 20-win seasons to 33. Normally, the achievement is a foregone conclusion. But that wasn't the case this season as Lady Vols coach Pat Summitt fretted about the program benchmark.
"I don't often set goals but I had a goal of 20 wins," she said. "I didn't talk about it much."
Summitt reached deep into her clothes closet for the game, wearing an orange pants suit. She recruited her assistant coaches to join the color scheme. They wore orange jackets.
"I wasn't going out there with all-orange and them not having something orange on,'' she said, laughing.
An all-orange encore is possible at the SEC tournament, where fifth-seed UT opens against Alabama on Thursday in North Little Rock, Ark. Summitt said as much afterward.
"That's all I'm wearing for the rest of the season,'' she said. "That's all I'm packing."
The players, on the other hand, reached deep into their resolve through seven ties and 10 lead changes. For Stricklen, who was battling a head cold and was coughing in the post-game interview room, drawing a deep breath was a challenge.
"In the first half, I was really having trouble breathing,'' she said. "Coach was on me. That was not an excuse. She was really on me at halftime."
By that point, Vanderbilt had demonstrated that it was capable of repeating its Jan. 11 victory over the Lady Vols. Beforehand Tennessee's plan was to force Vanderbilt to win from 3-point range. After Wirth buried a last-second trey to give the Commodores a 34-31 lead at the break, Summitt conceded: "At halftime we were getting beat by the three."
Despite playing without starting forward Hannah Tuomi, who was out with a stress fracture in her foot, the Commodores' aggressive defense also took a toll. UT had 17 turnovers, which helped Vanderbilt build a 23-6 edge in points off turnovers.
Vanderbilt coach Melanie Balcomb thought that her team accounted for just about everything but the rebounding.
"I think that was the difference in the game because I think we beat them in a lot of other areas,'' she said.
Tennessee center Kelley Cain made a difference as well. The 6-foot-6 redshirt freshman parlayed her height advantage into 15 points on 7-for-8 shooting from the floor.
Guard Angie Bjorklund, meanwhile, enabled UT to keep pace on the 3-pointers. She had five of the Lady Vols' 10 treys, which was a season single-game high, and scored 16 points.
"When Angie's playing with confidence and knocking down shots,'' Summitt said, "it takes a lot of pressure off our basketball team.''
After pulling Glory Johnson from the starting lineup for this game, Summitt complimented the freshman forward's play, saying it was one of her better games, "just because she had composure and played within herself."
Johnson scored seven points and grabbed six rebounds before fouling out. She also drew Wirth's fourth foul, which deprived Vanderbilt of its leading scorer for nearly five minutes of the second half.
"We came out and played hard tonight,'' said Cain after UT's first victory over a ranked opponent since beating then-No. 15 Rutgers on Jan. 3. "We know we can do it. We just have to transfer it to every game and play for 40 minutes."
Rocky Top League opening night
Old school: Archived photos of UT…
Scripps Interactive Newspapers Group
Comments » 44
gohawks1 writes:
How 'bout that inbound bounce pass off the Vandy player's backside... I'll score that one a 9. Woulda given a 10 if the shot had gone in.
jr2miles writes:
Great win tonite!! Lets play hard and shock the nation!!Go Ladies Vols!!
pdhuff#552644 writes:
At least some semblance of normality is returning.
Vandy dosed, Fla dosed, good day, Volunteers!!
volball7222 writes:
What a great day on Rocky Top.....Lady's beat Vandyettes and the Men beat the Florida Baters.
bmaples writes:
Any day Vandy and Florida lose on the same day, and the Vols are the cause, is a great day on Rocky Top!
PLUS -- the Lady Vols actually showed stretches where they actually LOOKED like the Lady Vols. And it was super to see Bjorklund burying some daggers from the 3-point line.
I'm pulling for at least two wins in the SEC tourney, and two in the NCAA. Making the finals at the SEC would be tremendous.
Go Lady Vols!
Bruce in Louisville
www.brucemaples.com
CTOWNICON writes:
Not on my watch says Alex Fuller. This was a great win. Great contribution across the board. All of the lady vols came to play tonight. Defense spells a victory all the time anytime. Alex has that shot in every game and she is a great outside shooter. I am so glad she has started to take it. Stricklen is going to be something special. I love when she drives to the basket, she is unstoppable. When she puts all the aspects of her game together, look out. She can post her player, take them off the dribble, or shoot the three, she is growing into her game and it is coming at the right time. Lets go lady vols and roll through this sec tournament. Also Glory played a good game tonight. She hustled, played defense and she rebounded. She has been getting such a hard time from everyone and it was good to see her come out positive and play a good game. Great job lady vols, Pat, and coaching staff on the victory tonight.
