Lady Vols Basketball
Angie Bjorklund knows something about 3-point shooting.
Tennessee's senior guard is on pace to become the Lady Vols' all-time leading long-range shooter. Yet she's rarely seen anyone aim and fire quite like freshman teammate Meighan Simmons. She's something else.
"She is one of the most confident players I've played with and I have complete respect for her on the court,'' Bjorklund said. "When she's hitting like that it opens up a lot for everyone else.
"I'm happy. She got all of my assists.
Simmons scored a direct hit on Tennessee's single-game individual record for most 3-pointers, swishing eight Wednesday night in a 99-55 victory over Lamar before a crowd of 10,692 at Thompson-Boling Arena. The 5-foot-9 guard helped No. 9 Tennessee (7-1) match the team single-game record of 15 treys, which was set on Nov. 15 against Chattanooga.
Simmons, who scored a game-high 28 points, was 8-for-15 from long range. The Lady Vols collectively were 15-for-36 (41.7 percent). The attempts were a single-game team record.
"She's never seen a shot she didn't like,'' UT coach Pat Summitt said. "But I like a lot of her shots."
Simmons was one of four Lady Vols scoring in double figures. Bjorklund scored 15 points. Her three treys gave her 255, pulling her to within 13 of Shanna Zolman's career mark. Bjorklund set the record for career attempts with 633.
Shekinna Stricklen, who played at forward, scored 14 points and grabbed 12 rebounds for her second double-double of the season.
Kamiko Williams added 13 points.
Simmons, who has scored in double figures in all eight games, accomplished her record feat while playing point guard and sharing the team high for assists (five) with Bjorklund.
In honor of the occasion, Simmons wore the pirate hat afterward, a fashion trend that started with the opening two victories at the Paradise Jam before being rudely interrupted by a 69-58 upset loss to No. 12 Georgetown.
After hitting all of those treys, Simmons said the significance of her achievement hadn't hit her.
"My teammates are forcing it into me,'' she said. "I can't help but smile. That's another way of God showing what I can bring to the table."
Simmons is playing a part in expanding UT's offensive identity or even reshaping it.
"With some of the posts injured for now, it could be an outside-in team, especially when Meighan's hitting like that and our guards are shooting well,'' Bjorklund said. "At the same time, our post game is just as dominant and they need just as many touches. If we have both the outside and in scoring like that and dominating, we'll be just fine."
Against Lamar, UT's post game played a diminished role. Center Kelley Cain didn't play because of stiffness. Fellow post player Vicki Baugh's first home appearance this season was relatively brief at seven minutes.
Tennessee, which plays at Old Dominion on Sunday, deployed some lineups that didn't include a true post player.
Regardless of personnel, Summitt said the numbers will dictate UT's shooting strategy.
"It's all about percentages,'' she said. "If the ball is going in and we have great rhythm, I don't have a problem with it. Typically we go inside."
Summitt was more concerned with 19 more turnovers against Lamar, which didn't amount to enough improvement over the 29 committed against Georgetown.
Lamar (5-2), the reigning Southland Conference champion, had 29 turnovers and also shot a chilly 30.6 percent from the floor (19-for-62). Ang Green was the lone double-figure scorer with 15 points.
"I'm very disappointed,'' Lamar coach Larry Tidwell said. "We have a team that won a conference championship last year and a lot of those people are returning. We played hard and everything but we didn't finish."
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Comments » 20
VolinCalif writes:
As usual you girls are on a roll
bigdisbig writes:
WOW you guys beat a glorified high school team by 44 points and set all sorts of records. WHERE WERE YOU WHEN GEORGETOWN EMBARASSED YOU AND THE VOL NATION?
Oak Ridge could have beat Lamar. You guys do NOT have what it takes to be a championship team. When you go to Baylor you will see what it takes. They played Gino's team, the mighty UCONN Huskies, to the wire which is something you guys can and will never do again. Prove you are not hasbeens and the rest of the nation has passed you up. Yes, I said HASBEENS!
