Lady Vols Basketball
ATHENS, Ga. — Tennessee didn’t get another close call Thursday night.
The Lady Vols’ turnovers and untimely fouls pushed them over the edge in a 53-50 SEC women’s basketball loss to Georgia before a crowd of 7,728 at Stegeman Coliseum.
Tennessee has pulled through similar scenarios the past two games, against Florida and Vanderbilt. But the Lady Bulldogs knew their way around tight quarters as well and played accordingly, erasing a pair of one-point deficits inside the final two minutes. The victory ended an eight-game losing streak against their long-time rival and was their first home win over UT since 2000.
“The win is a step in the right direction,’’ Georgia coach Andy Landers said. “I guess, by some measures it is a big step, but it is a single game. It is something to enjoy and appreciate tonight.”
Ashley Houts led three-double-figure scorers with 12 points for No. 8 Georgia (18-1, 5-1 SEC), which moved past Tennessee into first place in the conference standings. Meredith Mitchell scored 11 and Porsha Phillips had 10. She scored the decisive basket on a backdoor layup with 40 seconds left.
Glory Johnson scored a game-high 14 points for No. 3 Tennessee (16-2, 4-1). Kelley Cain had 10 and a game-high nine rebounds, part of UT’s 37-23 advantage on the boards.
Tennessee coach Pat Summitt’s post-game attention turned to her team’s guard play or lack thereof. Angie Bjorklund and Shekinna Stricklen shot a collective 6 for 21 from the floor and were charged with 13 of Tennessee’s 23 turnovers.
“That’s guard play,’’ Summitt said, “and Georgia’s guard play was a lot better than ours.”
Turnover No. 23 was one too many, occurring when Bjorklund was stripped of the ball by freshman Jasmine James with 21 seconds left.
James was fouled but missed her free throw. Phillips grabbed the miss and went back to the line, converting a pair.
Tennessee’s final shot for a tie was a long, forced attempt by Stricklen, ending a 7 for 24 second-half shooting effort (29.2 percent).
The missed shots didn’t bother Cain as much as the squandered possessions.
“We just didn’t have composure tonight,’’ she said. “There’s no excuse for 23 turnovers.”
Stricklen, who had a game-high seven, agreed.
“Rushing,’’ she muttered, “rushing at times when we didn’t have to rush. Just not being patient. Trying to do too much.”
A double foul called on Cain with 4:13 left was another crippling blow. The second foul — Cain’s fifth — was a technical, resulting from something the 6-foot-6 center said.
“I’m not going to get into that battle,’’ Summitt said. “… I think (the official) misunderstood what came out of her mouth. That was costly. She shouldn’t have said anything.”
Cain reiterated Summitt’s contention that it was “he-said, she-said stuff.”
“I take full responsibility for this loss,’’ a tearful Cain said. “I apologized to my teammates. I apologized to my coaching staff. It’s not going to happen again.”
With points at a premium, the fouls led to four made free throws by Georgia and a 46-43 lead.
Still, Tennessee recovered to lead twice. Alyssia Brewer’s 3-point play provided the final advantage (50-49) with 1:07 left.
While their zone defense had been effective, the Lady Vols were victimized in their man alignment down the stretch, including Phillips’ key basket.
“We talked about it as a staff and we were pretty much in agreement,’’ Summitt said. “We didn’t want to give up a 3. When we went to our man, we were in our switching man. So we were trying to keep people in front of us.”
Oregon sends Lady Vols home from…
Scripps Interactive Newspapers Group
Comments » 117
SummittsCourt writes:
When will the SEC ever do something about the awful officiating in women's basketball games. Dee Canter and crew are the worst. The bogus calls on Kelley Cain were awful, even the technical foul was unnecessary. It changed the game.
I realize the Lady Vols didn't play well and had plenty of opportunities to put the game away, but lady bulldogs played as bad so the difference in this game was the poor officiating.
when one team takes 20+ free throws and one team doesn't take a free throw until 8 minutes left. There is no doubt in my mind the calls were one sided. It's no longer ok to get "home cooking" calls when the games mean so much.
That aside, the turnovers were worse, but it's just one game and they will bounce back.
ladivolfan writes:
This loss lays on the shoulders of Kelly Cain. Poor sportsmanship is UNACCEPTABLE 100% of the time. Pat will take care of her. Doubtful it will happen again.