CTOWNICON writes:
I am pushing for the sec finals because they got what it takes to make it there. If they come to play, which I am sure they will, we will be in the sec finals. I feel that this team is capable of beating any team in this sec field. The losses earlier this season wasnt because they couldnt beat the team, it was because they didnt give it their all. Pat Summitt will have that fixed by tournament time. We will all see these lady vols in the sec finals.
Timed_vol (Inactive) writes:
please see my last post on this thread (notice I'm smirking as I type this):
http://www.govolsxtra.com/news/2009/f...
Timed_vol (Inactive) writes:
okay, got to watch it, some thoughts:
-play a quick lineup with Cain, to compensate for her being slow. cain is deadly on offense.
-passing is just pathetic; what can you say???
-take the girls out and throw FOOTBALL, make them run routes and catch the ball. On too many losee balls, the girls either have weak hands, or they ar trying to dribble rather than secure the ball
-waht is with all the dribbling? unral how much we dribble out top for nothing
-we gotta slow the other team's inbounds after made baskets; we are getting beaten down court, not ready to play
-we have the muscle, just need to get shots to the glass more; all our posts still tend to get knocked off-balance
we slowed vandy enough to get them out of sync, and we made some big shots. very nice win.
Pat has done what she can with this crew; they have talent one-v-one, it's just the team thing and the passing that's killing them.
LdyVolFaninKS writes:
Moments of brilliance, but still not quite a 40 minute game. MUCH better on defense in the second half. I can't wait to get to Little Rock and watch them in person...you see so much more when your actually at the game!
Our Lady's had a pretty hot shooting night. Sure hope they can keep it up. I think Glory plays better coming off the bench. Hope we keep this starting line-up. Can't Smallbone dribble? Why not try her at the point and put Strick back at a forward?
Feed Cain...she's HUNGRY!!
YankeeVol writes:
Loser
LadyVolFanForever writes:
Whoa, the orange coaching attire worked its mojo. I thought our coaching staff looked great and the Lady Vols played a much better game. Alex had a great night and I was very happy for her. Angie got the stroke back, Cain can be a scoring machine, Glory is getting better at times and Kinna is going to be a great one. Overall, a very good night.
The SEC tourney will be the next test. Go Lady Vols, you can do it !
CTOWNICON writes:
I think she is starving, please feed her. She is key also to how far they go, but she is ready to play.
PureOrange writes:
The ladies showed up today and we see the results. Now just keep it up.
givehim6 writes:
Good day to be a Vol!
tenn32rebel writes:
IPO, that play is called the "Kellie Jolly in-bounds." She was the first to do it and usually pulled it at least once a year.
She normally bounced the ball off the butt of an opposing player, caught it, and scored. I don't ever remember her NOT scoring on the play. It has been used many times successfully since her era.
I always smile and laugh when another Lady Vol does it. I'm sure that Kellie Jolly-Harper is laughing tonight, too!
Great game, Baby Lady Vols! Granny Fuller had a career night on Senior Night!!! How great is that?!?!?
GO BABY LADY VOLS---OUR FUTURE CHAMPIONS!!!
ladyvolfaithful62 writes:
Congrats to Alex Fuller. She was on fire tonight, as was Angie, Kelly, Shekinna and Glory. Great way to end the regular season. I liked the coaches attire also. When they walked out in the Orange, Thompson-Boling went crazy. Of course, when Coach Summit walks onto the floor, the applause is always deafening. Great win ladies. PLEASE, keep it up and go deep in the tourney.
xvolx writes:
fuller, strickland, bjorkland, cain and (for all of you) johnson played 34 minutes of good basketball. Johson's jump shot in the paint was encouraging. It actually looked like a shot. She took the same shot a second time and hesitated at the top and tried to shoot on the way down. She needs to watch the first shot until her eyes are tired, but I will give her credit for effort and desire. I like her get mean attitude. now get it under control. manning, bass, brewer, gray and smallbone are not helping this team. smallbone tries so hard, but it is all wasted motion. congrats on the win.
richvol writes:
Brewer and Cain could be all-SEC players...if they get in shape. Both have skills they just need to lose weight and gain strength and quickness.
dwolfcreek#397971 writes:
GREAT WIN , GONNA MISS FULLER .WATCHED HER SENSE SHE WAS A FRESHMAN IN HIGH SCHOOL . SHE IS A CLASS ACT . THANKS ALEX .