GO BALL STATE!!! LMAO
Ball State beating you was like Appy. State beating Michigan in football.
Pullingguard writes:
Let's just hope that Pat and her stand around offense does not rub off on Monique, for it seems she could be really special.
PINK_CHAMPAGNE writes:
I like Simmons at the point! The offense ran better, and Stricklen played so much better at the wing. The team still needs to get a grip on turnovers. Ten in the first half, too many!
coffy73 writes:
I would like to be happier about this win, but not when they basically beat up on a cupcake team. Maybe this'll get them going, but I wanna see where this team stands when they play a ranked team or just a really good one. Can't get too excited by them beating a "practice" team.
switcher76 writes:
You need to get a life and get off this website. If you have nothing positive to say about the VOLS then keep your comments to yourself. GO VOLS!!!
dead_vol_foul (Inactive) writes:
Our post play has stunk so far. I don't agree with it being a 'turnkey' thing.
Still, I'm happy we can shoot the ball better this year from outside....but do we have the will to pound it in the paint when we need to??
tnmantravel#531151 writes:
speaking of has been teams...uconn's mens team...calhoun's team is playing good now...interesting to see how things turn out at stoors in janurary...GO PEARL AND HIS VOLS
as far as the women....my feeling is tennessee owes baylor and i see lady vols defeating the bears on their home court....
now start rambling like the 12 year old you appear to be
dead_vol_foul (Inactive) writes:
I know the girls from Ball State. They were less thrilled about beating UT than they were upset about losing their next game.
If you've never been a competitor, you don't have a clue.
UTVOLSRROCKN writes:
Ignore the trolls and maybe they will go away. Love this starting line-up. Too many TO's still, but things are looking up! Simmons is the REAL DEAL! I know you are tired of me saying that, but it's the truth.
LADY VOLS......TCB.....KOKO......GBO!
nola_vol writes:
Are there any patterns to these turnovers?
Are they coming off of dribbles or passes? Are passing turnovers poorly thrown, or sloppily received? Is the ball being lost in the paint, or back court?
Maybe somebody with connections (or a 2nd row seat behind the bench) could give us the coaching staff's turnover breakdown. The best fans are knowledgeable fans. So edumacate us...
rocky_topper writes:
Must not have been any defense on them! It's a good thing they weren't playing Georgetown!
SummittsCourt writes:
Man, you just can't help put prove to the world how stupid you are can you? If being stupid was an Olympic sport you would win all of the gold medals.
First, Lamar came into the game with a 5-1 record and this after playing in the NCAA tournament last year.
Baylor LOST to Uconvicticut regardless of how many points, sure you had a chance to win but you choked! You have a man playing on your team and you still can't compete. By the way, UT has beaten them many times and will again if they meet in the tourney.
Kelly Cain wil dominate your mangirl center.
cdtnladyvols931#663910 writes:
what hole did you crawl out from under! u must be a Kim Mulkey(aka)little tight leather pants fan) or a Geno fan! The Lady Vols can beat anybody if they play! u must like baylor because they have a thug on their team that sucker punches and opposing teams player, when she has to be guarded.
ddayvolsfan#238252 writes:
As Mark Twain is credited as saying, "It is better to remain silent and let people think you are a fool, than to open your mouth and remove all doubt". You post, REMOVES ALL DOUBT!!! Now crawl back under your rock.
murrayvol writes:
Very late in the tournament.....unless of course the selection committee gets creative and gives the LVs a 2 in UConn's bracket.
martinvol34 writes:
Trick get off of our site.
martinvol34 writes:
At least get the name right you Jack arse!
ACWLY writes:
Excellent "come back game", NEVER DOUBT THE LADY VOLS!!!
dead_vol_foul (Inactive) writes:
murray....just some dumba## who posts the same thing everywhere. maybe a kns plant or just some dumb kid.
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