The confetti and streamers fell from the ceiling, drifting past the scoreboard that told the tale: Tennessee 75, Vanderbilt 66.
After shaking Vanderbilt's hands, the Lady Vols went to center court and waved to the crowd in all directions.
Pat Summitt, resplendent in searing orange from the Bruce Pearl Collection, commandeered the public-address microphone and thanked the fans for another year of unparalleled support.
Her final words: "Great job, ladies.''
She wasn't addressing the stat crew or the cheerleaders or the ushers.
She was actually talking to her team.
Too many nights this season, that hasn't been the case. Too many nights Summitt has stalked off the court, her emotions an exasperated boil. Had she been a cartoon character, steam would have blasted out of her ears.
Sunday night was different. Confetti. Waves. Smiles. Great job, ladies.
On the final night of the regular season, they got it right. They followed instructions.
Those instructions were succinct.
Before the team took the court, Summitt wrote five words on the board in the locker room.
1, Defense.
Of course.
2, Boards.
Duh.
3, Alex.
It was paramount that Alex Fuller get a win on Senior Night.
4, Fans.
The Lady Vols had already lost to Virginia and Duke in Thompson-Boling Arena this year. The best fans in women's basketball deserved better in the home finale.
5, Holly.
Beating Vandy is a special delight to associate head coach Holly Warlick.
"I didn't give a speech,'' said Summitt. "I just pointed out what was on the board and why.''
And for the better part of the ensuing 40 minutes, Summitt got what she wanted.
So did Fuller. The only senior left a lasting impression.
She said farewell with the fifth double-double of her career: 17 points and 14 rebounds.
Fuller had six rebounds before Vandy had its first. She had her double-double in the books with 15:34 to play.
Vandy led at halftime 34-31. Fuller's statement to open the second half was to score on an offensive rebound.
One of her 3-pointers broke a 46-46 tie and Tennessee never trailed again.
Her 12th rebound was a dagger in the Commodores' ribs.
Kelley Cain hit the first of two free throws to make it 62-58, Lady Vols. Cain missed the second toss, but Fuller grabbed the rebound and fed Shekinna Stricklen for a 3-point basket and a 65-58 lead.
Game, set, match.
"Today was a big day for her,'' said Summitt. "She's one of the best all-around leaders that we've had, and I was proud of her.''
And so a trying (regular) season ends on a high note for the two old-timers, the coach with a thousand wins and her senior with two national championship rings.
Fuller has tried to help shepherd this freshman-dominated team that has often been so unresponsive.
"It's been frustrating at times,'' said Fuller, "but it's not in my personality to give up on anybody or any situation.''
Nor is it in Summitt's.
"I never gave up on 'em,'' she said, "but I did get frustrated.
"Kentucky (a 66-56 loss on Feb. 19) was the hardest one for me. I was so mad I couldn't go in the huddle and do anything productive.
"That won't happen again.''
There's still an SEC tournament and then an NCAA tournament. Which is to say there may well be exasperating nights yet for this coach and this particular team.
But not this night. In years to come, Fuller will remember her Senior Night for all the right reasons. So will her coach.
"I'm gonna enjoy this one until tomorrow,'' Summitt said.
Great job, ladies.
Mike Strange may be reached at 865-342-6276 or strangem@knoxnews.com.
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Comments » 22
PureOrange writes:
Good job, Alex. Thanks for what you have done so far, but it is not over by any means. We need to let the country see the real UT Lady Vols through the NCAA tournament
knoxnewsuser writes:
Great game for Alex. She is playing aggressive, 17 points and 14 rebounds and the pass from out of bounds off the back (of Vandy player) almost worked!
utmdm writes:
Thanks Alex. It had to be tough as the only upper classman but you did a great job trying to bring this team back into focus.
bmaples writes:
The lone senior -- and one of the few with enough history to "get it" -- deserved this win, and the great individual night as well.
Congrats, Alex. You've had one of the toughest rows to hoe of any LV senior in a while, yet you've hung tough and quietly turned in one of the best leadership jobs we've seen. Thanks for all you've given. Here's hoping you and the Lady Vols (no longer Babies) have a good run in both tourneys.
Bruce in Louisville
brucemaples.com
rocky_topper writes:
Great team effort. I am hoping this carries forward!
adimatteo#261830 writes:
Congrats Alex, nice career, proud you were a Lady Vol.
Not an easy season, it was expected to be some rebuilding, great new kids coming in, couple of experienced ones, ...
Instead, injuries dismantled that plan, no one other than coaches and the players can feel the frustration of "what could have been"..
But that is sports, and this finish shows what a great group of coaches and players we have. We as fans get to feel miserable and feel sorry for ourselves, but players are the one getting injured, watching their plans get diverted, coaches are the ones who must stay positive regardless..
I have faith in all of them, may not be as dominating as in some past seasons, but no one can take away the legacy of what this team is and has been.
Good luck with tournaments, and then next year...
rockytopron writes:
Alex deserved a great night. I wonder what she was thinking last year watching Candace go out a year early knowing she would be the only one left out of the original super six.
Lets Go Lady Vols! I feel an SEC tourney championship run coming!
