Lady Vols Basketball
Tennessee put a belated effort toward a different ending Sunday afternoon. The Lady Vols rallied around a full-scale rout.
In a matter of about 31⁄2 minutes midway through the second half, an 18-point lead ballooned to 30 and the Lady Vols were off to an 83-44 SEC women’s basketball victory over Florida before a crowd of 16,451 at Thompson-Boling Arena.
Thanks to a 49-point second half, No. 5 Tennessee (22-2, 11-1 SEC) took a break from consecutive comebacks to score its most lopsided conference victory. The Lady Vols shot 64.5 percent from the floor (a season high for a second half) after halftime and crowded four scorers into double figures while limiting Florida (13-12, 6-6) to seven field goals and 16 points, a second-half season low by a UT opponent this season.
“Even Coach ( Pat Summitt) said that’s a half we need to turn into 40 minutes,’’ center Kelley Cain said. “I think everyone can agree that’s the best second half we’ve ever played.”
UT’s best was so good that Cain, who played 38 minutes in Thursday’s last-second victory at Ole Miss, was stretched out on the sideline with 2:54 left, looking like she was sitting on a beach. The 6-foot-6 sophomore matched her career high with 19 points and recorded seven blocks, one shy of her career best.
Teammate Angie Bjorklund updated her resume as well, equaling her season high for 3-pointers with six and scoring a game-high 24 points.
Alicia Manning worked her way into the postgame conversation by stuffing her stat line with 11 points, nine rebounds and six assists. The points were a season high. The rebounds and assists matched career highs.
Shekinna Stricklen added 12 points. She was limited to 22 playing minutes and limped off the floor at one point to have her left knee iced. Summitt said UT’s starting point guard would be OK.
Summitt acknowledged UT’s final 20 minutes afterward, but not before relating how angry she was with the first half. At the outset, the Lady Vols seemed content to trade baskets with the Gators and led 34-28 at halftime.
“Truthfully, I came in here thinking, ‘Sorry, guys, but we’re going to have to knock you off,’’ said Gators guard Steffi Sorensen said.
She acted on that thought by scoring nine of her team-high 12 points and knocking down three of Florida’s eight 3-pointers before halftime.
Summitt used the break to convene a “prayer meeting” and provide a sobering context for UT’s play.
“I said ‘You’re not going to San Antonio (site of the Women’s Final Four), you’re not going anywhere; you’re not going to be in the tournament very long unless you invest as a basketball team for a 40-minute game or more.’ ” she said.
“They responded obviously in the second half, but I said, ‘This doesn’t count. It counts when we go 40 minutes of we’re busting it up and down the floor. We’re knocking down shots. We’re defending. We’re rebounding at both ends.’ ”
As if that wasn’t enough for one diatribe, Summitt delivered her closing thought like a punch to the gut.
“There’s a reason we have eight championships,’’ she said. “You don’t have one. If you’re going to get one, you’re going to have to change your level of commitment every day.”
After Summitt had the floor, the Lady Vols responded by taking charge on the court.
“She can stand up there and talk about it all day long, but it makes a big difference when we take ownership and responsibility for getting each other going,’’ Bjorklund said. “I thought that’s what we did today in the second half.”
UT finished with 12 blocks and had a hand in 20 Florida turnovers, which led to 31 points.
Florida missed 6-4 center Azania Stewart, who was ruled out Saturday with a stress fracture in her left foot.
The Lady Vols, meanwhile, weren’t missing much of anything, connecting on 20 of 31 second-half shots.
“I didn’t think we had to set up in the half court that much,’’ Bjorklund said. “That makes a huge difference.”
And it showed.
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Comments » 56
SummittsCourt writes:
Great win Lady Vols! 39 point win over a team that they only beat by 2 earlier. I'd say that was improvement. Looks like Coach Summitt has this winning thing down "Pat".
ladivolfan writes:
Gator snacks are always yummy.
usnavyvolfaninva_still_getting_paid writes:
Wow!!!
osbymartin#581730 writes:
I said it last year when teams were beating the Lady Vols...Get your shots in this year while they are down because they will be back. And here they are one of the best teams in the nation!!
PINK_CHAMPAGNE writes:
That's how you put these inferior teams away! This is what the lady vols are capable of regardless of who they play. Good Job! Defense was good, offense has come back, looked really good today. Kelly and Brewer, way to control that paint! Everything swatted out! Manning, I am so impressed with how she has improved, keep it up! All of the ladies played well today, they should be proud. Keep up this same intensity and you will go very far this year. Good job all the way round! This performance ranks close to the performance when they beat Oklahoma. Keep mowing them over like a mad truck lady vols! Keep it up!
west_georgia_vol_fan writes:
Go Lady Vols, on to San Antonio!!!!!!
chaos001 writes:
Manning was a BEAST in this game. Absolute Hustle!
Way to go Lady Vols!
dwolfcreek#397971 writes:
Brewer played great game , they all did .
Bloodrunzorange writes:
Fun to watch!! GBO!!!