DroopyDrawers writes:
Alex Fuller projects what it takes to wear the Orange Jersey. Alex, thanks for the memories and good luck in future endeavors.
chad_t31 writes:
"sense"? really?
ps11824 writes:
The sage, mparker, told us we would beat Vandy. You know what, mp, you are so right about their hands. They got weak hands. They touch most rebounds, but cannot secure them. I hope they will work like heck on that. If they come down with all the balls they knock out of bounds it would be a scary advantage on the boards.
I agree with the unnecessary dribbling. Too many chances to get picked off. We gotta get those passes sharp and crisp without telegraphing. Good hands and sharp passes cut down on turnovers.
I was able to watch the game for a change. It was difficult at times but Pat Summitt played harder than anyone dressed in orange. She is quite a coach. I still say the team goes summer camping in Outer Mongullie this off-season. Brewer and Gray will be beaten into shape, they will learn to like and trust each other, Cain and Stricklen will become All American candidates and Glory will develop more moves like that awesome catch/shoot and put-back she pulled off last night.
Great win over a very good Vandy team, ladies. If you can play that hard you can win the SEC Tournament. If you can win the SEC Tourny you can win it all.
YankeeVol writes:
My bad... I'm too literal sometimes. You know how Yankees are - not much to laugh about up here.
LadyVolFanForever writes:
98reax, I know you are always hungry for Lady Vol info so here it is. Before the post-game radio show went live with Coach Summitt, she was talking to us fans who always stick around for it. She said Candace Parker called her last week to be sure she hadn't took the razor blades to her wrists.....that got a lot of laughs. Candace told her she was so impressed to watch the games on tv and still see so many Lady Vol fans in the stands with the type of basketball the team had played most of the season. Candace and Coach Summitt attributed the Lady Vols' ability to recruit from all over America to the great Lady Vol fans. Just goes to show how much our support means to the program, present team and future teams.
Not trying to pat us on the back or anything, just trying to say that our positive responses and support are very important. True fans take heart, you too are part of the Lady Vol tradition ! Wear the orange proudly.
reachkim00 writes:
GREAT win ladies, so proud of Alex. She put her heart and soul into that game last night. Alex, Shekinna, Kelly and Glory are gonna light up the tournament, I can feel it! Bench play, kick arsh! These ladies are our future champions.. maybe sooner than later, I know I beleive! GO LADY VOLS!!!!!!!!!!!!! We fans LOVE YA!!
ps11824 writes:
LVFF, you have no idea how much I miss being there and being a part of the of the Lady Vols Big Orange scene.
Yours are the kinds of tidbits one does not have privy to here in front of the TV. I get aggravated at the announcers on the rare occasions I do get to watch a game in its entirety. They talk so much and say so little. Last night they couldn't stop talking about the #1 team and how we SHOULD be playing. I wish just one time the bums would call the play-by-play. They talk as if the viewers are totally ignorant of basketball basics.
I did notice that Glory does not extend her long arms when she releases her shot. She is making herself about 2 feet shorter when she puts up a shot. Same thing when she's fighting for the boards. Surely Dean is aware if this. She should be able to shoot and grab rebounds with a huge advantage over most opponents using her long arms and big hands. Maybe our bigs will be persuaded to go to the big-girls clinic in the off-season. Some FT psyche would be a plus too.
I need to give Glory her props. She can flat fly down court. If she could get back to that free and easy style of play she brought to the court when she scored 33 points and 14 rebounds, Glory Hallelujah!
And it wouldn't hurt to have some officials who would allow the ladies to play some serious ball sans the boring whistles.
I was particularly pleased to get a look and listen inside the locker room. We had no chance of being defeated after that statement, "We will not lose to Vanderbilt. Do you understand me?" I cannot imagine Pat allowing the kids to exit the tournament without one heck of a fight.
I was able to watch the men beat Florida earlier and was pleased at their effort. It was a good day for the Orange. I too wore my colors proudly yesterday.
edimitri writes:
Does Strick have exercise induced asthma, or just a head cold? There is legal medication if it is EIA.This is not meant to invade privacy but to suggest a stethoscope during the game. I have had several patients who do not wheeze except during extreme effort.
ps11824 writes:
We need to get the ball to Cain sooner. She's doing a good job of setting up and holding her spot, but we lag too much and allow deflections. Her hands could be better and they will. Her strength and stamina will improve. She will be a beast in the paint.
