South Carolina shot out of the starting blocks with 20 points in the first seven minutes Thursday night, creating an instant replay for Pat Summitt.
“Didn’t it remind you of our last game?” the Tennessee women’s basketball coach asked.
The resemblance was uncanny, considering Oklahoma did likewise Sunday night.
In this case, the Lady Vols weren’t saved by their scoring as much as their defense in a 79-62 SEC victory over the Gamecocks.
Before an intimate gathering of 1,462 at Thompson-Boling Arena, guards Angie Bjorklund and Shekinna Stricklen combined for 44 points and helped turn the tide by halftime.
But No. 4 Tennessee (13-1, 1-0 SEC), which had shot better than 50 percent from the floor for the past three games, cooled to 36.7 percent accuracy in the second half and scored just 32 points. UT’s defense moved to center stage for the closing act, limiting South Carolina (7-7, 0-2) to 10 second-half field goals.
Better late than never for the Lady Vols, who were inspired by something they’ve seen before.
“Well, Coach Summitt’s look stirs a fire in us,’’ said center Kelley Cain, who had six blocks. “We just came together and decided that they weren’t going to beat us in our house, especially not when we had fans come out despite the bad weather.”
The Gamecocks had three players score in double figures, led by guard Valerie Nainima’s 16 points. Furthermore, they didn’t let their size disadvantage prevent them from staking a claim to the foul lane, where they had a 28-26 scoring advantage and were narrowly outrebounded by UT, 38-37.
Combine those feats with their 20-16 lead at the outset and it was clear the Gamecocks meant business.
UT likely benefited from rallying under similar circumstances for Sunday’s 96-75 victory over the Sooners. However, they didn’t appear to be better for the experience at the beginning.
“Everyone that we have played is coming in and just running it up our backs,’’ Summitt said. “Obviously, what other teams are seeing is that our weakness is our transition defense.”
Conversely, UT’s strength is Bjorklund, who scored 11 of her game-high 23 points during 15-point flurry that gave Tennessee the lead for good, 31-20.
Bjorklund shot 9 for 15 from the floor and was 5 for 8 on 3 pointers.
“She feels like every time she shoots the ball it is going to go in,’’ Summitt said. “Believe it or not, I’m starting to think like her. That’s a good feeling.”
While Bjorklund was heating up, Cain was recording two of her blocks. One looked more like a steal as she all but plucked the ball out of La’Keisha Sutton’s hands.
“I think we improved our man-to-man defense,’’ said Stricklen, who had three blocks, along with 21 points and six assists. “If they get by us, Kelley was right there blocking shots, which really helped us. Stopping penetration is our weakness right now and that’s what we have to work on.”
South Carolina, on the other hand, needed a second scoring wind and couldn’t find it.
“We got tired,’’ South Carolina coach Dawn Staley said. “I guess they tired us out.”
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Comments » 20
VolInIndy writes:
Go Lady Vols. Way to represent.
SummittsCourt writes:
Big Time Did You Know!!!
Our gorgeous red shirt sophmore has shut down both the #1 and #2 recruits coming into this season. All the hype went to 6'8" Britney "I'm a man" Griner and 6'5" Kelsey Bone, but both were heavily recruited and are supposed to change the game, but not yet. Way to go Kelley Cain!
J_a_c_k_s_C_o_l_u_m_n_s_M_a_k_e_M_e_L_a_u_g_h writes:
Pat has them playing Lady Vol Style !!!!!!!
CTOWNICON writes:
Angie was on fire tonight! Shekinna was Shekinna, both had great games. The lady vols played a good game tonight. They really turned it on in the second half. I hope Kelly's knee is ok. Kelly was a monster blocking shots tonight.
utfan00 writes:
Tenn vs Miss. State
CAN ANYONE TELL ME WHAT CHANNEL IS SEC NETWORK?
UTVOLSRROCKN writes:
Well done Lady Vols! The request line was up and running for the men last night, so this one is dedicated to the Lady Vols...an oldie but goodie by Clarence Carter.....