VolInIndy writes:
Brewer and Manning have greatly improved. Lookout future.... No Seniors, Baugh and Dupree coming back from injury, Avant at the point and the Texas gal is supposed to be a shooter. Enjoy it while you can Gino because your brief resurgenge is about to be squashed.
johnlg00 writes:
All seems well among LV fans right now. Truly a masterful job by all concerned. Glad to see Manning and Spani play well. In their defense, UF was without their only really productive post player today. They were in about the same shape as the Vol men would have been in without Chism. They couldn't compete at all inside.
rlshepa#259432 writes:
Great game. I guess Pat still knows how to coach (this is for all the Pat bashers, you know the marble brain people)
PINK_CHAMPAGNE writes:
All is well with lady vol fans right now! They played the way they were supposed to, with intensity and great defense and good offense. They came to play and it showed! Go lady vols!
rlshepa#259432 writes:
Where is a comment from AllVolInGA - you know, the poster who posts that this team just doesn't have it
LdyVolFaninKS writes:
They found their killer instinct today. Let's hope this continues so they don't give us all heart attacks with the close wins! Everybody looked good today...keep it up!!
ladyvolsfan789 writes:
If they play like they played in the second half for a whole game they can beat anyone, Uconn included.
reidtownriverrat writes:
UCONN STILL WOULD BEAT THEM BY 40
BeRealistic writes:
If is a big word, Uconn is also a big word this year. LV's played a great game today & hope they contine to the NC. Playing at TBA helps, especially against almost a .500 team.
PINK_CHAMPAGNE writes:
What makes you think that when they could only beat ST John by 14! I know you gagged!
johnlg00 writes:
Let's not get carried away. Florida probably doesn't have more than two players who could even make UConn's squad, and they probably wouldn't play much.
AtLeastMyTeamHasPerfectSeasons writes:
Florida in bb will always bow down to the Big Orange.....men and women. That UF win against Pat last year was a decade-only thing like the UF men going 1-8 against Pearl. Now let's get that done in football.
AtLeastMyTeamHasPerfectSeasons writes:
UCONN would clean anybody's clock.
jdcdjc writes:
This is not (AllVolinGa), but this team has to learn to do this consistantly and this is something they have not been able to do this year. I realize they are still a young team, and this is not a put down but until they get the right combination on the court and play this way going into the SEC & NCAA they will not win it all. Lets just hope this was the game that it all came together and they can keep it together the rest of the year. Go all the way Lady Vols.
pomp_and_circumstance writes:
This was the highest enery, hustle, defend, get in passing lanes, etc. game the Ladies have played all year. Everybody was on the same page. Everybody did it. Why now? Why did it take this long to gel? I have no idea.
I wonder how Manning and Stricklin feel when they watch tape of themselves streaking down the floor and missing a lay-up?
RLL59 writes:
What caused the big difference between the first and second half? The Lady Vols played good defense and hustled in the first half just like they did in the second. Was it momentum? Better shot selection? Improved defense against the 3? Florida getting tired? The starters playing longer together? Whatever, they need to develop that same scenario every game going forward.
Very good game for the Lady Vols, but remember that Florida lost earlier this week by 40 points at home to LSU. Neither team appeared to be the same teams they were in the Lady Vols 2 point victory last month at Florida. That's good news for TN, and bad news for FL.
SummittsCourt writes:
Vanderbilt did us a favor in beating Kentucky giving the Lady Vols some breathing room in the standings. Lady Vols are the class of the SEC this year again.
Glad to see such happiness on the posts today.
SummittsCourt writes:
Unlikely numbnuts...Go Lady Vols!
UTVOLSRROCKN writes:
RLL59, the difference in the first and second half was that Pat got them good at halftime! They played ok in the first half, but it was lights out in the second half!! They played much better than they did in the first half. You are right that they need to develop that same scenario in every game forward....and that is exactly what Pat has been and is pushing this team to do.
She expects this team to come out and play a full 40 minutes with that desire and intensity and not just pick and chose when they decide to really play hard. Its hard to believe that Cain and Brewer are only soph's!! Angie was stroking again and I was really impressed with Mannings overall game! Look at the stats!
The LV's played like a great "team" in the 2nd half. One game left on the road at Bama and the next 3 at home before the SEC tourney. They are only going to get better and better!!
I know that FL is not a very good team and on top of that, their best player was on the bench. But, I think we could have beaten anybody, well maybe except UCONN, the way they played in the 2nd half. So, great job Lady Vols!
LV.....TCB.......KOKO.......GBO!!!!!!!!!!!
uncle_loue#473937 writes:
Favorite thing about UCONN: they're so obsessed with UT they can't even enjoy their own victories without bringing us up. After their last NC all coach talked about was how upset he thought people in Knoxville must be. Its a shame, guy can't even focus on celebrating with his community he's so haunted by us. GBO.
bmaples writes:
Great win, but ... I will be much more impressed when they do it for FORTY minutes with no talk from Pat. They are still not internally motivated enough.
There's time for them to get that way -- but not much time. Here's hoping they learn how to build a fire inside themselves just based on pride and desire. Go Lady Vols!