LadyVolFanForever writes:
It was a great game by Alex, fitting her to a "T". She stepped up big time this season and wore a hat that was new to her but fit just fine !
The coaching staff made a statement with their orange attire---we are proud to wear the orange of the University of Tennessee, are you. That and senior night for Alex, made a point and the team responded. A good balanced response. Take this positive and move forward, one and done from here on out ! Go Lady Vols !
huntined#565710 writes:
Thanks Alex!!! Now just lead them to some more wins..
YankeeVol writes:
Alex, if your even reading this, let me tell you that you've been my favorite LV over the last four years. Even in the Parker-Hornbuckle-Anosike-Bobbitt era, I liked you the best. Good luck, kid.
johnlg00#206211 writes:
Gonna be really tough to win the SEC Tournament having to play the first day, especially as young and thin as this team is. As well as they played last night, it will be hard for them to sustain the concentration and effort through four games in four days. Kelley Cain has been huge for us lately, but the tournament grind will be really tough on her knee and her conditioning. Just making it to the finals will be a major achievement. However, it is great to finish a frustrating regular season strong. Congrats to Alex; it has been a shame at times how many of us have ragged on her for one thing or another. If she knew about all the unwarranted criticism, she answered it in the best way possible. My head tells me that we can only expect at most four more games out of this bunch--two in the SEC tourney and two in the NCAAs--but, like any fan, my heart hopes for more. In any case, no one can say this season hasn't been interesting. We have seen the unveiling of some potentially great young players and we all have to admire what Pat has done this year, considering all the youth and devastating injuries. It is truly great to be a Lady Vol fan and to know that we still have many years of continuing excellence to look forward to. Now, on to the post-season; ladies, show everyone that the LVs are back in business; if nothing else, give everybody a little taste of what you will be bringing to the party next year!
topgun writes:
John,
I read your posts all of the time and appreciate what you have to say. Good stuff. But, my old weary eyes sometimes get lost in the one huge paragraph of info. Please do me, and all the others who like to read what you have to say, a big favor and by depressing the "enter" key every few lines to make it a little easier for all of us to read. Thanks.
A good week end for the VOLS!! IN SEC tourney, after Bama, the LVs play UF and then the mighty Auburn team--then Vandy for the championship. Would have liked to have been in the Vandy bracket, but the LVs do have a good chance of getting to the Championship game and, if they make it to the championship game--they will win it. Obviously, Auburn is the BIG problem !!
A little concerned about our depth to play four games--obviously, jump on Bama early by 20 points and rest everyone for the UF game. Play as necessary to beat UF--big early lead, etc., and then go all out to beat a rested Auburn team. If anyone can coach a team to win it all in the SEC tourney--it is Coach Summittt. GO VOLS!
topgun writes:
RE: 11:10 AM post.
Sorry 'bout the extra 'T' in Summitt--guess I was thinking "Team."
xvolx writes:
they need the ala. game for more experience, then on to fla. game. believe lady vols are better than fla.. then aub.. now that will be a test. vandy missed their post player. could cost them the lsu game. If we can get past aub., could play lsu for champ..
ladivolfan writes:
Well done Alex.
johnlg00#206211 writes:
Sorry about that, buddy, but thanks anyway for the kind words. I really DO know what paragraphs are, but sometimes I am just buzzing with things I want to get down and don't realize when I should break it up.
For another thing, my computer was running REALLY slow this morning between steps in the comment process, so I didn't want to go back and forth with a lot of editing.
I don't disagree with what you say about the tourney, but I think it would be difficult for them both to win a given game and to parcel out the effort that precisely. The most we can hope for is to win each game as it comes with minimal regard for who comes next. Of course, it would help if we can build a big lead on Bama, but we really can't count on it with this bunch. It would be worse, IMHO, for them to be looking ahead and NOT get off to a quick start against Bama.
topgun writes:
John,
Thanks. We are probably the last two on this post, but honestly, I do read your posts and a only few others for intelligent inputs.
Yep, UTLVs have a tuff road ahead--both in the SEC and NCAA tourneys.
IF, and I emphasize IF, the LVs can play like they did against Vandy, they have a chance. I believe they will play Auburn in the semis which will be a very tuff match up for us. Cheers & GOVOLS!!
Volfantm writes:
Alex has given her all as a Lady Vol and the effort is appreciated. Go Lady Vols!
cdtnladyvols931#663910 writes:
Fuller is special.....but the rest of the team did a good job on Vandy too...so come out ready to play some good drfense and re-bound that ball...you have shown everyone what you can do....and you are a LADY VOL.
98reax writes:
I have been guilty of doubting Alex as a leader. I've not given her due props since day one. She said with her final regular season effort "Take that, 98 and all you doubters; now, sit back and watch my coup de tat." I hear you, Alex, and I'm watching and wishing you well.
I hope you will lead those babies, like a mother hen leads her chicks, to the pinnacle where she gives them a slight, loving nudge over the edge. They will take wings and realize they can and will carry this team to victory.
Shucks, just get 'em fired up, Alex.
xvolx writes:
I don't think chickens can fly. sounds like chicken murder.
98reax writes:
xvolx, FYI: chickens are fowl. They fly. Kinda like turkeys. You should know about turkeys. Or donkeys, which do NOT fly.
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