NashTN writes:
This was one of the worst games the Lady Vols has ever played.
riverosa writes:
Mark this one up for the Zebra's
tomkats3242 writes:
The ladys deserved what they got. They looked tired, wore out and did not play Tennessee basketball. They need to learn to keep their mouths shut. Some players need bench time to get their attention. Pat got out coached!!!!
ladyvolsfan789 writes:
I hate it when this happens but the refs determined the outcome of the game. Say what you will about how TN did not play their best, but just by watching the game you could see that Tennessee played better. Georgia ended up getting 16 more FT shots and while TN was sloppy at times with the ball, a lot of those TN turnovers came off of suspect travel calls. Additionally, Georgia wasn't exactly perfect in their ball handling either and commmitted a decent amount of their own turnovers. The team that played the better game lost tonight.
tennisvol writes:
I knew they were in trouble when they made two turnovers within the first 30 seconds. I agree with some other posts - tired and wore out. Too many mistakes over and over again.
SummittsCourt writes:
long_vol since you didn't see the game you didn't see the calls. at least 2 calls on Kelley were bogus calls including the last one. Both were clean blocks, even that nothead david neal said so. the sorry officails need to realize that players show emotions and shouldn't of t-ed her. She voiced some frustrations but we've all seen worse.
Dee Cantner and crew suck! For whatever reason she has had it out for Pat Summitt. I'm not a conspiracy nut, but i have watched her and crew call other games and they call games fairly unlike this. Every game she officiates with the Lady Vols it's this way.
riverosa writes:
The way the refs picked on Kelley all night I can understand her frustrations, How can you block that many shots on the inside and not foul?
9:44 left in the second half before we get a free throw. Commit only two fouls in a half. HA
richvol writes:
That was the worst effort by SOME of the girls in a long time. Borklund and Stricklin should have been benched. Neither one could pass the ball to a teammate in orange and couldn't even dribble. Their turnovers cost UT the game...along with Cain's temper.
Glory,Brewer and Williams tried to carry the team but when your two star guards have no enthusiasm or energy it's difficult to win in a hostle environment.
Yes,the officials hosed us but that's not new to UT playing on the road.
That was painful to watch and Tennessee finally decided to try a little harder at the 4:30 mark of the game when Kelly got herself basically thrown out? Very immature and costly. Where was the intensity prior to that?
mdvol writes:
The boys will restore order in Athens on
Saturday. I'll be there.
SummittsCourt writes:
Kudos to Glory Johnson for her efforts tonight, clearly Pat didn't tire her out with that long practice on Monday.
KeithfromSweden writes:
Wow! I'm in the USA working in Jacksonville this week and was thrilled to see that the game was televised on my hotel's cable. That was probably the worst offensive basketball game I've ever seen. Fanatic's might say that it was because of great defense but that's not happening. Both teams were really bad!!!
micbrooks#212023 writes:
After reading some of the above posts I'm glad I'm not the only one who feels like the refs just were NOT going to let us win this game. Come on guys!!!!! 8-9 minutes left in the 2nd half and we don't have a single foul shot ???you got to be kidding me!!!! Atrocious refereering
tnlady writes:
sloppy game for sure. Pat will take of the attitude I am not concerned with that. No fouls on a Tn shooter the whole 1st half? really....the girls lost this game but I feel a much needed loss to get some attitude ajustment.. Go Lady VOLS!
utfan00 writes:
You think this team is ranked # 3. I don't see it at all. They can't handle to pressure from other teams or play hard in a different enviroment. This team is not going to make to the final 4 or sweet 16. Kelly and Strick were one of the reasons we lost tonight. I hope CPS figures out what she needs to do with her team.
Waldorf writes:
Pat Summit just announced she will no longer play the University of Georgia because losing to them hurts her ego.
utfan00 writes:
I noticed everytime Manning, Brewer, Spani, and Bass would make one little mistake in the game, Pat would throw them out the game in a heart beat. Strick and Angie had several turnovers and she let them stay in the game. It's not FAIR. I see why all the future players are RUNNING to Conn.
KeithfromSweden writes:
That's a little bit funny. You guys who have read my posts know why.
vol98champ writes:
I'm Pat and UT all the way but all I have to say is it is a good thing that UT's guards don't play for Geno. He would make them either walk home or drag the bus. 6 for 23 and 13 turnovers between them is as bad as it can get (at least I hope].