Imagine if Pat did not have to spend 90% of her time coaching effort how good these kids could be right now. They have a ton of raw talent. Unfortunately they are far from being conditioned.
We will be National Champions before these freshmen graduate.
xvolx writes:
sounds like the pot calling the kettle black.
kbart4033#247331 writes:
Alex Fuller: one very classy lady!
johnlg00 writes:
The story in the Bible about motes vs. logs in the eye also comes to mind.
mississippi writes:
You didn't hear" Mikey choking on that beatdown that Rutgers will be planning to GIVE to UCANT
YankeeVol writes:
How about plucking out each hair individually with rusty tweezers?
mississippi writes:
THE WICKED WITCH OF ucant shows "it" ugly face again. Gino the clown is a fat belly loser like yourself who cheats to get what he wants. Are you still Gino "boy toy" or is it now Mikey?
volball7222 writes:
I hope we do play you this year in the tourney...the last time we had 10 losses, we won the NC---and beat an UNDEFEATED UCONN in the process...LMAO..
LadyVolFanForever writes:
Get a grip Lady Vol fans. Don't go into the gutter with these UCONN trouble makers ! Ignore them.
vollynn writes:
And Mike from Connecticut, that Mr. Brown is now an assistant coach for Joanne P. McCallie at Duke. He followed her there from where they had been coaching at Mich St. Has it occurred to you that there is a reason Mr. Brown is no longer an assistant with us? Unlike your program who has done everything it can to push every NCAA rule to the limit and then whine and moan about other people, we were happy to deal with the situation in house and didnt have to write a book about it.
CTOWNICON writes:
Trash knows trash and Geno is sewer slime just like you. No one wants to read Genos book and read all of those lies. Besides you are the one that is so interested in him like some kind of lady boy. You need to check yourself. You know nothing of the lady vol program and you may hate and despise it but you are also jealous of it. You jealous of Pat because you want to be her. I dont think Geno is that dumb but then again maybe he is, to devote a half of chapter about a lady vol basketball in a book that is supposed to be about him. If he did then he is rabid husky and so are you . You really need to get your rabies shot because you are beginning to think like a dog. You are one pitiful something, because you are not a man. I have never seen a man so jealous of a woman and womens basketball. At some point in your life you wanted to be a woman and a lady vol but you were unworthy, you reject.
CTOWNICON writes:
Jealous of Pat, get over it because she will forever reign. And by the way, Geno will not win a championship this year. It is not gonna happen. He has the same group he was supposed to win one with last year and couldnt coach them to one and he will fall again this year with that same team. There is different competition in the NCAA tournament and there is a team out there that is going to tear Geno a new azz. Rankings and records dont mean a thing come tournament time, you better realize. You have been served.
volball7222 writes:
Geno is not THE man---he isn't even a MAN. As far as our Lady Vol's playing your Conn team, we played an undefeated Conn team and we had 10 losses. The #1 greatest womens team ever to walk on the court lost to us...we went on the win another NC with 10 losses. How many NC's do you have when you were not favored to do it? Some where between 0 and none. So bring it on Conn! Hope we do see you so we can watch Geno cry again. He is a choker. We won it all last year even though you were the best team with the best players with the best coach.........yet you could not even get past Stanford, a team you beat by 25 in the regular season. So keep you trash coming...you are welcomed here any time. Who knows, one day you may get 3 or 4 people to help support a UCant web site!
CTOWNICON writes:
That was all hype. They were not the best team with the best players and the best coach. Especially coach because with all that talent he supposedly had and he couldnt bring home a championship, that says it all right there. He is a dud, a firecracker that want pop. One thing about it the lady vols got theirs and thats a fact. Uconn still chasing. He got the player he wanted with his persuasive techniques and espn tours and other tricks but we didnt need her because we still won what he covets, another championship.
mississippi writes:
Diana & Renee does look like Butch but i actually think it's Maya. Any one of them could be Mrs. Butch
CTOWNICON writes:
Hey Michelle, did you see how Rutgers had Geno sweating like a hog over there on that bench. Uconn is not as good as everybody think they are. Other teams have found their groove. He has no class, all that cursing on the sideline, he should have been ejected how he was carrying on on the sideline. I saw three times at least where he had to be restrained, but the refs love Uconn and Geno. I have never seen officials explain a call to a coach as much as they did to Geno, not to mention the length of time they took to explain to him. In most cases that I have seen they walk off from other coaches. Uconn will be upset, remember you heard it here. Oh by the way that comment he made about Rutgers fans was uncalled for. The commentators, Carolyn Peck, would not even repeat it, and you say he has class.
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