"Angie be strokin, thats what she be doin
Angie be strokin, thats what she be doin
She strokes it to the east
She strokes it to the west
She strokes it for the Lady Vols
That we LOVE the best
Strick be strokin, thats what she be doin
Strick be strokin, thats what she be doin
She strokes it to the east
Rebounds and assists to the west
She strokes it for the Lady Vols
That we LOVE the best
Cain be blocking, thats what she be doing
Rebounds, scoring in the paint
Thats what she be doing
YOU KNOW HOW LADY VOLS KNOW WE BE SATISFIED
WE START CALLLLLLLING THEIR NAME
Angie, Strick, Cain, Angie, Strick, Cain
Angie, Strick, Cain......OOHHHH SHIATE
Lady Vols be strokin, thats what they be doin"
LV...TCB....Keep on keeping on...GBO!!!!!!!!!
KCHS63 writes:
Appreciate your enthusiasm for Kelley, but........I didn't like the comments that were made by several others about Sylvia Fowles and yours now about Griner. It's kind of like me saying former Duke star Shane Battier had the prettiest lips I've even seen (wink, wink, hint, hint).
SummittsCourt writes:
Don't care!
LdyVolFaninKS writes:
It's on channel 698 on Direct TV. It's also on ESPN360.
LdyVolFaninKS writes:
Pretty sloppy in the 2nd half IMO. We still can't seem to play a 40 minute game, which will be what it takes to compete with most of the teams in the SEC. Can't understand why we continued to play Cain tonight after the injury. We had a good lead and were holding our own. Big mistake IMO.
utfan00 writes:
I thought the game was sloppy the 1st and 2nd half. You should know by now if this team competes against anybody with quicker foot speed, the LV are just like a lost ball in high weeds. How can they play for 40 minutes as long as CPS keeps zig zagging the players out of the game at all times. At least they managed to come out on top.
richvol writes:
Kelley Cain is doing the best she can at this point but Pat is right about transition defense and a big portion of it is our posts not able to run the floor fast enough. UCONN and Stanford both have posts that can sprint the floor and jump. As I said Kelly is doing her best but she and Alissa Brewer both need to lose twenty more pounds and get in running shape in order for us to compete with them. Jenny Moshack and the weight room trainer need to concentrate on their knees and hips.
The team is showing improvement almost every game but the second half had some strange shot selection and poor passing.
xvolx writes:
The station that carried games on Ramar Net. last year will carry SEC games. It should be one of your local stations.
xvolx writes:
I saw South Carolina as a better team than last year. Strickland and Spani getting beat off the dribble. Bjorkland gets beat off the dribble at times, but all three probably need to keep a better angle. Playing too close to a quick guard and they will go around you in a flash. Brewer was disappointing on boards and on defense. She needs a mean attitude. Manning is a solid player. Always goes 100%. Bass's size is a liability, but she tries. Johnson's game has improved over last year. She gets out of control at times. She can't afford 50% FT shooting as much as she gets to line. Still think they should switch on screens instead of fighting thru them. Their all about equal on defense except for Cain. If her player sets screen, wouldn't switch. All in al
ladivolfan writes:
Anyone know what it is around the Tri Cities on Charter? I'm wondering if it's CSS??
dbgray writes:
Kelly has really developed this year. I would like to see her block out more for rebounds. A key skill for this is consistent awareness of her and other's position. I am sure that she will continue to improve with the coaches at post.
Fall_Creek_Vols writes:
...and that makes them a dangerous opponent.
Notice has been served.
tonyvick#213307 writes:
Even though the LV's didn't play outstanding there was no doubt last night they were the better team. TBA with no one in the stands didn't make for an atmosphere of energy. It was hard to get motivated to play, the LV's play better when there is energy in the room. In arenas where they don't have the fan support the LV's feed off the negative energy. Good win Ladies.
utfan00 writes:
LMAO...WHAT'S THE MATTER "CHUMP" OR SHOULD I SAY "BOY"? If you can't handle the truth SO BE IT
huntined#565710 writes:
Will need to FIRE THEM UP AGAIN when we play MS as they have a good team and just beat Vandy.
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