RoadTrip writes:
They are playing scared and intimidated by Pat and staff. They are beating themselves as they are too tense. Each team has a personality and Pat is misreading this one IMHO.
ps11824 writes:
Well, well. long_vol, you seem upset. I read different opinions here on why we lost that game. Personally, I did not see the game, only minutes, but the minutes I saw were extremely frustrating. I had a bad feeling about the way the game was being called early on. I will definitely watch the replay, but I don't know how Kelly kept her composure as long as she did and I don't know what kept her from decking Stripe D Kan't. Kelly was absolutely being mauled from all angles. Brewers head was apparently stuck in her own Athens.
tomkats3242, I certainly do not agree with you either.
A loss is a loss. This may be one of the most important wins for the dawgs, but it is simply one loss for the Lady Vols. 16-2 is not a death sentence.
I'm thinking the kids got really frustrated early on at the slow pace of the game. They stayed in that awful zone D too long; it and the unforced turnovers spoiled any chance of Lady Vols gaining any momentum. I was particularly concerned with Stricklen's low energy.
KeithfromSweden writes:
Why did coach Summit go away from the zone the last half of the second half? Georgia can't shoot the ball.
dirtywhiteboy writes:
looked like they never had their head in the game tonight. should've won by 20.
huntined#565710 writes:
They almost lost at FLA now lost at GA. Can't blame it on the ref's as they were able to see how the game was being called from the start..Did not drive to the basket any..and way too many turnovers. will have to do better or they will lose at LSU also.
CTOWNICON writes:
And add Angie to the bunch!
CTOWNICON writes:
Because you are mikefromconnecticut posing under yet another one of your stupid screen names. You are pathetic!
KeithfromSweden writes:
Come on guys. You get foul calls when you attack the basket. No one attacked the basket. As soon as someone stepped out to cover a missed assignment the ball carrier (both teams) stopped their dribble and wanted someone else to take responsibility. Very very passive and easy to defend. How many times did both teams have time clock issues.
ps11824 writes:
After Cain put Tennessee back in front with a short hook off the baseline, the 6-foot-6 sophomore — a native of nearby Atlanta — let her temper get the best of her. After being whistled for a foul on Meredith Mitchell as the Georgia player drove the lane, Cain mouthed off to the officials, who tacked on the T.]]
I don't especially like the tone of that AP writer. What does that mean, "mouthed off?" Perhaps she was commenting on the pretty stripe shirt. Gee, can a woman get any respect in this game? They let the guys get away with assault & battery, but a girl cannot say hello to the nice official without drawing a T.
abnermc writes:
It's one thing to have home cooking but really 14 Free throws to 0 in the 1st half when most of our shooting was under the basket? Surely even the refs will watch a replay & be embarrassed.
utfan00 writes:
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
VolInIndy writes:
this reminded me of an 80's women's games with the bad play. Georgia must have travelled fifteen times and it was alled about three. The Lady Vols travelled about eight times and were called ten.
Have you ever seen a game in the shot clock era where one team did not shoot a free throw in over the first 30 minutes of the game.
Officiating really hurts the women's game IMHO
UTVOLSRROCKN writes:
You tell him CTOWNICON! Glad you called him out for all the true Vol fans out there!
CTOWNICON writes:
They just never got it going,the lady vols. I applaud Glory Johnson and even kamiko williams. Those two showed energy and came to play. This offense needs a tuneup to match defense from tough opponents. They still cannot handle defensive pressure. Angie with all that dribbling only to get it taken away. Shekinna not sure what she wanted to do with it once she got down the court. This has got to change. They need to look inside first instead of looking for Angie. This offense is way to predictable. The opponents know that everytime you come down the floor you are looking for Angie. Not going to cut it! Someone else is going to have to step up. Angie is defended heavily and to try and make her the bread winner is ridiculous. What is she going to do defended the way she is other than pass it back or take a contested shot,a bad one! The officiating was horrible and Dee kantner is the worst, but this loss is on the lady vols. They made critcial mistakes down the stretch when Georgia made plays. Kamiko needs to be inserted into the starting lineup. Her penetration and passes is what is needed to help the lady vols. I like manning and taber but at the moment they are not getting it done. We have enough perimeter shooters on the floor,we need Kamikos penetration.
troken writes:
50 points??? Uconn would have beaten UT and Ga combined by 40... No excuse for only scoring 50 points on an average GA defense...
ps11824 writes:
long_vol, I agree with everything you said, except the expletive symbols : ) I'm just trying to lighten the mood and make myself feel better. I really invest too much in these games, and believe me, I have real life non-basketball stress. I have to do a little self psychology at times just to keep my sanity.
I guess I want to believe this loss was needed and timely to top off a grueling three days of practice. Better now than post season IMO. It actually takes some pressure off the team, they learned some valuable lessons and I'm not nearly as naive and strung out as some posters crawling in here. Those are all positives that work for me.
