Johnson to shoulder load against Baylor after injury

Two days after going down with a left shoulder injury, Glory Johnson was back on her feet and back at Tennessee women's basketball practice.

The sophomore forward was wearing a protective sleeve on the shoulder. She will start Sunday (5 p.m., ESPN2) against Baylor in the State Farm Tipoff Classic, provided nothing else happens between now and then. Johnson took another hard fall during Friday's practice and tweaked her ankle before finishing the workout.

"Sometimes it's hard to watch,'' UT coach Pat Summitt said. "I don't know what's going to happen."

The 6-foot-3 Johnson, a second-team All-SEC preseason pick by the conference coaches, will fill the lone remaining opening in Tennessee's starting five. Summitt said Wednesday that Angie Bjorklund, Shekinna Stricklen, Kelley Cain and Taber Spani would report for the opening tip.

Cain sat out most of Friday's practice with some lower back stiffness, but Summitt said the 6-foot-6 redshirt sophomore - UT's first line of defense against Baylor's 6-8 Brittney Griner - will be fine for Sunday.

Summitt said Johnson will be deployed as a perimeter defender and play inside on offense. Spani, meanwhile, will be guarding a forward spot and play guard on offense.

Spani will become the 13th freshman to start her first game at UT. The number matches her jersey number.