RLL59 writes:
I hope the great 2nd half was more than a result of another Coach Summitt chewing out at half time...a lecture she's given to this same team many times after far worse first halves than this one. If that's the answer, I'm skeptical that we'll see the consistency everyone is waiting for.
Anyway, I agree with your praise of the players. They all played tough tonight.
PureOrange writes:
Great win. Sure feels good to see the hustle and really good play over the 2nd half.
Now they know they can, we need to see that for 40 min. each and every game.
USNVOL writes:
This is not a troll,just KNS,going by the name reidtownriverratface,trying to drum up some readership.
How funny of them to pose as a troll.
usnavyvolfaninva_still_getting_paid writes:
I'd just like to send a shout out to VolDoll and let her know I had a great night out with my wife...
Hope today's game was the beginning of a trend: lady vols dishin' out Sam's sized cans of whoopa___ to everyone!
usnavyvolfaninva_still_getting_paid writes:
or maybe it's mikefromconnecticut incognito.
usnavyvolfaninva_still_getting_paid writes:
how's it goin', mikefromconnecticut?
xvolx writes:
Manning, Strickland, Bjorkland, Brewer and Cain played the best in second half this year. Defense and offense. Williams is improving, but needs more energy and desire. Bass and Smallbone not contributing when they have the chance. Johnson just wants to help so badly that she gets out of control. Pat can't coach what this team needs to do to challenge for a nat. champ.. That can only come from inside each one. I saw that emotion in the second half on defense. Ten point lead wasn't enough, twenty pt. lead, thirty pt.lead, forty pt. lead. They never knew how big the lead was, they just kept playing hard. Have they accepted what they need to do to be a Lady Vol championship team. We'll only find that out in the last game played and when they hold up the trophy they earned.
richvol writes:
You are correct on all your points. I especially liked what you said about them just continuing to play hard in spite of how large the lead grew. That's the killer instinct Pat's been looking for.
I know Glory wants to play her best but she is still showing signs of being out of control. Twice I noticed her just passing the ball without even taking the time to look to see if a passing lane was open and both times she threw it directly to the other team and they scored off of it both times. In a critical game at crunch time that can lose a game for you. She must play smarter.
pdhuff#552644 writes:
Kudoes, Pat and hats off to the 16K that made it there.
ladyvolfaithful62 writes:
I hope Manning get to stay in the starting line up. She was like a bloodhound on Sorrensen, plus that was a sweet 3-point shot. Just think if she and Angie both get heated up from 3 point land. Great game and effort from everyone who took the floor.
corrytonvol4ever writes:
Very nice win. I think this team can win the regular season SEC Championship as well as the SEC Tourney. However, the Final 4 is probably the farthest they can get. This team is too inconsistent to win it all. The next 3 years CPS will dominate - I mean the Final 4 with no senoirs is pretty amazing.
tonyvick#213307 writes:
Remember this team is not playing against air, they are playing in the toughest, most balanced conference in the country. For this team to go out each game and get as many wins as they have is already a phenonmenal feat. Even if they only beat their next 4 opponents by 1 point and Pat has to fuss each play until they get it still don't take away that they will be SEC Champions. I watch a lot of WBB and there aren't many teams out there that can beat UT even on an off night which is already proven by the off nights they can have in SEC play. I'm liking this team more and more even when they don't play up to our high standards.
johnlg00 writes:
Surely you are joking about UT leaving the SEC! I could see the state of Tennessee leaving the Union sooner than I could see UT in another conference! Why walk away from all that money the media is throwing at the SEC? Not to mention all the history and rivalries we have with it.
ps11824 writes:
[[ Summitt1000 writes:
Vanderbilt did us a favor in beating Kentucky giving the Lady Vols some breathing room in the standings. Lady Vols are the class of the SEC this year again. ]]
Right. Now we win out, including a victory over Matt Mitchell and his Kentucky Wildcats, I hope, I hope. A cushion is nice, but winning out will build confidence to really compete in the conference tournament.
shopsports#273141 writes:
Guess those lady water lizards will need yet another new coach to try and compete.....GO VOLS
Go shopping Jeremy.
kazoo writes:
Whether UT plays a mediocre/ugly game or a good one is a function of the offense. You can usually count on tough-minded defense Pat's teams--and teeth-grinding offense. When they score, they are dangerous.
Volunatic writes:
Great work, Lady Vols! This team is really fun to watch.
rockytopron writes:
Indeed, having a little breathing room is nice. I think the Lady Vols will win out. If so, beating UK would give them four losses as a second place team. Everyone else has at least 5 losses now. 5 losses is how may UT had last year. Interesting to think about.
Go Lady Vols beat bamer on Thursday.
WLafIndianavol writes:
Looks like Mike the UConn MORON has resurfaced!
mad_poly_uct writes:
Agree. There is no way Tenn would leave the SEC for the Big 10. SEC is much too lucrative to make such a move, and it doesn't look like the B10 is looking at SEC teams anyway. The programs ripe for plucking seem to be from the Big East according to reports coming out of the B10.
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