UTVOLSRROCKN writes:
Let me say PPO's and TMTO's and PPSS!! Props to Glory with her hard work and play! Whats up with Strick? She has been half arse playing lately but yet played the full 40min????? I would NEVER try to tell CPS anything about coaching because I know she has a reason for every decision she makes. She is doing everything she can to get these girls where they need to be but she can't get out there and play for them. They WILL be better in March. I would like to see Williams at point. Why do the "BIGS" always think they have to bring the ball down after they catch the ball? They either get it stolen or tied up. I don't think they should be allowed to lower the ball below their breastisis....just put it in the basket. We got outplayed no doubt tonight but I think it will be good for them in the long run and they will LEARN alot from this lackluster performance!
LV......TCB........KOKO.....GBO!!!!!!!!
Fall_Creek_Vols writes:
Take a hike, Mike. Even someone as inept as you can understand that this game apparently goes in cycles, relating to the level of the players. The Lady Dogs seem to have the horsepower (are they horses?)....this year.
I don't remember hearing from you when Candace Parker and company were busy hanging championship banners from the rafters at Thompson-Bowling Arena. That's because UCONN didn't make it to the show.
I'll say your dogs (horses?) are looking good...but remember, it ain't forever.
Try to get Geno some Viagra, will you? Maybe that's what his attitude problem is.
KeithfromSweden writes:
So, you still think I'm Mike from CT....MOOHAHAHA
voloffaith writes:
Clean it up and get the dictionary and use words we can all read and comment on to each other.
On topic Lady Vols looked very lethargic at the end to say the least. Georgia knew we were looking for Angie and didn't let her come clean off the screen. LSU next in Bayou country.
abnermc writes:
Maybe calhoun will play you.
KeithfromSweden writes:
C TOWNICON , why do you attack me personally? Are my observations out of line? Would you like me to leave this forum? Do your fellow posters feel that I have misrepresented myself? If so I'll stop.
ps11824 writes:
Hey Mike, how kind of you to crawl in and offer condolences. You are a true blue. Do you know Derek Dooley? Or is it dooley squat you are so familiar with? No relation. But yep, Mikey, we are awfully interested in what you think you know. And by the way, what was that Cain said to the nice official? You would surely be an expert on awful words. You hear the worst of the worst coming from your coach, don't you mikey? I think I saw some F bombs coming from Andy Lander's mouth early on. I personally despise profanity no matter whose mouth it comes from, but if your coach has a problem with one of his players using awful words, that would be "the pot calling the kettle black."
You might feel really big calling Pat chicken, but you are riding on geno's shirttail, mikey. You might want to stay upwind. Anyway, thanks for crawling by. Enjoy the loss.
oldtimer56 writes:
Nothing hurts worse in a one possesion loss than one that shouldent have been.These are young girls and tempers will flare especially when you've been knocked around all game.It was a team effort.you should have been ahead by a good 15 points.You can't blame just one player.
I will speak of my own team the same way when we get beat,and thats UCONN .so you guys shrug it off and see you in the tournament
KeithfromSweden writes:
I'd still like to know why coach Summit chose to leave the zone that was so effective late in the game and why they didn't attack the basket.
PureOrange writes:
Pathetic effort matched the equally pathetic officiating.
These girls have played 3 half-hearted games in a row. They have to decide if they want to be winners or just go through the motions of being a team.
xvolx writes:
Rotten officiating, Rotten playing and Rotten coaching.
utfan00 writes:
I honestly do believe as long as CPS keeps punishing these girls with 2-3 hrs practices, continously jerking them in and out of the game because of simple little mistakes, and not being
fair to all of her players, she will NEVER get 100% effort from them. They probably don't care if they win or not.
utfan00 writes:
Angie only makes 3's unless she is open. Can she play defense? NO
Strick has got so much on her trying to be a point guard,which isn't her normal position. Does she jerk her out of the game? NEVER
Taber is occupying space. She doesn't need to be in the starting lineup
As for Glory, it's all good.
Kelly - I give her credit for trying knowing she isn't healthy.
Bri & Manning at least they are trying, but never will be successful and long as Pat keeps pulling them in and out of the game.
Kamiko is earning a lot more playing time. That's a good thing for her,
Smallbone, the poor girl doesn't stand a chance. I know she be glad whens she gradute.
ps11824 writes:
utfan00, ever think about changing your screen name? Somehow it just doesn't seem appropriate with the way you berate the program. Maybe something suitable like mikey00.
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